Sick of TPMS

[raytseng]

I'll bring up the devil's advocate that while it seems a lot of you are blaming the government, why aren't more of you blaming the manufacturer?

There is nothing in the TPMS Law that says this must cost you $X or x time, or this hassle or disables this or that.

If the requirement is there to do TP monitoring, why didn't they implement a better system so it doesn't cost you $180/year to reset it.

So I think you can assign the majority (i.e. more than 50%) of your frustration and anger to the manufacturers for the Implementation that's wonky, not the law and govt.

 

[dparm]

Originally Posted By: JTK
If it's a newer Honda, you shouldn't have to worry about TPMS wheel sensors. I don't have any experience with it, but I've heard that Honda went back to the old school way with using the wheel speed sensors to detect tire issues as opposed to pressure sensors in the wheels. Why they can't all do this is beyond me. I too absolutely HATE the sensors in the wheels.



Audi has gone this way too.

 

[Lolvoguy]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
I'm just thankful our q5 does not use physical in-wheel pressure sensors.


How does it work if there's nothing inside the wheel to read the pressure?

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: 07titan
from what I was told, you can thank Ford for this.


Ford should have just told the people to quit whining. Yes, you bought a full framed, truck based SUV ... it's going to ride rough. Deal with it or buy something that is a bit more car based.

 

[supton]

If you go on eBay you can get a cheap knockoff Techstream for Toyota's (granted must have an XP machine for it). I was planning on writing down the sensor numbers for the ones on my winter tires, but when the sensors broke during tire install I chucked 'em and ignored the light.

When the all seasons die I plan to remove the sensors, build a puck out of PVC, and install into that. Pump to 32psi and toss under a seat.

*

I have not warmed up to the sensor-less systems. It's not a bad system but I've seen cars with all four tires low. How is it going to work with that? Besides, who doesn't want to know to a psi what the tire pressure is?

I'm sure this was a good move for the general population, but it's more nuisance than help to me.

 

[DBMaster]

The wheel sensors have a limited lifespan due to the built in batteries that cannot be replaced. If your car is over five years old and the TPMS light is on with all tires at proper pressure it is very possible you have a dead battery in at least one wheel sensor.

THAT is really the main issue I have with these systems. Even the cheapest aftermarket sensors are going to cost you a c-note. That's just for the parts.

 

[mclasser]

Originally Posted By: racer12306
You all need to remember that we are the exception, not the norm.

Most car owners only get their tire pressures checked when they take it to Jiffy Lube every 8000 miles and then that only happens when Jiffy Lube takes the time to do it.

True. Many people complain about their tires wearing out prematurely or poor gas mileage. I bet a good percentage of these people drive around with chronically under-inflated tires.

My two older cars don't have TPMS but along with checking fluids every couple of weeks, I give the tires a quick look. Got a $15 portable air pump that lets me fill up in the comfort of my garage. No need to drive to a gas station with quarters and move quickly before the machine shuts off.

 

[jeepman3071]

Originally Posted By: Miller88
Originally Posted By: 07titan
from what I was told, you can thank Ford for this.


Ford should have just told the people to quit whining. Yes, you bought a full framed, truck based SUV ... it's going to ride rough. Deal with it or buy something that is a bit more car based.


Probably had something to do with the Explorer/Firestone tire rollovers.

 

[racin4ds]

Originally Posted By: JTK
If it's a newer Honda, you shouldn't have to worry about TPMS wheel sensors. I don't have any experience with it, but I've heard that Honda went back to the old school way with using the wheel speed sensors to detect tire issues as opposed to pressure sensors in the wheels. Why they can't all do this is beyond me. I too absolutely HATE the sensors in the wheels.


Wheel speed sensors can detect wheel speed changes but there is no physical way for it to detect tire pressure. This can only be done with a inboard mounted pressure sensor. Sorry, no other way around it.

