Center Caps on Envoy

[remlap]

I have an 04 Envoy SLE which I purchased last year this time. I buy a vehicle and keep it until it's used up. I replaced a 95 Chevy Blazer with 145,000 miles on it which I didn't sell until this past Spring. I wanted to keep it 10 years.

The other day I thought I had a right, front passenger-side tire leak. I heard what sounded like air leaking from the wheel well after a short trip with the defroster on. After returning home and removing the wheel with help from the owner's manual and my son, I found that the tire wasn't leaking at all. Still haven't figured out what made that sound other than the air conditioning compressor must leak air after you turn it off. I assume that unit also operates when you use the defroster. After replacing the wheel, the manual didn't state a right or wrong way to replace the polished aluminum center cap. Well, wouldn't you know that after taking it to the dealer the next day to do a small warranty job on the driver-side rear passenger seat (which wouldn't release to lay flat) the dealer and I both found the center cap to be missing. When he looked up what it would cost to replace the cap I almost fell over! $72 for one center cap! I'm now in the process of trying to locate another at a more reasonable price.

How are you to reinstall these center caps so that they don't come off?

[Envoy Fan]

If you look real close, there is a keyed way the center cap is supposed to be installed. Also upon installation, it is important to look and see that the center cap is down tight on all sides.

These caps are on Ebay all the time. They aren't cheap there either, but less than dealer price. Make sure that the cap comes from an '03 or newer.

[bmm354]

Also check junkyards. You might be able to get one for about $25, but be sure to look it over carefully before buying.

As Envoy Fan said, when you put the cap back on make sure it's sung all the way around. This is important any time you have your tires rotated too. You can use the palm of your hand to tap it in if you have to. Just don't use a hammer! :p Seriously though, at a tire shop that shall remain nameless I swear the tech used a ball peen hammer to put one of my center caps back on. It wasn't pretty. They did make good and buy me a new one though.

[remlap]

Thank you everyone for your help. I ended up buying a set on eBay and have received them. They are scratched a bit though. I'll put the worse one on and if I loose it I have 3 extra. I checked every junk yard in the area where I live first and none had any. They all said they wouldn't just sell the center cap anyway. When they sell a wheel, they sell a complete wheel with center cap. That was interesting to note.

[autotech]

If you heard a hissing sound from the right front of the vehicle from above and behind the wheel after you shut off the vehicle, then the sound you are hearing is the refrigerant equalizing in the system. What you are hearing is the refrigerant passing through the orifice tube, it makes that sound anytime the compressor is running but you can't hear it over the engine unless you listen very closely. That sound is completely normal, no need for concern.

[remlap]

Thanks for answering what that sound was that I heard from the right front passenger side wheel well. Funny how I never heard it before. Probably because I'm usually the one driving the vehicle rather than being a passenger. Oh well, a lesson learned. Now I know how to take down the spare tire, change a tire and replace the spare. Hope I can learn how to replace the center cap correctly so I don't loose another one!