Spare Wheel

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Jul 28, 2009 | 12:41 AM

threefiftyone

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Joined: Feb 2004

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From: Oregon

Spare Wheel

My wife go a flat tire last week and had to put the spare on (of course). The low pressure indicator light came on as it should do, and read something like "low tire pressure in fault." The next morning she verified the pressures in all tires and continued on her way. The light remained on, and has been on this past week since she got the flat. (She is out of state, so I can't help her) The psi in the spare tire is still ok, but he light is still on. Apparently Les Schwab indicated the tire cannot be repaired. Because she's in a unrustworthy environment, I told her to just leave the spare (tire and wheel) on for now and bring the flat mounted on the alum rim home. I want to see it for myself - hell it's just a nail puncture.

Is the light still on because of the steel wheel? We were kind of thinking that there may be a sensor built into the aluminum wheel that tells the cpu it's ok. Everything else checks out. Is this accurate or coincidence? Do we just need to have the code reset?

Now that I'm thinking about it more, that doesn't make sense. What happens when you get aftermarket wheels? Nothing

>>kicking myself for not getting good repair manuals yet<<

Thanks

Jul 28, 2009 | 04:01 AM

Tylus

MMNC (SS)(Ret)

Joined: Mar 2004

Posts: 11,606

Likes: 151

From: SE Georgia

the four "normal" wheels have a TPMS sensor mounted in them.

The Spare does not.

So until you get the flat wheel fixed and aired up properly, it will show the low tire warning light on the dash/message center.

As for the tire be unrepairable, it may have the nail in the sidewall or the part where the tread and sidewall meet. If so, no respectable tire shop will repair it. It's an issue of liability.

I had the same problem at Discount Tire. One of my $200 tires for my Mustang GT had gotten a nail in the transition area. They refused to patch it. I ended up buying 2 new tires about 1" wider overall.

once I thought about it...their reasoning made sense.

btw, eBay is awesome for those repair manuals. I picked up a 2008-2009 and a 2009-2010 Ford OEM DVD Repair Manual for $32 shipped.

These things rock. I had a 2005-2006 one for my F-150

You can search for what you are after, and it gives you a very easy navigation menu to schematics, wire diagrams, part lists...lots of goodies that a generic Chilton/Haynes won't

Here are a few examples. I recommend you don't pay more than $25 shipped for one. These people are getting them for free in most cases.

also make sure it is a real OEM DVD. some sellers are selling access to an internet site...which is fraud and a rip-off

http://cgi.ebay.com/FORD-2007-2008-S...d=p3286.c0.m14

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-...sQ5fLiterature

http://cgi.ebay.com/FORD-2008-2009-S...d=p3286.c0.m14

Jul 28, 2009 | 11:17 AM

berry1234

Logistics Pro

Joined: Mar 2001

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I agree with the manual. Very cool.

Jul 28, 2009 | 05:55 PM

IQ9

Senior User

Joined: Sep 2007

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Thanks for the links! It will help out when I get home to buy.

Jul 28, 2009 | 10:55 PM

gddyup

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Joined: Nov 2004

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There is no TPMS sensor on your spare. Only on the 4 wheels that come on the truck from the factory. If you bought a set of aftermarket wheels, you would either have to swap over the sensors from your stock wheels, which includes buying new bands to mount them to the new aftermarkets, or buy new sensors and bands to be mounted on the new aftermarkets. A set of sensors and bands to mount on new aftermarket wheels runs approx. $325 or so depending on where you get them.

Jul 29, 2009 | 12:11 AM

threefiftyone

Thread Starter

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Joined: Feb 2004

Posts: 500

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From: Oregon

-OR- Just say the hell with the whole TPMS sensor as a whole and just reset the code all the time.....right? LOL

Actually I came across a set of wheel and tires off an '03 Navigator. Does anyone know if that would be compatible with the existing TPMS? Did they offer this feature back then? I've been trying to locate an answer to that question but with little luck.

Jul 29, 2009 | 06:03 AM

shorebird

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Joined: Feb 2003

Posts: 11,537

Likes: 27

From: Long Beach, Ms.

No TPMS on the '03s. TPMS indicator can not be reset until there are 4 properly pressurized sensors on the vehicle. TPMS Phase-in started in October 2005 at 20%, and reached 100% for models produced after September 2007.