I like TPMS myself for many reasons. Sensors are cheap to replace if you shop around and don't go to the local tire shop or dealer to get them!

 

[DBMaster]

Originally Posted By: jeepman3071
Probably had something to do with the Explorer/Firestone tire rollovers.


It did. IIRC the mandate for TPMS was a direct result of that. Ford apparently recommended a 26 psi inflation pressure to soften the truck-like ride. The rollovers happened mostly in areas with hot summer temps as the inevitable underinflation that people allowed to happen resulted in overheating related tire failures.

Overall, I think TPMS was a good thing for most people. Even those of us who check tires regularly (I do) won't immediately catch a tire that has gone 20% below its recommended pressure. I am compulsive, but I don't check tire pressure daily. TPMS might even save a tire here and there.

 

[demarpaint]

I don't like it, I wish it was an option and not something that came as OE. It's one more thing to go wrong and another added expense. I got by for close to 4 decades w/o it just fine.

 

[javacontour]

There is some merit to that. If one were complaining about one implementation over another, I'd agree.

But the fact that Uncle Sam said you had to monitor it at all raised the price and complexity of vehicles.

Even if you have a vehicle that can automatically detect new/replacement sensors, it's still something else to break, something they had to engineer, etc.

So yeah, most of the blame goes to DC for mandating we must have this technology on new cars.

Originally Posted By: raytseng
I'll bring up the devil's advocate that while it seems a lot of you are blaming the government, why aren't more of you blaming the manufacturer?

There is nothing in the TPMS Law that says this must cost you $X or x time, or this hassle or disables this or that.

If the requirement is there to do TP monitoring, why didn't they implement a better system so it doesn't cost you $180/year to reset it.

So I think you can assign the majority (i.e. more than 50%) of your frustration and anger to the manufacturers for the Implementation that's wonky, not the law and govt.

 

[KrisZ]

My new minivan has it, I can't say I'm thrilled about having it.

 

[WillsYoda]

Anyone found good aftermarket TPMS sensors for toyota winter tires?

 

[JennyHemi]

I hate them. My tires have been fine, but of course the TPMS failed, and they wanted $300 for it! Luckily, it was covered under warranty, but still...

 

[Wheel]

I can still feel when the tire is softer than I believe it should be, but too hard for the TPMS to trip.

Even my wife checks the tires. TMPS is useless, unless you have run-flats.

I'm so glad I am protected from myself.
Maybe my next hammer will have something to protect my thumb...

 

[greasegunn]

So no one has purchased a reset/relearn tool to do it on their own? Or maybe there is an app? BTW the Hondas are 2007 - 2010 vintage Civics and an Accord

 

[07titan]

my tpms light was on for 3-4 months, 08 jeep. Was told tpms battery dead, tire shops wanted $80.00 to $95.00 per tire. I just recenty bought new tires, I asked the installer if I purchase the tpms myself, how much to install? He said nothing, free. So I purchased 4 from rock auto, $31.00 each. The installer also programmed them, no tpms light on since. Battery's life spans vary, 5 to 10 years. My jeep's where 8 years old. I also had black tape over it. Most tire centers will tell ya if they are good or bad with their tool or which one is bad,,,free.

 

[Soggydog]

Previous owner of our camry installed snazzy stainless valve caps on the tire stems. Never really had a problem till one day the cap seemed too tight. I grabbed it with my handy Leatherman tool and gingerly broke the seized aluminum threaded tip still in the cap off the valve. On my silverado the valves were seperate from the sensors. Single unit on the camry.
Oddly, her 07 Matrix had a button on the dash with an image of a tire on it but the wheels had no sensors from the factory and no dash lights?

 

[willbur]

"safety" feature mandated by the US government.."

No, thank the driver that was running her overloaded Ford explorer with underinflated tires, at 80 mph in the Texas heat. Tire blew out and they all spilled out. Lawyers went to work and the politicians/legislators did their part, too. For this one incident, we all are stuck with TPMS($$$$).