Stupid Ford Trick (low tire pressure alarm)

[check]

I think TPMS is a good thing. Like any other system it sometimes needs fiddling with but when it is working properly it probably saves lives.

I only have one vehicle with it and it lets me know when the temperature drops. It is very sensitive to the point it comes on at 29 psi when the set point is supposed to be 33.

The sensors have batteries in them that will fail over time.

I haven't had too much trouble with alloy wheels leaking but once had a Miata that had one tire that always went down. I was cleaning it up and painted the wheels and that solved the problem.

One other thing to be wary about with alloy wheels it re-torquing them after you have had them off. I have to re-tighten my Mustang wheels after driving a few miles every time they are removed or they will come loose.

Had that problem with my pickup. Very scary.

 

[Morning Wood]

I like it. My wife’s car had a slow leak that was detected. I also have winter and summer tires for her car and my truck. Bought programmable sensors for both. No issues switching tires back and forth yet.

 

[check]

I like it. My wife’s car had a slow leak that was detected. I also have winter and summer tires for her car and my truck. Bought programmable sensors for both. No issues switching tires back and forth yet.

Same with my wife’s car. And, since both sets of TPM’s being made by Honda, they can be easily reset each time we do the switchover.

 

[paulfun9]

I see many with complaints of slow leaks. My only question is does anyone know that a little bit of bead sealer would prolong the life of those rims almost forever.

 

[hawkeye08]

Had some issues with TPMS reset on my 2011 GMC Sierra.. ordered a clone tool off Amazon for $20, did not work, complained to seller, they told me I was using it wrong.. took a week of back and forth, finally got fed up and posted bad review, a replacement was sent out, worked first time. Works on my wife's Tahoe also. I did not try it on my daughter's Equinox.

 

[truetractoring]

Embarrassing TPMS trouble shoot. Changed to winter tires and reset TPMS. TPMS light goes on after 20 miles. I check the pressure. 32 psi in all tires. Figured the winter tire TPMS batteries died. Bought new TPMS for all tires and replaced. Inflated to 32 psi. 20 miles later TPMS light goes off. ****, must be something else. Grab another guage and check. 5 psi difference from guage I was using. Pumped up to new guages 32 psi indication--- TPMS light turns off immediately. Root cause problem-----Inaccurate air pressure gauge. After researching the Internet, very common problem to have inaccurate air pressure gauges.

 

[dnw64]

The only tube I have (thank goodness) is the wheelbarrow (that seems to always lose air even with new tube).

I buy solid tires for my wheelbarrows first time I get a flat.

 

[dnw64]

I refuse to run my tires at maximum inflation all the time just to keep the TPMS from "warning" me.

Why would you not want to run at "maximum" (not really sure what you mean by that)?

Recommended pressure is most comfortable, safest and near best fuel mileage (1-2 PSI over will give you a bit more MPG at a very slight decrease in comfort and increased tire wear). Running under the recommended pressure (which is my interpretation of your statement) is one of the most dangerous things you can do.

 

[dnw64]

It is also my understanding that the tire sensor will also shut off the MDS on the Hemi engine.

I might try to set the TPMS off just for that!

MDS is the single most annoying thing on my Ram. Thankfully I have a tuner and have shut it off in programming.

 

[dnw64]

I was under the impression that the basic method of detecting low pressure on a lot of vehicles is done by the speed censers. If a tyre goes low, that wheel has a smaller circumference, there fore it would go round faster than the wheel on the opposite side, and this would show as a low pressure.

Interesting concept. Maybe some vehicles do/did use that method, but it would be pointless if all tires lost pressure equally.

True TPMS actually does that - monitors the pressure in each tire. The sensor transmits the pressure wirelessly to a receiver that is tied into the vehicle information system. While some systems merely display a "PROBLEM" icon, on my Ram I get a display on my dash of the actual pressure in each tire. When I hop in at the end of a sunny day, I can see the tires that had the sun shining on them have a higher pressure than the others, before I even take it out of Park. No wheel speed sensors in there.