TPMS Sensors

[Pulse Red GTO]

Ok so on my 08 MKZ, I had 3 tires at 36 PSI & one was a 25 and the light wasn't on. I think something is wrong with the system? Does anyone know how much variance is needed to set of light? I called the dealer & they said it should have been on, so I took it in & they reset it. They I checked all my tires again today & one was about 8 PSI off, which I figured should have set it off again, but no light was on! I did check to make sure the light comes on when I start the car and the TPMS lights do come on, so does anyone know what might cause this???

Thanks!!

[Waldo]

The system is set to go off when the pressure in any one tire reaches a certain percentage below the factory recommended pressure. If your MKZ is supposed to have 32 in it, 25 is probably not low enough to set it off, but it should go off around 22 or 23. It does not matter what the other tires have in them.

[Pulse Red GTO]

Oh ok I see. Yea I didn't know how it worked for sure. I know that in my G8, it shows the actual pressure in each tire, so that way I can tell what each has, but in the MKZ, it don't show it :(

[DeadButDreaming]

how can I check if my sensors are working or not???without going to dealer?? my recommended set is 33psi

[murphy]

how can I check if my sensors are working or not???without going to dealer?? my recommended set is 33psi

If they were not working there would be a message on your dash.

To see the message drop the tire pressure to 20 psi.

They are federally mandated and only detect grossly underinflated tires.

[lolder]

A warning is displayed if the pressure is 25% below the drivers door sill placard. There is also a message if there is a sensor or system fault. I just re-tired a 2010 FFH at 58,000 miles with the same OEM Michelin Energi MXV4 S8 225 50 R17 at Costco. I had a bad ( dead battery ) sensor on the right front that started giving a warning a few months ago and finally died completely giving a warning that you had to reset everytime you started the car. Costco replaced the sensor for $43 + $15 for re-training the sensors. The $43 is close to the internet price for the sensor. Tire Kingdom wanted $89 !

[HoustonFirefox]

My aunt's Toyota SUV has a central display that will display the tire pressures - I wonder why Ford left this off the Fusion? (if it's there, I can't find it!)...

[murphy]

My aunt's Toyota SUV has a central display that will display the tire pressures - I wonder why Ford left this off the Fusion? (if it's there, I can't find it!)...

Ford met the Federal requirement which is just a warning when the tire pressure is too low.

Not only can't it tell you the pressurre in the tires it also can't tell you which tire is low.

[acdii]

Hyundais do. they wont tell you the pressure, but they will point out which tire is low. Was really interesting too, it was in the -# for a few days, and every morning, at least one tire came up low, one day the left, the next day the right, then one in the rear, but never the same tire twice. I had to wait for a warm day to fill them though so I didn't damage my compressor with it being that cold, the oil was only rated at 20*, and I do remember what happened to a generator we ran that had oil that didnt flow below 20*.

[GrySql]

Two years ago I rented a Dodge Avenger with a 283hp V-6 motor and all the options, it was just what was available at the rental office that morning.

It had the individual tire pressure sensors and I really thought that was special, good info. Especially because I had one tire that lost 2-3 psi daily.

I wish the FFH had that feature.

 

That Dodge was fast and got over 30mpg's for a 5,500 mile trip.

Other than that, what a pile of junk.

I had a long list of problems with it when I got home, Avis gave me a substantial discount and an apology.

[Waldo]

Every Ford knows exactly what pressure is in each tire and could display it if Ford chose to. But then you would have to reset the TPMS every time you rotated the tires and Ford decided customers wouldn't want that extra inconvenience.

[GrySql]

Every Ford knows exactly what pressure is in each tire and could display it if Ford chose to. But then you would have to reset the TPMS every time you rotated the tires and Ford decided customers wouldn't want that extra inconvenience.

Is this something like the DRL's that has the built-in software capability to be turned on by a Dealer's Tech?

Edited October 21, 2013 by GrySql

[hybridbear]

What would happen if you take off the wheels with the TPMS sensors and put different rims on with winter tires and no TPMS sensors? Will that make the dash light be on all winter? I'm thinking about winter tires again...

[murphy]

What would happen if you take off the wheels with the TPMS sensors and put different rims on with winter tires and no TPMS sensors? Will that make the dash light be on all winter? I'm thinking about winter tires again...

Yes it will.

[hybridbear]

Yes it will.

Is there any harm in that provided I carefully check my tire pressures often?

[jeff_h]

Is there any harm in that provided I carefully check my tire pressures often?

 

Shouldn't be any harm other than the nuisance of seeing the light on... on wife's car I've twice had to use the spare tire from the shed for a day (you saw the pics of the harpoons that were in the tires)... full size spare and different wheel (with no TPMS) was used for a day and the dash light was on, once I put the original tire (with TPMS) back on and got up to about 20-30 MPH (was still on at first when going really slow) the TPMS again worked as intended and light went back out.