TPMS - the ultimate FAQ
Dec 19, 2007, 10:41 AM
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TPMS - the ultimate FAQ
A work in progress, give it time.
What is TPMS?
Tire Pressure Monitoring System. The idea of this system is that it will monitor your tire air pressures and notify you if something is wrong (like a low or flat tire).
Where is it?
You might notice that the valves on your wheels look a little different. This is it. There's a small box that goes inside the wheels and is on the back of the valve.
Why is it there?
To keep you safe, silly.
Do I have it?
If you drive a 2008 Lancer, yes. All models (DE/ES/GTS) have them.
Can I turn it off if I don't want it?
No.
Can
turn it off if I don't want it?
No.
You're kidding me.
No. This system is tied into your car's ECU. The Technical Service Bulletin from specifically says "it cannot be deactivated."
How sensitive is it?
I've had it come on when my tires were at 27 psi (5 below normal).
What info does it give?
None, really. You just get a SERVICE REQUIRED warning and the light goes on. This could be because one tire is a few PSI low, this could be because all four tires have popped. The car is just notifying you that SOMETHING is wrong. It's your job to figure out what that is.
What if I use aftermarket wheels and don't get the TPMS?
Then you will be annoyed. When you start the car, the little "flat tire with an !" lights up. The main screen lights up with the same logo and SERVICE REQUIRED. You have to hold the INFO button for 2 seconds to turn this off. Any action that comes on the screen will turn the SERVICE REQUIRED warning on again.
This includes:
opening the car door
the "Possible icy conditions" reminder coming on
etc (I'll add more as I experience them)
What if I put my sensors in a vaccuum tube and fill that tube to 32 psi and drive around with that in the car?
Nope. EvoM member Nosman tried it for 200km and 2hrs, and the light was still on. Best guess - they're tied into the ABS speed sensors or something...
How much do the sensors cost?
$50 each (you need 4), plus dealership costs for programming them.
How long do they last?
Roughly 5 years, from what I've read. "recommends" that you change them every time you get new tires, but I suspect that's mostly so they can make more money off you...
Who can install them?
It can be DIYed, but you need tools that the average person does not have. Obviously, the dealership or a automotive shop can handle this chore.
I was able to remove mine using my father's tire-changing stand, a crowbar, and some help; this is not normal though.
What's the process?
(Edited to fix English & grammar)
Note from EvoM member Nosman - You forgot to mention that you have to torque the valve spring to 3 lbs/inch and the nut that holds it on the rim to 71 lbs/inch
Little bit more info
Posted by EvoM member CamShaft:
"Standardization is on the way with Daimler/Chrysler being the first major automotive manufacturer to introduce a universal TPMS platform with only two different sensors, two different grommet/o-ring kits, and no recalibration (the system resets itself automatically). Siemens VDO, an original equipment supplier of valve stem sensors that developed this technology, has been working with TIA for a couple of years to introduce a valve stem TPMS that is technician friendly, and early reports suggest it was successful"
What is TPMS?
Tire Pressure Monitoring System. The idea of this system is that it will monitor your tire air pressures and notify you if something is wrong (like a low or flat tire).
Where is it?
You might notice that the valves on your wheels look a little different. This is it. There's a small box that goes inside the wheels and is on the back of the valve.
Why is it there?
To keep you safe, silly.
Do I have it?
If you drive a 2008 Lancer, yes. All models (DE/ES/GTS) have them.
Can I turn it off if I don't want it?
No.
Can
turn it off if I don't want it?No.
You're kidding me.
No. This system is tied into your car's ECU. The Technical Service Bulletin from
specifically says "it cannot be deactivated."How sensitive is it?
I've had it come on when my tires were at 27 psi (5 below normal).
What info does it give?
None, really. You just get a SERVICE REQUIRED warning and the light goes on. This could be because one tire is a few PSI low, this could be because all four tires have popped. The car is just notifying you that SOMETHING is wrong. It's your job to figure out what that is.
What if I use aftermarket wheels and don't get the TPMS?
Then you will be annoyed. When you start the car, the little "flat tire with an !" lights up. The main screen lights up with the same logo and SERVICE REQUIRED. You have to hold the INFO button for 2 seconds to turn this off. Any action that comes on the screen will turn the SERVICE REQUIRED warning on again.
