GT center caps keep falling out..!!??

[rstratton]

I have bought at least a whole new set of center caps for my GT in the year that I have owned it and I was wondering if anyone had any tips on how to keep them from falling out? It seems as thought I just need something that will fit inside of the cap and give just enough pressure so that the little prongs won't bend and loose their shape so that they will hold in. Any help is appreciated, thanks

[vibenvy]

I'm assuming you have an 09 or 10 Vibe GT? If so, there's actually a repair bulletin regarding this exact issue.Before the repair bulletin was issued, the fix was for dealers to put some clear RTV silicone around the edge of the center caps to hold them in place. This is what was done on both mine and my mom's 09 GTs prior to us purchasing them. We have yet to have an issue with any of them falling off. I had a tire re-mounted and balanced and removing and re-installing the center cap is no big deal at all. I just peeled the old silicone off (when dry, it's the consistancy of rubber so it comes off easily) and put some fresh stuff on. No problems whatsoever. I personally would suggest going to your local GM dealer and seeing if they will honor the repair bulletin. If they will, I'd still go ahead and silicone the new center caps as well just to be safe. If they won't honor the repair bulletin, I'd definitely just put some silicone on them so you won't have to waste anymore money on center caps .Best of luck. Keep us updated.

[VforVIBE]

Yeah, I think I've replaced 3 so far.

[ParknVibe]

Quote, originally posted by rstratton »I have bought at least a whole new set of center caps for my GT in the year that I have owned it and I was wondering if anyone had any tips on how to keep them from falling out? It seems as thought I just need something that will fit inside of the cap and give just enough pressure so that the little prongs won't bend and loose their shape so that they will hold in. Any help is appreciated, thanks <<<<<


What I did after I lost my center cap. (2009 Vibe) First I bought new cap (which is same as the original one $15.00ea) and not the revised replacement. What I did was to use Velcro strips (just the soft side half) Cut a strip of the Velcro long enought to fit around the ring of the wheel's hole Make sure that the width of the Velcro is just less of the depth of the plastic tabs. Place the velco on the wheel ring hole. Make sure that you clean the metal before you stick on the Velcro.That is it. Now just plug the plastic cap back in. All my caps are still on after three years. The plastic tab ring will slip into the reduced diameter and be locked in by the Velcro , yet still be able to be removable. There is a newer plastic cap (I believed made with a different plastic) that you can buy or receive from the dealer). I just never heard if they are staying on the wheels as of now. Do you have 2009 or a 2010 model year? I wrote about this herein when I first did this in 2008.

[trask]

I have had the new center cap version installed for over a year and have not lost one. I could not tell much difference between the new ones and the old version other than the plastic clips on the back were a dark colored plastic instead of white.

[rstratton]

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get these center caps out so I can silicon them? Well besides going to a garage and paying someone to take all the wheels off just to get at the center caps.And thanks for the help.

[vibenvy]

Quote, originally posted by rstratton »Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get these center caps out so I can silicon them? Well besides going to a garage and paying someone to take all the wheels off just to get at the center caps.And thanks for the help.Jack one corner up at a time, pull the wheel off, pop the center cap out from the backside of the wheel, put a little bit of silicone around the edge of the center cap, re-install the center cap, re-install the wheel. Repeat three more times. This would also be a good time to check your tire pressure (32 psi all around) .You're very welcome. That's what we're here for .

[ParknVibe]

Quote, originally posted by rstratton »Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get these center caps out so I can silicon them? Well besides going to a garage and paying someone to take all the wheels off just to get at the center caps.And thanks for the help.You just pry it out with a thin flat screw driver or equal.I would not glue them in! When you need a new tire, they need to be removed. I recommend to use the Velcro method I wrote about herein.

[kowell]

Well, after 4 years of faithful spinning, my center caps have decided to run away this year. Lost 2 caps in 1 week thanks to the many many MANY roadwork being done around town. Probably my fault a little. The dealer must have glued them a little 4 years ago as per the service bulletin (lost 1 back then) and when the tires were changed this summer they removed them and I forgot to resecure them.

To the ebay store!!!!!

Are there different size for these silver-ish caps ? I found a few on Ebey but I'm not sure about the size. Would a cap made for a G6 or a Montana fit a Vibe ?

[ParknVibe]

Well, after 4 years of faithful spinning, my center caps have decided to run away this year. Lost 2 caps in 1 week thanks to the many many MANY roadwork being done around town. Probably my fault a little. The dealer must have glued them a little 4 years ago as per the service bulletin (lost 1 back then) and when the tires were changed this summer they removed them and I forgot to resecure them.

To the ebay store!!!!!

Are there different size for these silver-ish caps ? I found a few on Ebey but I'm not sure about the size. Would a cap made for a G6 or a Montana fit a Vibe ?

My original center caps are still on using my Velcro fix and has been on for more then 4 years.

[kowell]

Quick question.

The part number inside my remaining cap is 9595095 but I also found part number 20835338 on the web (gmparts.com)
Are both part number correct or are they a different item ?

[marq]

There was a change to the caps in late 09 or early 10. The material that GM used for the Vibe cap (same as every other GM car) did not work on the Vibe and the retaining tabs would loose their stiffness and fall off. The new caps are a different color, was gray now black or other way around!

Mine were replaced out of warranty so I'd suggest going to a dealer and talking to them.