Tire Pressure Sensor Fault
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,710
Likes: 77
From: Central Florida
Tire Pressure Sensor Fault
I would get "Tire Pressure Sensor Fault" on my display all the time. The problem occurred mostly on long trips, however, it would occur from time to time on shorter trips. I complained to the dealer about this every time I went in for an oil change. They could never find a problem and wanted me to bring it in when the fault was occurring. Of course these thing never happen when you're by a dealer. To my dealers credit they said they would fix the problem out of warranty if we can find it.
Well I found the problem. As strange as it sounds if I use the cigarette lighter with a power USB adapter to charge my phone or iPad I get the fault. If I use the 12V accessory port on the dash no fault.
Last weekend we drove to Nisswa MN & back (about 1,200 miles). To test the theory I only used the 12V accessory port and no fault occurred. Normally the fault would occur w/in 50 miles then just continue on being annoying the whole rest of the trip. I wish I would have found this out 57,000 miles ago.
I use the adapter because the USB port on the dash will only charge my iPhone if the phone is off.
Well I found the problem. As strange as it sounds if I use the cigarette lighter with a power USB adapter to charge my phone or iPad I get the fault. If I use the 12V accessory port on the dash no fault.
Last weekend we drove to Nisswa MN & back (about 1,200 miles). To test the theory I only used the 12V accessory port and no fault occurred. Normally the fault would occur w/in 50 miles then just continue on being annoying the whole rest of the trip. I wish I would have found this out 57,000 miles ago.
I use the adapter because the USB port on the dash will only charge my iPhone if the phone is off.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 45
From: Timbuk3, MI
Excerpted from the Ford Motorcraft QUICK REFERENCE: TPMS Q&A ...
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-click- the pic'
Goth 150
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Q: Can other aftermarket devices affect the TPMS system?
A: Some aftermarket devices can cause radio frequency interference that will block the TPMS sensor signal causing an intermittent concern. This can cause the TPMS lamp to illuminate. Some of the more common items are: cell phone chargers, GPS power supplies, or any other aftermarket electronic device. Unplugging the aftermarket devices can help determine if they are the cause of an intermittent concern.
More TPMS valve stem trivia ...A: Some aftermarket devices can cause radio frequency interference that will block the TPMS sensor signal causing an intermittent concern. This can cause the TPMS lamp to illuminate. Some of the more common items are: cell phone chargers, GPS power supplies, or any other aftermarket electronic device. Unplugging the aftermarket devices can help determine if they are the cause of an intermittent concern.
- the valve cores need to be properly torqued and NOT over-tightened. *Recommendation is 2 - 5 in-lbs | 0.23 - 0.56 Nm
. - the valve stem acts as an antenna to transmit the signal to the receiver.
. - since the valve stem is an antenna, metal valve stem sleeves and caps should NOT be used since they may interfere with the signal transmission.
-click- the pic'
Goth 150
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Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 39,979
Likes: 1,512
From: Maine, Virginia
Excerpted from the Ford Motorcraft QUICK REFERENCE: TPMS Q&A ...
------------------------------
-click- the pic'
Goth 150
< This space intentionally -blank- >
Q: Can other aftermarket devices affect the TPMS system?
A: Some aftermarket devices can cause radio frequency interference that will block the TPMS sensor signal causing an intermittent concern. This can cause the TPMS lamp to illuminate. Some of the more common items are: cell phone chargers, GPS power supplies, or any other aftermarket electronic device. Unplugging the aftermarket devices can help determine if they are the cause of an intermittent concern.
More TPMS valve stem trivia ...A: Some aftermarket devices can cause radio frequency interference that will block the TPMS sensor signal causing an intermittent concern. This can cause the TPMS lamp to illuminate. Some of the more common items are: cell phone chargers, GPS power supplies, or any other aftermarket electronic device. Unplugging the aftermarket devices can help determine if they are the cause of an intermittent concern.
- the valve cores need to be properly torqued and NOT over-tightened. *Recommendation is 2 - 5 in-lbs | 0.23 - 0.56 Nm
. - the valve stem acts as an antenna to transmit the signal to the receiver.
. - since the valve stem is an antenna, metal valve stem sleeves and caps should NOT be used since they may interfere with the signal transmission.
-click- the pic'
Goth 150
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Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,565
Likes: 2
I'm glad I don't have TPMS on my 08 SD. They are a headache when there is a malfunction. I've had enough of them on my mother's Buick. How hard is it to do a visual inspection of your tires before you depart or check the pressure every week or so?
