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WARNING: The Tire Sealant Kit is CRAP!!!


FordGeek

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This may already be posted somewhere else, but I don't recall ever seeing it. Yesterday, I ran over some debris and got a flat in the middle of nowhere. My car came with free roadside assistance but, in my infinite wisdom, I didn't have the card with the contact info on me. Regardless, I thought this was a relatively mild inconvenience because all I would have to do was seal it up with the kits in our cars and I'd be on my way to the local tire shop for replacement. Well, the compressor side of the pump worked fine, but the sealant side would not turn on. I fought with the stupid thing for around 30 minutes before I figured it was time to call someone to come out and get me. Pissed as hell I went to the dealership and let them know personnaly what I felt about the "emergency" kit. A service guy pulled up some info, disappeared into the back, then reemerged to tell me, and I quote: "The reason the pump didn't work with the sealant switch engaged was that the sealant cansiter is most likely clogged"...and that "...it's been report quite a bit in recent months...and it happens when the canister sits idle for too long a period of time". WTF!!!! So, you're telling me that if I don't have an EMERGENCY within 8 months of taking ownership of my car that most likely the kit will not work; you've got to be kidding. The solution? Another canister with no assurances at all that it will not happen again. How do you like them apples. So, I would highly recommend that you take this into consideration and maybe carry another bottle of sealant (ie. fix a flat, gree goo, etc....) in case this happens to you too. And by the sound of it, it most likely will.

 

Kind Regards,

Joseph (FordGeek) :rant2:

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This may already be posted somewhere else, but I don't recall ever seeing it. Yesterday, I ran over some debris and got a flat in the middle of nowhere. My car came with free roadside assistance but, in my infinite wisdom, I didn't have the card with the contact info on me. Regardless, I thought this was a relatively mild inconvenience because all I would have to do was seal it up with the kits in our cars and I'd be on my way to the local tire shop for replacement. Well, the compressor side of the pump worked fine, but the sealant side would not turn on. I fought with the stupid thing for around 30 minutes before I figured it was time to call someone to come out and get me. Pissed as hell I went to the dealership and let them know personnaly what I felt about the "emergency" kit. A service guy pulled up some info, disappeared into the back, then reemerged to tell me, and I quote: "The reason the pump didn't work with the sealant switch engaged was that the sealant cansiter is most likely clogged"...and that "...it's been report quite a bit in recent months...and it happens when the canister sits idle for too long a period of time". WTF!!!! So, you're telling me that if I don't have an EMERGENCY within 8 months of taking ownership of my car that most likely the kit will not work; you've got to be kidding. The solution? Another canister with no assurances at all that it will not happen again. How do you like them apples. So, I would highly recommend that you take this into consideration and maybe carry another bottle of sealant (ie. fix a flat, gree goo, etc....) in case this happens to you too. And by the sound of it, it most likely will.

 

Kind Regards,

Joseph (FordGeek) :rant2:

 

 

Maybe just a standard can of fix-a-flat is warranted since the Ford kit isn't reliable. I'm not sure though if fix a flat is really ok for tires though...especially performance tires.

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This may already be posted somewhere else, but I don't recall ever seeing it. Yesterday, I ran over some debris and got a flat in the middle of nowhere. My car came with free roadside assistance but, in my infinite wisdom, I didn't have the card with the contact info on me. Regardless, I thought this was a relatively mild inconvenience because all I would have to do was seal it up with the kits in our cars and I'd be on my way to the local tire shop for replacement. Well, the compressor side of the pump worked fine, but the sealant side would not turn on. I fought with the stupid thing for around 30 minutes before I figured it was time to call someone to come out and get me. Pissed as hell I went to the dealership and let them know personnaly what I felt about the "emergency" kit. A service guy pulled up some info, disappeared into the back, then reemerged to tell me, and I quote: "The reason the pump didn't work with the sealant switch engaged was that the sealant cansiter is most likely clogged"...and that "...it's been report quite a bit in recent months...and it happens when the canister sits idle for too long a period of time". WTF!!!! So, you're telling me that if I don't have an EMERGENCY within 8 months of taking ownership of my car that most likely the kit will not work; you've got to be kidding. The solution? Another canister with no assurances at all that it will not happen again. How do you like them apples. So, I would highly recommend that you take this into consideration and maybe carry another bottle of sealant (ie. fix a flat, gree goo, etc....) in case this happens to you too. And by the sound of it, it most likely will.

 

Kind Regards,

Joseph (FordGeek) :rant2:

 

 

Dont know what year car you have, but i had a "flat" with my run flats, just drove to my tire dealer, and he sealed it from the inside,and i was done.Was your tire a run-flat--bob

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Based on what I know in my opinion, I believe it would be better to just go to wal-mart and buy two cans of pressurized sealent, it's to big a pain in the you know what to fool with doing this on the side of the highway under any circumstances, have also considered just buying a spare for the trunk.

 

GG

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Maybe just a standard can of fix-a-flat is warranted since the Ford kit isn't reliable. I'm not sure though if fix a flat is really ok for tires though...especially performance tires.

 

 

None of that stuff is good for tires. It'll just get you home, well, maybe. My problem with that stuff is after you put it in the tire, everything except the rim needs to be replaced. New tire, new TPMS sensor, and you get to scrub all of that crap off of your wheel too. I'd rather sit on the side of the road and wait for a truck to bring me a new tire.

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that monkey grip stuff looks like a good plan... i assume you guys have used it with good results? does the wheel need to be removed to do it?

