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Model specific boards => Golf mk5 => Topic started by: Smythe1981 on 17 April 2008, 21:10

Title: How lucky am I?
Post by: Smythe1981 on 17 April 2008, 21:10
Alright Chaps!

Thought i'd inform you all of my little story, Tuesday morning 0.45am, having just spent 3 days in London, with a couple of mates & a boot full of luggage, I decide to drive home (I live in Sunderland, thought i'd beat the traffic and be home before it got light).

Anyway, after about 5mins of the journey the tyre puncture warning came on, great I thought, 300 miles from home, pitch black and a puncture, checked all tyres as best I could and concluded the system must be faulty, i'd read a few stories about faulty puncture systems on here before.

So I carried on, hardly dropping below 80mph for the whole journey, hitting over 100mph on numerous occasions and climbed into bed in Sunderland at about 5.30am, great time I thought.

The next day I checked the tyre pressures and discover the passenger side rear was down to about 15psi! took it to a tyre place, turns out there was a screw in and I'd had a slow puncture for 300+ miles!!

How I didn't have a blow out or lose control is beyond me (and not worth thinking about), didn't even notice or feel any difference in the handling.

I've been very lucky, please chaps, trust your punture warning light in future!
Title: Re: How lucky am I?
Post by: SteveS on 17 April 2008, 21:59
mate! you didnt check good enough!! LOL

u are lucky!!!!
Title: Re: How lucky am I?
Post by: neg on 17 April 2008, 23:20
TBH if I was in your shoes I would assume it was just the weight balance doing it, it is noted in the Manual that it can give incorrect readings if you have more weight on one side of the car (like a larger friend in the back seat - yes it did happen, how embarrasing!)

Been in the same situation, when I noticed a screw in my tyre once the head was well worn down so god knows how long it was in - worth checking every now and again.
Title: Re: How lucky am I?
Post by: Neaty on 17 April 2008, 23:31
lucky boy!

where abouts in Sunderland are you from? I am from Durham originally so no the area a bit.
Title: Re: How lucky am I?
Post by: Hurdy on 17 April 2008, 23:33
You were lucky :shocked:

I wonder how much PSI had to drop out of the tyre before it registered?

I also wonder how much PSI you lost between arriving home and taking the reading :undecided:
Title: Re: How lucky am I?
Post by: Rosie on 17 April 2008, 23:42
See the wee button beside the traction control button, what does that do??

Is it something to do with your tyre pressure? Sorry if i am being stupid, i didnt get a manual with my car so cant look these things up.
Title: Re: How lucky am I?
Post by: neg on 18 April 2008, 00:00
Its used to reset the system, hold it down for a few seconds.  I had to reset mine when I swapped my wheels/suspension.
Title: Re: How lucky am I?
Post by: Greenouse on 18 April 2008, 08:40
Its used to reset the system, hold it down for a few seconds.  I had to reset mine when I swapped my wheels/suspension.

Same happened to me. I had my N/S front wheel changed (yes i kerbed it  :embarassed:). The light decided to come on the day after! while I was driving down the M42! Stopped at the next junction, pressed and held the button and hey presto! It never came on again........... Can't say I trust them completely  :undecided:
Title: Re: How lucky am I?
Post by: 08micsta on 18 April 2008, 09:09
Very lucky...

I almost got hit by a car the other while cycling shortly after it had a blowout coming right at me  :embarassed:
Title: Re: How lucky am I?
Post by: Smythe1981 on 18 April 2008, 21:33
When i left i put a little extra in the backs for the weight, topped them up with air at Durham before hitting the a1, had 37psi on the rears, 600+ miles later it was down to 15psi, can't believe it didnt blow out with the high speeds, possibly the cold night may have helped? didn't get above 2 degrees all the way

Neaty - I'm from Penshaw, just outside Sunderland, we've got that big monument that can be seen from miles around!

Had a full boot & a lad about 16 stone sitting on that tyre all the way, so that made me dubious about the system
Title: Re: How lucky am I?
Post by: Neaty on 19 April 2008, 15:03
When i left i put a little extra in the backs for the weight, topped them up with air at Durham before hitting the a1, had 37psi on the rears, 600+ miles later it was down to 15psi, can't believe it didnt blow out with the high speeds, possibly the cold night may have helped? didn't get above 2 degrees all the way

Neaty - I'm from Penshaw, just outside Sunderland, we've got that big monument that can be seen from miles around!
Had a full boot & a lad about 16 stone sitting on that tyre all the way, so that made me dubious about the system

oh aye, been up to that before albeit when i was about 10.