Need Quick Advice! - Backright Tire Losing Pressure
Thread Starter
Track Day
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Need Quick Advice! - Backright Tire Losing Pressure
Good Evening everyone,
I just picked up my new Cayman and drove it back on a 320 mile trip home.
Five minutes after being in my drive way, the TPMS light for the backright tire goes on.
As of right now, it is sitting at 19 PSI (the Cayman's system says it should be around 33). All of the other tires are fine.
I have tried looking for damage with a flash light but cannot see anything, I did not roll the car a few feet to look at the part of the tire I cant inspect.
Is there anything I can do before calling the dealer tomorrow? The car is literally brand new and this is unfortunate.
I just picked up my new Cayman and drove it back on a 320 mile trip home.
Five minutes after being in my drive way, the TPMS light for the backright tire goes on.
As of right now, it is sitting at 19 PSI (the Cayman's system says it should be around 33). All of the other tires are fine.
I have tried looking for damage with a flash light but cannot see anything, I did not roll the car a few feet to look at the part of the tire I cant inspect.
Is there anything I can do before calling the dealer tomorrow? The car is literally brand new and this is unfortunate.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 373
Likes: 2
Good Evening everyone,
I just picked up my new Cayman and drove it back on a 320 mile trip home.
Five minutes after being in my drive way, the TPMS light for the backright tire goes on.
As of right now, it is continually losing PSI, right now at 19 PSI (the Cayman's system says it should be around 34). All of the other tires are fine.
I have tried looking for damage with a flash light but cannot see anything, I did not roll the car a few feet to look at the part of the tire I cant inspect.
Is there anything I can do before calling the dealer tomorrow? The car is literally brand new and this is unfortunate.
I just picked up my new Cayman and drove it back on a 320 mile trip home.
Five minutes after being in my drive way, the TPMS light for the backright tire goes on.
As of right now, it is continually losing PSI, right now at 19 PSI (the Cayman's system says it should be around 34). All of the other tires are fine.
I have tried looking for damage with a flash light but cannot see anything, I did not roll the car a few feet to look at the part of the tire I cant inspect.
Is there anything I can do before calling the dealer tomorrow? The car is literally brand new and this is unfortunate.
Thread Starter
Track Day
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Well I have to ask the obvious question: Does the tire look flat? If so, you have a flat tire. You can have Porsche Roadside pick it up if you're under warranty (new or CPO) it's free. But you'll probably have to replace the tire unless you want to be cheap and patch. (If possible)
It does not look flat to me but I would be curious to hear if you see something different (im not super experienced): https://i.imgur.com/3BE1RYi.jpg
I appreciate the info on Porsche Roadside and will start researching!
Down to 17 PSI
Race Car
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,689
Likes: 737
From: Scottsdale, AZ
Double check with a real tire pressure gauge.
I would imagine it's got a nail, screw, or some other puncture in the tire. Worst case would be a damaged wheel, but you would have known about that.
If you take it to the dealer, they will replace the tire. I believe they are not allowed to repair them.
If you go to Discount Tire or the like, they may be able to repair it - depending on where the damage is.
You will need to inflate the tire before driving to either location. If you call for roadside assistance, make sure they send a flatbed that can handle a low slung sports car.
Of course, you can always take the wheel off & use soapy water to find the leak. Then just take the wheel & tire to be repaired or replaced.
I would imagine it's got a nail, screw, or some other puncture in the tire. Worst case would be a damaged wheel, but you would have known about that.
If you take it to the dealer, they will replace the tire. I believe they are not allowed to repair them.
If you go to Discount Tire or the like, they may be able to repair it - depending on where the damage is.
You will need to inflate the tire before driving to either location. If you call for roadside assistance, make sure they send a flatbed that can handle a low slung sports car.
Of course, you can always take the wheel off & use soapy water to find the leak. Then just take the wheel & tire to be repaired or replaced.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 19,035
Likes: 269
From: Bentonville, AR
Good Evening everyone,
I just picked up my new Cayman and drove it back on a 320 mile trip home.
Five minutes after being in my drive way, the TPMS light for the backright tire goes on.
As of right now, it is sitting at 19 PSI (the Cayman's system says it should be around 33). All of the other tires are fine.
I have tried looking for damage with a flash light but cannot see anything, I did not roll the car a few feet to look at the part of the tire I cant inspect.