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,710
Likes: 77
From: Central Florida
Thanks to big government we are not capable of checking tire pressure on our own. We now need TPS to tell us if our pressure is low. I wanted to disable mine but that was not an option. The weird thing is the problem occurred only when the iPhone or iPad was charging from the cigarette lighter. I could charge other devices with no issue. Maybe MicroSoft put some code in the system to detect apple products then cause false alarms. 
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,565
Likes: 2
It wouldn't surprise a bit if Microsoft did something like that, XR7. But it probably has to do more with radio frequency used by each device. I would think that Ford Engineers would have designed in a buffer between every port and the vehicle electronics so nothing like using the cigarette lighter to charge a cell phone or plugging in any other device would not cause problems with any facet of the vehicle monitoring system. You would think that the cost of new vehicles alone would warrant that.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 39,979
Likes: 1,512
From: Maine, Virginia
If our current system was designed to read the PSI per wheel then I would think it would be that much more valuable and usable. I do my tire checks monthly when I check all fluids and more often if we're hitting the road.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: Central Florida
Reading the PSI would be nice. My wife's SRX displays the PSI for each wheel in one of the menus on the dash, that is nice. Even nicer, I can check her tire pressure and fluid levels from my phone.
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Senior User
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I have a 2013 FX4 with 4000 miles on it and the damn TPS throws a fault every time I get about 12 miles down the freeway. Takes a couple days to reset. Tires all nice and full and at the exact pressure all the way around. Anybody know what I am doing wrong?
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,710
Likes: 77
From: Central Florida
The first thing to try is retraining the sensors to the truck. The dealer should be able to do this for you. I know the 2009-2012 models you can do the procedure yourself in about 30 minutes. You need an air pump to add & subtract pressure from the tires plus enough space to be away from other vehicles that might have TPS devices.
I took pictures of the Tire Pressure Sensor Fault message and showed them to the deal. I made sure to get the mileage in the picture to prove how often I had the problem.
I took pictures of the Tire Pressure Sensor Fault message and showed them to the deal. I made sure to get the mileage in the picture to prove how often I had the problem.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 39,979
Likes: 1,512
From: Maine, Virginia
The other stupid thing here is that the spare doesn't have a sensor in it. Get a flat and you have to read the manual to learn how to shut off the TPMS light. 
Quite frankly, if I were to ever move back to Maine, I'g go to the junk and find four spare wheels that came off F-150's or Expy's and mount my winter treads to them to save my good wheels. And then I'd get four new sensors for the winter set.
Quite frankly, if I were to ever move back to Maine, I'g go to the junk and find four spare wheels that came off F-150's or Expy's and mount my winter treads to them to save my good wheels. And then I'd get four new sensors for the winter set.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 45
From: Timbuk3, MI
tseekins - The other stupid thing here is that the spare doesn't have a sensor in it.
- It's a gentle reminder that you need to get your on-the-ground (flat) tire repaired and/or replaced.
. - The spare (even though it's full-size) is meant only as a temporary until #1 (above).
Get a flat and you have to read the manual to learn how to shut off the TPMS light.
.
-click- the pic'
Goth 150
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Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 39,979
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From: Maine, Virginia
The reason being ...
The warning cannot be "shut off" when you get a flat and there is no procedure in "the manual" to do so for those situations when you have the spare mounted. *. #1 above.
.
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-click- the pic'
Goth 150
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- It's a gentle reminder that you need to get your on-the-ground (flat) tire repaired and/or replaced.
. - The spare (even though it's full-size) is meant only as a temporary until #1 (above).
The warning cannot be "shut off" when you get a flat and there is no procedure in "the manual" to do so for those situations when you have the spare mounted. *. #1 above.
.
-click- the pic'
Goth 150
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I check mine annually which is likely more than 95% of the motorists on the road and perhaps less than some on here. It not only ensures that my tire is correctly aired up but also ensures the lowering gear is working correctly.
I know I'm getting off topic here with the spare and such but, if the spare had a sensor, the driver notices that there is a low pressure alert in a tire, airs up the four in use, the light stays on then he/she may be inclined to check the spare.
New User
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 23
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Some of the cheaper electronics in those chargers are the problem. If its one of the 'gas station' ones or another aftermarket brand. its possible that it could be sending out radio frequency close to the freq of the sensor system. I believe the older ones were 3xxmhz and the newer trucks are 4xxmhz..
I too had 'electronics' being blamed for my issues with TPMS back in my 09. the shop that put tires on whacked one of the sensors. and because they didn't want to swap one, and wait. they replaced all 4.
I too had 'electronics' being blamed for my issues with TPMS back in my 09. the shop that put tires on whacked one of the sensors. and because they didn't want to swap one, and wait. they replaced all 4.