Hi guys,

I got a Fabia VRS 04 6 months ago and just recently wanted to top air up in tyres but the caps dont seem to twist. The car does not have normal caps there like Green bolts like the ones in this ebay ad

GREEN Aluminium Valve Caps for Skoda Fabia.Octavia.VRS on eBay, also, Valve Caps, Car Wheels, Tyres Trims, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 25-Feb-09 06:25:00 GMT)

Do anyone know how I can take them off? I tried twisting really hard but valve just starts to twist as well so i figured i must be doing something wrong.

hope someone know the answer cos i really dont want to go to garage and look like an idiot lol

i think you`ll find they just unscrew, they may be just tight.

maybe there some of the Ripspeed jobbies that Halfrauds sell?!?

try looking for a small grub screw down the side undo this & then unscrew cap!

If they're metal caps that have been left on for a while, they're more than likely corroded to the metal part of the valve from the salt on the roads recently.

I had this problem once, think I used lots of WD40 and once it had worked in, a socket - it shouldn't matter too much if the valve twists.

Oh dear. Have you ever heard of "differential corrosion"? I strongly suspect that this is what has happened here. I'm not sure exactly what the metal in a tyre valve typically is, but it looks coppery, so assuming it has a copper content, what has probably happened is that the caps have corroded internally where they're threaded onto the valves, which means that they're now an interference fit on the valves.

If you force them, they might come off, but they might tear the valve stems first. I'd suggest going to a reputable tyre place for a second opinion before you give yourself 4 flats and no way of inflating them.

Na, its the reaction between the different types of metal or something, means they corrode on. On my rents car I had to use mole grips for two, and the other two i had to get the valves replaced cos they were too badly stuck!

Ok, beaten too it, how slow must i type! lol

Still Matt, that's 3 of us all indepentantly thought the same thing.

:rofl:

Just ask Mater on here for some C-4

- sorted

(sorry, couldn't help myself )

When you get them off if you're gonna put them back on don't forget to put WD40 or some vaseline on them first! I forgot this on my last car and they're a b***h to get off (as you're now finding!)

Just ask Mater on here for some C-4

- sorted

(sorry, couldn't help myself )

Might cause mild side-effects :P

**** loads of wd40 and a small socket

I thought that this sort of thing had been posted some time ago, and the general idea was, if you can get them off without damaging the valve stems - then do so and throw them in the bin (or clean them up and sell on), if you can't get them off without damaging the valves then its new valves required, this method avoids the need to sell the aluminium caps on! These caps should only really be used to dress the car up for shows etc - then removed before driving home.

:iagree: - IMO these caps should be advertised as, and sold in packaging marked, "Not for road use".

Hi guys,

I got a Fabia VRS 04 6 months ago and just recently wanted to top air up in tyres but the caps dont seem to twist. The car does not have normal caps there like Green bolts like the ones in this ebay ad

GREEN Aluminium Valve Caps for Skoda Fabia.Octavia.VRS on eBay, also, Valve Caps, Car Wheels, Tyres Trims, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 25-Feb-09 06:25:00 GMT)

Do anyone know how I can take them off? I tried twisting really hard but valve just starts to twist as well so i figured i must be doing something wrong.

hope someone know the answer cos i really dont want to go to garage and look like an idiot lol

Hello

Carefully look around the sides of the cap for a possible hole (best described) for where a grub screw has been screwed in against the stem of the valve, this is an anti-theft device.

If no hole or such is visible then, the cap has corroded onto the valve stem.

Suggest to firmly grip valve stem with a good fitting mole grips, with a ring spanner fitted over head of valve cap try gently tightening it first, then try unscrewing cap.

If cap is of a round nature, get a second mole grips on the cap and repeat moves mentioned.

If all else fails you will need to go to the tyre fitters and have replacement valve stems.

25/02/2009

Other (fiddly and a fair bit of work) thought occurs. Using the jack where required, manoevre all 4 valves to the tops of the wheels. Spray with PlusGas (other dismantling lubricants are available. Water Dispersant (WD)-40 is not a dismantling lubricant; see if you can guess what it is) then go inside and have a non-alcoholic beverage of choice. Then proceed as Giandougl describes.

Did I understand that properly? You got the car 6 months ago and this is the first time you're checking the tyre pressures?

Spray with PlusGas (other dismantling lubricants are available.

Plus Gas FTW.

Since getting this stuff after Ken recommened it I never struggle to undo anything (well except my wrong doings but thats for another thread):rofl:

:iagree: - IMO these caps should be advertised as, and sold in packaging marked, "Not for road use".

To be fair, the Ebay advert referenced by the OP does highlight "We advise that grease is applied to the thread prior to fitting to prevent corrosion".

At least that suggests than an informed decision needs to be made before using them

To be fair, the Ebay advert referenced by the OP does highlight "We advise that grease is applied to the thread prior to fitting to prevent corrosion".

At least that suggests than an informed decision needs to be made before using them

Ok, I didn't read this advert fully; just enough to confirm that they're aluminium. I've seen sets that just said something like Ch@vdryv Aluminum Valve Caps on the one side, and were plain card on the other.