Is there anything I can do before calling the dealer tomorrow? The car is literally brand new and this is unfortunate.
I just picked up my new Cayman and drove it back on a 320 mile trip home.
Five minutes after being in my drive way, the TPMS light for the backright tire goes on.
As of right now, it is sitting at 19 PSI (the Cayman's system says it should be around 33). All of the other tires are fine.
I have tried looking for damage with a flash light but cannot see anything, I did not roll the car a few feet to look at the part of the tire I cant inspect.
Is there anything I can do before calling the dealer tomorrow? The car is literally brand new and this is unfortunate.
Get a good tire pressure gage and check the tire pressure. With these tires it is sometimes hard to see the tire pressure is low as they have stiff sidewalls.
If the tire is indeed low on air -- and I suspect it is -- you might be able to have it fixed locally. I have a tire store not too far from me that fixes my Porsche flats. (The nearby Porsche dealer no longer fixes flats.)
What I do is loosen the lug nuts then jack up the car and remove the wheel/tire and haul it over to the tire store and see if the tire can be fixed.
The general guidelines are the hole can't be too big. IIRC 1/4" or smaller is "acceptable". It can't be too close to the sidewalls. I don't know the distance but the tire shop can advise you. And you can't have driven the tire underinflated to the point the sealing of the inside of the tire is compromised. If the tire is removed from the wheel and any rubber dust comes out the tire's toast.
Or you can call Porsche road side assistance and see what if anything can be done. This could involve picking the car up on a flat bed tow truck and hauling the car back to the dealer to have this taken care of at the dealer. 'course, then you have to make arrangements to go get the car again.
It is an unfortunate start to your Porsche experience -- generally new tires are rather resistent to picking up stuff but of course not immune to picking up stuff -- but if you own the car long enough it will probably once in a while get a flat. In this regard it is no different than any other car.
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Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix
Advice to manually check the tire is correct. The TPMS in these cars is prone to fault. Mine warns me I am 6 lb low in the (wait for it) the right rear, but the actual reading is right on 29 lbs as recommended. A manual check with a quality gauge verifies the pressure is right on.
Try the manual reset by changing tire type to another and then back again. This works for one ignition cycle for me. I hate to take this to the dealer for such a piddly thing, but I guess I will have to.
You have probably addressed this issue by now, but the TPMS problem may crop up in your future as it appears to be common.
Try the manual reset by changing tire type to another and then back again. This works for one ignition cycle for me. I hate to take this to the dealer for such a piddly thing, but I guess I will have to.
You have probably addressed this issue by now, but the TPMS problem may crop up in your future as it appears to be common.
Rennlist Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 599
Likes: 4
From: Colorado
We had a similar issue with a CPO we had delivered from out of state. Turned out the TPMS nut on the valve stem needed a little tightening. Pulled the wheel and examined the tire, nothing obvious. Sprayed soapy water on both beads and the stem. Bubbles from the base of the stem where it entered the wheel. About a quarter turn of the nut stopped the slow leak. Hope your fix is that easy, good luck!
Banned
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,161
Likes: 6
......next week it will be what does the consider remaining range message mean /light on fuel quantity dial 
Rennlist Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,803
Likes: 688
From: Dahlonega, Georgia
There's been nothing posted so far that would indicate that the dealership has done anything wrong. Maybe the OP just simply ran over a nail and got a flat tire. Perhaps he could tell us the rest of the story before we draw any conclusions about the dealer.
Late Porkchops
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 12,573
Likes: 95
From: Houston, Texas USA
I had that happen the first week owning my new truck. Something got kicked sideways in the road and went straight through my sidewall. I said WTH and I was going down on air immediately. No tire warranty on that either. Oh yeah . . I was happy. Not.
I didn't take the tire and wheel coverage on my new Porsche. SO these things can be B- A - D.
Glad to know that yours was just things that happen though.
I didn't take the tire and wheel coverage on my new Porsche. SO these things can be B- A - D.
Glad to know that yours was just things that happen though.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,803
Likes: 688
From: Dahlonega, Georgia
That truly sucks, but the up side is that there was no damaged/malfunctioning equipment on the car. In fact, the TPMS did exactly what it was designed to do and warned you of low tire pressure before you were riding on a bare rim (or worse).