I'll be getting aftermarket wheels installed soon and was wondering about the TPMS bands. Discount Tire told me the bands cannot be reused; that I would have to purchase new bands and even a sensor bracket. Where is the cheapest place to buy bands and are new brackets really needed? If anyone has a pic of what this entire TPMS contraption looks like, please post it. It's hard to visualize this nonsense having never seen it.

 

Discount Tire should have new bands to sell you. It seems most band mounted TPMS sensors must have the bands replaced when switching rims. I am doing the same thing and just bought new bands/brackets from AmericanMuscle.com yesterday. $16.99 / wheel. Best price I could fine. Ford wants over $50 / wheel.

 

I got mine from American Muscle as well. They're basically just a big band clamp.

 

willie, the factory bands are one-time use only. i got my bands/brackets from american muscle. you can actually use the stock bracket again. i would imagine you just gotta clean off the double sided tape really well in order to get a clean surface for a good stick. also, you would have to put new tape on the bracket.

as far as a pic of the set-up, i was trying to find it for you. there was a thread here with a good pic, but i can't find it.

also, after you get them on your car, you will have to re-program your sensors. ford sells a tpms tool for about $18 bucks or so.

 

Discount tire did mine for 9.50 per tire, which included new bands and brackets. Just big hose clamps really. If, however you buy your wheels/tires from someone else it's quite a bit more. I didn't have to re-program mine either, is that something new in 08?

 

I just did mine and got them from American muscle as well, there's come with the brackets and double sided tape. I did have to reprogram my sensors which I was not expecting to have to do but it was no big deal because I had the programmer already. I don't know if they reset themselves when taken off the bracket or if it was just a fluke but as soon as I cranked the car up the warning light came on. I thought one of them might have broken in the mounting process but sure enough I reprogrammed them and it works fine.

 

Thanks for ALL the info guys! You've answered all my questions.

I've already purchased the training tool (to re-program) but it didn't come with instructions. How do you use it?

BTW, I read somewhere that the sensors need to be trained after a tire rotation but I did not have to with mine. Not sure why.

Willie

 

1.Turn ignition off then press and release brake pedal.
2. Cycle the ignition from off to run 3 times ending in run
3. press and release brake pedal
4. turn ignition off
5. turn ignition from off to run 3 more times ending in run.
The horn will sound once and tpms indicator will flash indicating training mode.
6. place the training tool 180 degrease from valve stem going in this order: LF-RF-RB-LB.
the horn will sound with each trained sensor.

I did not have to retrain after rotations, only with the new wheels.

 

Thanks Robbie,

Still kind of curious why a retrain is required with new wheels when the original sensors are reused....

Willie

 

Mine didn't require retraining as far as I'm aware. The Firestone place didn't say anything about having to retrain them.

 

Yeah, I don't know. I was surprised when the light came on I really thought one or more of them were broken. The only thing I can think of is that maybe there is a contact or something on the sensor and when it's removed from the wheel it goes into sleep mode but thats just a guess

 

robbieg already posted the instructions, but here it is again.
http://home.ptd.net/~safari/mustang/fsm/Training.pdf

mine worked fine for about 4 days after the transfer, so i thought i was in the clear. however after that it went into malfunction mode so i had to re-train them. i think if they remount them in the exact same tires that they were in previously, then you may not have to get them re-trained. idk. just guessing.

i know when you get the tires rotated, it confuses the computer because the sensors are no longer in the order that they were programmed in... so that is why they need to be re-programmed with their new order.