 

I've used it on other vehicles and it works great. You don't need to remove the wheel, just position it to where you can get to the puncture and then blow it up with your pump, just don't turn on the sealant! It's only temporary until you can get it patched but it sure beats dealing with all that goo.

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Like blkGT500nCA said I've heard from my friends with Vettes the "fix a flat" stuff will really screw up the Tire pressure sensors and also can eat away at the rim finish. Calling a buddy or AAA would be my bet but those tire plugs might work, guy at work had a flat on his truck but could seem to get them to stick. Dunno if the had the cement though.

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The sealant ruined one of my sensors and failed to 'fix the flat' when I punctured my tire last year. The compressor kit needs to be stored in a place where no one will ever find it, IMO.

Buy a spare or invest in AAA. Good luck.

 

Ken

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that monkey grip stuff looks like a good plan... i assume you guys have used it with good results? does the wheel need to be removed to do it?

 

 

I've repaired tires w/ this kit in the past and I think in most cases the tire and wheel will need to be off the car in order to both locate the puncture and use the tool, etc. ... unless you're comfortable working under a car w/ only a scissor jack on the side of the road...not me!!!

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Those plugs work great. Last November I was 200+ miles away from home, heading to a dyno day in Sacramento. I stopped at a gas station to fill up my tires before the cruise and noticed a small nail in one of my rear tires. I didn't have to use a jack to fix it at all. Just roll the car until the nail/screw is accessible, and pull it out with a pair of pliers. Then take the rough puncture tool and "rough up" the hole by inserting and removing the tool a bunch of times. Once you pull the rough puncture tool out, work quickly because the air will escape the tire fast. Now thread a plug 1/2 through the needle like tool and add a dab of the rubber cement. Quickly remove the reaming tool and insert the plug as far as you can get it. Once it's in, cut off any excess plug that is sticking out of the tire.

I drove over 300 miles on my plug and also 2 dyno pulls @ over 160MPH. (dyno operator was aware of the plug)

Ideally, get to a tire shop sooner or later and have them remove that tire and put a patch on the inside of it, over that plug, and you'll be good to go.

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Ideally, get to a tire shop sooner or later and have them remove that tire and put a patch on the inside of it, over that plug, and you'll be good to go.

 

 

Important to note that repairing a tire makes its speed rating void. Replace the tire.

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Important to note that repairing a tire makes its speed rating void. Replace the tire.

 

chrisSD; you are correct to a point. plugging a tire definatly voids a speed rating.

but , depending on the severity of the damage and its position a speed rating can be regaind if the tire is properly repaired from the inside. plugging a tire is for

emergencies ONLY.

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Some members have put a spare tire in the trunk with the jack, etc. It is a little more reassuring if you have to drive in the boonies.

 

Does anyone know of a spare tire with jack and wrench that will replace the Tire Sealant Kit in my 2007 Shellby GT? I've been told by the Ford dealer that there no no such animal.

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Can anyone tell me if there is a spare tire kit (Spare Tire, Jack, and wrench) to replace the Tire Sealant Kit in my 2007 Shelby GT. I've been told by my local Ford dealer that there is nothing available and the Tire Sealant Kit has an expiration date of 11/2010.

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the factory MGT spare will fit if you have factory brakes still, and they are available on ebay generally, but you PROBABLY need a different jack since the car is lowered, not sure, but I think that was the primary reason they deleted the spare in these cars.

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  • 1 month later...

the factory MGT spare will fit if you have factory brakes still, and they are available on ebay generally, but you PROBABLY need a different jack since the car is lowered, not sure, but I think that was the primary reason they deleted the spare in these cars.

 

 

I just picked up a spare wheel and tire from American Muscle. Total price delivered was $365 mounted and balanced. I put it on my 2010 Shelby GT500 front and it worked fine. Now how to get it in the spare tire hole. And will need a low jack. American Muscle: 2010 GT500 wheel with Sumitomo tire 245/45. Check it out. Cheapest and best way I could find to get a spare for my GT500.

 

Racin' Randy

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This may already be posted somewhere else, but I don't recall ever seeing it. Yesterday, I ran over some debris and got a flat in the middle of nowhere. My car came with free roadside assistance but, in my infinite wisdom, I didn't have the card with the contact info on me. Regardless, I thought this was a relatively mild inconvenience because all I would have to do was seal it up with the kits in our cars and I'd be on my way to the local tire shop for replacement. Well, the compressor side of the pump worked fine, but the sealant side would not turn on. I fought with the stupid thing for around 30 minutes before I figured it was time to call someone to come out and get me. Pissed as hell I went to the dealership and let them know personnaly what I felt about the "emergency" kit. A service guy pulled up some info, disappeared into the back, then reemerged to tell me, and I quote: "The reason the pump didn't work with the sealant switch engaged was that the sealant cansiter is most likely clogged"...and that "...it's been report quite a bit in recent months...and it happens when the canister sits idle for too long a period of time". WTF!!!! So, you're telling me that if I don't have an EMERGENCY within 8 months of taking ownership of my car that most likely the kit will not work; you've got to be kidding. The solution? Another canister with no assurances at all that it will not happen again. How do you like them apples. So, I would highly recommend that you take this into consideration and maybe carry another bottle of sealant (ie. fix a flat, gree goo, etc....) in case this happens to you too. And by the sound of it, it most likely will.

 

Kind Regards,

Joseph (FordGeek) :rant2:

 

 

I had a flat in my Mercedes about 5-6 months ago, I had one of those fix-a-flat cans and it worked great, it's much easier than the ford's kit, you don't have to plug it to the car and do this and that and... just shake the can and inflate the car with it and you are all set

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