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I thought I would take a moment to give Swift owners the "heads up" about defect Swift informed me about this morning by post.
It would appear that Swift "have become aware that a limited number of motorhomes have had incorrect tyre valves fitted during the production process. In extrreme circumstances the valve could fail resulting in total loss of air pressure to that wheel."
The letter I've received doesn't say exactly how many or which vehicles are affected all it says is that my 2004 Suntor 590rl may be.
Very basically it would appear that the problem is that some wheels were fitted with rubber valves or rubber with chrome sleeve valves these being incorrect. The correct ones are "Rigid" Bolt in metal valve with metal dust cap" or "Metal" body valve with plastic dust cap". Swift suppied a photograph of all incorrect / correct valves.
I have been through the process of arranging to have mine changed, they were the "Flexible, rubber valve with plastic dust cap". From what the people I spoke to said I got the impression that this applies to both steel and alloy wheels. (my four are alloy and the spare is steel and they will be changing all five valves.).
Now, I have no wish to cause a panic by publishing this I just felt that for warned is for armed. It at least gives Swift owners the option of getting onto their Customer Services if they are worried. After all, our lives and those of others depend on our tyres. If you think about it, it makes sense to have metal valves because the 80 psi (I think) in the FIAT base vehicle tyres is a heck of a lot to have to rely on rubber valves.
Anyway, there you are for what it's worth. Why is it I get the feeling that Swift are going to get a few enquiries.
Hi Bill
Just before Easter my van had a flat while sitting on my drive which was due to valve failure I wonder if I've got the wrong valves to add insult to injury I could not jack the van up high enough using the jack supplied even after putting it on blocks I had to call the AA to change the wheel.
Bill, WHY are you putting 80psi pressure in your tyres, i have a royale 630 ensigne and put 4bar in the front and 4.5 in rear, i am using michelin camping car tyres and i have done 85000miles on only one replacement set. These figures were given to me by swift when i first bought the m/h.
metal valves were fitted from new.
If the failed valve was a rubber one like you see being pulled through the wheel when you get your car tyres done, then I suggest that you check with Swift. Particularly if your van is about the same age as mine.
Please remember that I don't know the technicalities of this defect, all I'm doing is raising awareness. I know what I'd do if someone else had raised my original post. I'd have been straight onto Swift if I'd found rubber valves regardless of the age of my van. Better safe than sorry.
If you can be certain your flat was due to valve failure I would think that Swift would be interested in the fact.
I had a flat on the Drive through a faulty valve too, it turned out to be caused by the wheel trim wire insert rubbing against the wall of the valve till ie eventually failed, these are those shiny domed shaped wheel trims sold through most dealer accesory outlets etc. that are popular with Motorhomers, do check installation carefully!
Whistlinggypsie - Whoops yes mine is 4.0 bar as well. Just looked at my records. Having said that the pressure stated on the label in Italian on the B pillar says 5.5bar (which is close to 80 psi I think) and 80psi is marked on the Michelin camping. It is these I've been working on. Thanks for bringing it to my attention I'll now get onto Swift to double check.
You said that you had metal valves fitted from new, do you know whether this is considered normal for motorhomes?
I also had a valve fail due to the plastic wheel trim shifting round and rubbing on the valve. I have now changed all my valves to metal ones. I was told at the time by ATS that metal valves should always be used for pressures over 65psi.
Incidentally, who fitted the Michelin Camper tyres, was it Fiat or Swift. If it was Fiat, then all 'vans with Fiat as the base vehicle are potentially affected.
I am not totaly sure who fitted the camper tyres, Fiat /Swift but i cannot see the base chassis being delivered to Swift with camper tyres already fitted. I had the second set put on in Spain 4 years ago at a saving of over £100 on the UK price.
The information on the B pillar is for a commercial delivery vehicle which may have the same GVW but will have completely different road holding/handling too a motorhome.
The metal valves where on the vehicle from new so i suspect they were fitted by whoever fitted the camping tyres.
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