Tire Pressure Monitoring System - So how well do they work?
Does this include Candian orders??? I did not see anything about a tire sensor when I ordered...I can not even find anything about it in Canada....Any help would be appreciated....
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Legacy TMS Member




Joined: October 2, 2006
Posts: 4,777
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From: Southeast Michigan
Just make sure you don't disable the TPMS indicator light, or else the TPMS police will come, along with the catalytic converter police who come when you install off-road pipes and use them for non-off-road purposes.
On second thought, where can I get four of them there, simulated TPMS sensor fixer uppers?
If you are going to use a wheel sensor at all, you might as well strap two of them to each wheel. Consider the fact that when you use only one sensor on a wheel, you will have to counterbalance it with an equal amount lead weight.
Actually that may be why the sensor it mounted 180 degrees from the valve stem. +1 on the unsprung weight. but the weight of these sensors is probably negligable compared to the mass of a wheel+tire and all.
Just to chime in. I put aftermarket wheels with the tires already installed on mine right after I got the car. I assumed that the sensors were already there because after about a month I didn't get any type of alarm or alert about the TPMS. Yesterday I started getting the TPMS fault message. So needless to say I question the reliability of this system. The alert only comes on when I start the car and clears once you hit the reset button on the dash, so no drama there. I always check my tires anyways so having the sensors is kind of a mute issue for me. I'll probably put the factory sensors back in once I blow through this set of tires. I just don't wanna mess with it now.
Just to chime in. I put aftermarket wheels with the tires already installed on mine right after I got the car. I assumed that the sensors were already there because after about a month I didn't get any type of alarm or alert about the TPMS. Yesterday I started getting the TPMS fault message. So needless to say I question the reliability of this system. The alert only comes on when I start the car and clears once you hit the reset button on the dash, so no drama there. I always check my tires anyways so having the sensors is kind of a mute issue for me. I'll probably put the factory sensors back in once I blow through this set of tires. I just don't wanna mess with it now.
I could...
Why don't you just cut off the old ones and throw them in the spare tire well and be done with it?
I can press the reset button daily, but if the light cannot be bypassed over time (like the civic) I'll go nuts!
You are correct. The 350Z shows the tire pressure for each tire. It's now standard on all 2006+ 350Z.
Nissan uses two different types of TPMS. Most of their other models, like Altima, only show a generic "low pressure" warning.
Infiniti, Cadillac, and Corvette use the individual tire type as well. If you rotate the tires (i.e. cadillac), you have to reprogram the sensors for their new locations (because the wheels have all changed locations). For the cadillac, they use a magnet for that. After rotating the tires, you put the system into reprogram mode and hold a magnet to the valve stems of each wheel. The magnet tells the stem to retransmit its unique code. Of course you have to do this in the same order LF, RF, RR, LR, so that the system knows the new location of each wheel.
TPMS sensors have 10 year lithium batteries. The batteries are not serviceable/replaceable.
Probably more info than you wanted. But i love tech stuff and knowing how things work.
Nissan uses two different types of TPMS. Most of their other models, like Altima, only show a generic "low pressure" warning.
Infiniti, Cadillac, and Corvette use the individual tire type as well. If you rotate the tires (i.e. cadillac), you have to reprogram the sensors for their new locations (because the wheels have all changed locations). For the cadillac, they use a magnet for that. After rotating the tires, you put the system into reprogram mode and hold a magnet to the valve stems of each wheel. The magnet tells the stem to retransmit its unique code. Of course you have to do this in the same order LF, RF, RR, LR, so that the system knows the new location of each wheel.
TPMS sensors have 10 year lithium batteries. The batteries are not serviceable/replaceable.
Probably more info than you wanted. But i love tech stuff and knowing how things work.
There is also another way to program them if you dont have a strong enough magnet or the GM tool. But is tedious and requires you to deflate and reinflat each tire. Kinda sux.
10 years is correct on the batteries expected life.