This includes:
opening the car door
the "Possible icy conditions" reminder coming on
etc (I'll add more as I experience them)
What if I put my sensors in a vaccuum tube and fill that tube to 32 psi and drive around with that in the car?
Nope. EvoM member Nosman tried it for 200km and 2hrs, and the light was still on. Best guess - they're tied into the ABS speed sensors or something...
How much do the sensors cost?
$50 each (you need 4), plus
dealership costs for programming them.How long do they last?
Roughly 5 years, from what I've read.
"recommends" that you change them every time you get new tires, but I suspect that's mostly so they can make more money off you...Who can install them?
It can be DIYed, but you need tools that the average person does not have. Obviously, the dealership or a automotive shop can handle this chore.
I was able to remove mine using my father's tire-changing stand, a crowbar, and some help; this is not normal though.
What's the process?
Originally Posted by nelsondevicenci
OK, I did not take pics, but i can tell you. I saw this:
1. The guy take the air out of the tire.
2. Take the tire off the rim.
3. He removed a nut from the valve outside of the rim.
4. After that the sensor the TPMS came off.
5. After that he put the sensor into the new wheel and tightened the nut onto the valve outside the rim.
6. Put the tire onto the new wheel.
7. Put air in the new wheel with tire.
8. Put the wheel on the balancing machine.
9. Put them back onto my car.
1. The guy take the air out of the tire.
2. Take the tire off the rim.
3. He removed a nut from the valve outside of the rim.
4. After that the sensor the TPMS came off.
5. After that he put the sensor into the new wheel and tightened the nut onto the valve outside the rim.
6. Put the tire onto the new wheel.
7. Put air in the new wheel with tire.
8. Put the wheel on the balancing machine.
9. Put them back onto my car.
Note from EvoM member Nosman - You forgot to mention that you have to torque the valve spring to 3 lbs/inch and the nut that holds it on the rim to 71 lbs/inch
Little bit more info
Posted by EvoM member CamShaft:
"Standardization is on the way with Daimler/Chrysler being the first major automotive manufacturer to introduce a universal TPMS platform with only two different sensors, two different grommet/o-ring kits, and no recalibration (the system resets itself automatically). Siemens VDO, an original equipment supplier of valve stem sensors that developed this technology, has been working with TIA for a couple of years to introduce a valve stem TPMS that is technician friendly, and early reports suggest it was successful"
Last edited by Blacksheepdj; Feb 29, 2008 at 01:35 PM.
Mar 2, 2008, 11:10 AM
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Also, having a FSM helps.
You: Hey, I need you to put my TPMS units into my new wheels before you mount my new tires.
Mechanic: Okie dokie.
You: Thanks!
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Mar 4, 2008, 12:33 PM
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do the sensors need to be reset or something every time the tires are taken off?
or just for new tires? im planning on painting the rims, but my dad says i should take the tires off and actually remove the paint ont he rim using laquer/paint thinner, which he said would mess up the rubber.
So would i have to go to the dealer to get them to reset it? or just stick the tires back on and set to the right pressure and it should be back like normal?
or just for new tires? im planning on painting the rims, but my dad says i should take the tires off and actually remove the paint ont he rim using laquer/paint thinner, which he said would mess up the rubber.
So would i have to go to the dealer to get them to reset it? or just stick the tires back on and set to the right pressure and it should be back like normal?
May 11, 2008, 10:31 AM
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i'm surprised they don't alert you when they're overfilled because when i picked up my lancer the tires were filled to 40 psi and there was no alert. all four of them too!
May 11, 2008, 01:00 PM
#15
Another quick fact is that when changing tires, as long as you mount the tires back in the EXACT same location they came off of, you will not need to reset the sensors. But on a rotation, you will need to reset them. We actually have equipment to reset MOST vehicles. We have yet to have a new Lancer come in, so I'm not 100% sure if our equipment is compatible with Mitsubishi's TPMS or not. If not, we will usually send the customer to the dealership to have them reset.
Lastly, for those of you that do have TPMS, DO NOT USE METAL CAPS on the valve stem of the sensors. We have had an incident where ancustomer cam in with a TPMS sensor with metal caps, and there was rust corroded between the cap and the valve stem itself causing the metal valve stem to actually break off when we went to air up the tire. That being said, we had to replace the whole sensor. Plastic or aluminum caps are fine,but the metal on metal combined with water=corrosion.
