Twice a year, my mechanic Tony and I do the same wheel and tire dance over at Dale Feste Automotive. Twice a year, the same song is played. Twice a year, he puts my season-specific wheels and tires on my Element. Twice a year the TPMS warning light comes on and the fun begins. Tony is a good dancer. He always insures that the pressure is correct in all four tires. He then goes through the process of pairing the TPMS sensors located in the wheels to the evil TPMS computer in the car. Sometimes the system works right off the bat. But then it mysteriously quits. My theory is that the TPMS computer has grown to like Tony’s dancing.
The Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration dictated that cars built after 2007 were required to have a TPMS.
OK, tires are usually inflated with air to a certain pressure (PSI). This amount is dictated/suggested by the tire manufacturer and the vehicle maker. Too much air pressure or too little can cause tire failures. Tire pressure goes up when the ambient temperature is hot and becomes lower when it is cold. Tires also loose air pressure just sitting there. Even though car tires are made out of thick rubber, they are still permeable. Air is leaking out of your tires as you read this. Don’t be alarmed and run out to your compressor. The air is passing through the tire’s membrane at a very, very slow rate.
It’s not difficult to put air into tires, I’ve seen people do it. I don’t understand the need for these expensive, finicky TPMS tire toys. When winter is in the air, check your tire pressure and add some air as needed. Uncommon sense? At 16 years of age, my best friend’s father, Wendell Stickney advised us boys and girls: “Before you get into your car to go somewhere, scan all 4 tires with your eyes to see if one looks flatter than the others”. Back then, practical life information was passed down. I would like to teach a High School class entitled: “Things you need to know about so you don’t die”
“But I don’t know how much air to put into my tires” you say. Well, in the glove box of most cars, along with your tire pressure gauge, is an owner’s manual that most folks have never cracked open. Ensconced in this tome are the magic PSI numbers you desire. If that don’t work for ya, open the car’s driver’s door, you know, the one you use to get in and out of the car with. There is a sticker on the end of that door, or on the door frame that reveals the manufacturer’s recommended tire pressure. Failing those tacts, molded right into the sidewall of your tire is the minimum and maximum PSI the tire maker recommends. Now all you need to do is add some air or let some out.
When it comes on, the TPMS light on the dash says: “Warning, Warning Will Robinson, your tires need air, put some in, you may have a flat”. Wow, without Robbie the Robot telling you that. You would, should, could do it on your own if you knew or cared to do it.
OEM TPMS sensors for my tires cost $106 each! The Honda dealer’s service advisor quoted me $75 to trouble shoot which sensor or sensors failed. Then $106 for each sensor whose tiny internal watch battery gave up. The service advisor then quoted it would cost me $93 to reprogram the system.
Poor Tony was exhausted after he danced around the Element 3 times to get the TPMS to pair with all 4 winter tires. Thankfully, none of the 1 year old TPMS sensors/transmitters in my wheels were bad. For a modest sum, compared to the dealers estimate, Tony finally coaxed the evil TPMS system to work.
When Spring arrives, we will pull out our dancing shoes and my wallet so we can all do it again.
Leave a Reply