Stupid Ford Trick (low tire pressure alarm)

[QRTRHRS]

Yes, so I have this 2014 E350 passenger van with a low tire pressure alert system on it which I just learned was federally mandated. After buying it used last year I had winter tires put on it. The next day I got in and had this low tire pressure alert so I checked and indeed one of my new tires was down so I pumped it up and the alert went off. (The tire checked out okay so it may not have seated correctly)

About a week ago the alert came on. No flats, pressures all good? I tried the standard if all else fails unplug it by temporarily removing the ground cable off of the battery. That did not do it so I went to the net' and did some research. A couple of You Tube video's described this routine which I followed and as crazy as it sounds, it worked!

You turn the ignition to the on position where the lights on the dash including the alert come on. Turn the four ways on and off three times within 10 seconds until the horn beeps once. Then go one at a time around the vehicle letting some air out of each tire until the horn beeps for each tire. Check on the light and it was out! Follow up with a pressure check and inflation on each tire to spec and I am good to go. I also learned that I could buy a tool to reset each sensor for about 23 or so bucks.

I also read where GM's system is much better but maybe that will be the next truck, lol!

Having just had a rebuilt transmission put into the truck about two weeks ago, when the alert came on I thought oh' brother, what's next?

 

[Industrial Toys]

Put my snow tires on my GMC 2500 night before last. Despite having a tool, I can't get the sensors to "tweet" their identity. Rims and sensors are all OEM but I always had a harder time with the snows, To make matters worse, I had my winter tires and rims cleaned up last spring so they would hold air, well most were almost flat when I went to put them on! It's the Alloy rims that are STUPID! I should put tubes in them!

 

[mcfarmall]

I hate TPMS. One more nuisance item to fix.

 

[Industrial Toys]

They do kind of go hand in hand, the TPMS with the garbage alloy rims! That system always is sure to tell me, every few days that my tires are low!

 

[ruffdog]

I normally lose about 5lbs of air in 6mo of storage. I air them up and swap the different tire/wheel combo, use the tool to reset tpms...done. The tpms warns me of low pressure from a nail or screw earlier than I might notice. The only tube I have (thank goodness) is the wheelbarrow (that seems to always lose air even with new tube).

 

[KubotainNH]

Put my snow tires on my GMC 2500 night before last. Despite having a tool, I can't get the sensors to "tweet" their identity. Rims and sensors are all OEM but I always had a harder time with the snows, To make matters worse, I had my winter tires and rims cleaned up last spring so they would hold air, well most were almost flat when I went to put them on! It's the Alloy rims that are STUPID! I should put tubes in them!

I've had some alloy rims that the coating would crack around where the bead is and allow air out. I found the leak by spraying soapy water around the rim. I used a jack to push the tire sidewall in enough to wire brush the coating off and the leakage went away. I agree though, TPMS is a PIA.

 

[ruffdog]

I've had some alloy rims that the coating would crack around where the bead is and allow air out. I found the leak by spraying soapy water around the rim. I used a jack to push the tire sidewall in enough to wire brush the coating off and the leakage went away. I agree though, TPMS is a PIA.

^^Very good point! Alloy rims that are chromed or coated may corrode under that layer and leak air. $$$$

 

[Industrial Toys]

You think the well established tire shop would know their way around that problem!

 

[KubotainNH]

You think the well established tire shop would know their way around that problem!

Agreed but they seem to rush to get the tires done then look closer when the customer complains it's leaking. Sometimes they don't even look closely and instead put black sealer on the bead which may not even fix the leak because it's under the coating.

 

[ruffdog]

You think the well established tire shop would know their way around that problem!

Alloy wheel corrosion is a common problem here with the calcium Chloride (road salt). All you can do at that point is file or scrape the loose stuff off, thin coat with clear silicone caulking, mount the tire. Or, new wheels $$$.