It is illegal to disable the light, not sure if anyone knows how to do this yet either since theres liability involved. Unlike removing cats and o2 sensors.
The light will trugger when the tire loses 20% of the factory recommeded air pressure.
Heres where switching to 20's comes into play. 20" tires have less load capacity at the factory tires pressure(32) and require a higher psi. to maintain the load capacity. Thus effecting the systems accuracy.
Example. Lets say that 20" tire requires 39psi to = factory tires load capacity at 32psi. The monitor wont trigger until that 20" tire is down to 25-26psi, and that could damage the tire, or if you hit a pothole or curb cause an impact break to the tire, or even worse, rim damage.
I work at Goodyear, this has been a big thing of late, sux if you ask me, **** government.
but the thought of the constant "reminder" on the dash....I once got out of sequence with oil changes on my old Civic. At first the "oil change" reminder quickly flashed when the car was being started, days later it would then stay on for one minute, then about a week later it would stay on for 3-5 minutes, then after two weeks+ it would not come off until I made a special trip to the dealer. I hope that these sensors/warning lights aren't the same.
I can press the reset button daily, but if the light cannot be bypassed over time (like the civic) I'll go nuts!
I can press the reset button daily, but if the light cannot be bypassed over time (like the civic) I'll go nuts!
.
Thanks neil07gt & Stoenr for the info. Nobody is happy about this; and we still have to use our tire pressure gauges.
I have four questions (because my 2006 Service Information doesn't have TPMS):
For those of us with 2 sets of tires/wheels (summer & winter), if we don't rotate the tires (another good idea), do the sensors have to be reprogrammed each time that we switch them around (if we use the previous locations)?
For the 2007 Mustang how does one put the system into TPMS reprogram mode?
Finally how strong of a magnet is required and where's a good place to buy them.
All this because of our governments' sincere desire to protect us. Power untempered with reason is dangerous (something that Barry G probably said).
I have four questions (because my 2006 Service Information doesn't have TPMS):
For those of us with 2 sets of tires/wheels (summer & winter), if we don't rotate the tires (another good idea), do the sensors have to be reprogrammed each time that we switch them around (if we use the previous locations)?
For the 2007 Mustang how does one put the system into TPMS reprogram mode?
Finally how strong of a magnet is required and where's a good place to buy them.
All this because of our governments' sincere desire to protect us. Power untempered with reason is dangerous (something that Barry G probably said).
I just spoke to a Ford Parts Manager in Edmonton and it is his impression that once the TPMS sensors are programmed for one vehicle, the wheels may be rotated without any complications. Also that you only have to program another set of wheels once and that in the future, either set of wheels may be used on that vehicle (in any location). Sounds like it's a "global" system.
Thanks neil07gt & Stoenr for the info. Nobody is happy about this; and we still have to use our tire pressure gauges.
I have four questions (because my 2006 Service Information doesn't have TPMS):
For those of us with 2 sets of tires/wheels (summer & winter), if we don't rotate the tires (another good idea), do the sensors have to be reprogrammed each time that we switch them around (if we use the previous locations)?
For the 2007 Mustang how does one put the system into TPMS reprogram mode?
Finally how strong of a magnet is required and where's a good place to buy them.
All this because of our governments' sincere desire to protect us. Power untempered with reason is dangerous (something that Barry G probably said).
I have four questions (because my 2006 Service Information doesn't have TPMS):
For those of us with 2 sets of tires/wheels (summer & winter), if we don't rotate the tires (another good idea), do the sensors have to be reprogrammed each time that we switch them around (if we use the previous locations)?
For the 2007 Mustang how does one put the system into TPMS reprogram mode?
Finally how strong of a magnet is required and where's a good place to buy them.
All this because of our governments' sincere desire to protect us. Power untempered with reason is dangerous (something that Barry G probably said).
the magnet method is only for the more advanced valve stem type of sensors that you find on cadillac, corvette, and a few others. it was an alternative method to using the dealers electronic handheld programmer.
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