Anybody have a comprehensive resource on TPMS? What years are compatible? I just found that aftermarket TPMS sensors for a 2012 do not work on my 2009 Expedition. Took about 5 searches to find the correct relearn initiation, (3 cycles of ignition, leave on, depress and release brake, 3 more cycles of ignition, leave on, horn will sound and message center will prompt). Tireshop tool will read the TPMS sensor, but my truck will not. Magnet trick for resetting sensors may work?

Lots of wild guesses out there. Can we compile something on TPMS that will help us all out? What has worked for you?

 

I left the tpms valves off of my replacement tires; that’s what works for me.

Much easier to just eyeball the tires each time I get in.

 

Ignoring TPMS is one solution, but this has been legislated and if you need to get your vehicle through an inspection, TPMS will have to be functional.

Makes you wonder how we ever did without it.

 

Never had an issue with inspection in NY; not even sure how they would check it.

 

Can you get the '09 part from Ford?

 

Well, I probably can, but even identifying what may be the correct part is a challenge. For example, the tire shop claims all 2007 through 2014 sensors should be the same. My experience would seem otherwise.

Like so many others, I would like to save a few $$ and expand my knowledge. So, when shopping the used market, what sensors work with what years? I know they vary not only by ID code, but also by frequency range and there are some reports of this changing from time to time. There are also the earlier band style sensors that strapped to the center of the rim vs. several versions of valve stem mount sensors.

By the way, my aftermarket sensors were Schrader brand. I think these folks pretty much invented the valve stem and I have confidence that they are a quality part.

 

You’ve probably already done this, but if not, most online stores will have you put in all of the vehicle info first to make sure the parts fit, so try that to see what brands pop up

Could also maybe stop by a tire shop and just ask them if they have a list of compatible valves; just say a friend gave you some tires and you’re checking out if they’ll work.

 

I'm thinking that there is a way to collect and verify this sort of info. Key to it seems to be some type of TPMS tool like the tire shops have. Trouble is, they are kind of pricey, especially if they are capable of reading the info you may want. There seems to be a lot of info in that sensor that even my vehicle does not display such as actual tire pressure. At least that is what I can gather from watching the tire tech.

Sample of such tools here. https://www.obdadvisor.com/best-tpms-tool-review/

i suppose I could rant a bit here about how the manufacturer is slowly robbing us of our right to repair. TPMS sensors are the law now and I am really frustrated by the fact that this is forcing me, the vehicle owner, to buy hundreds of dollars of tooling and parts to maintain a system that previously only required an inexpensive tire pressure gauge to maintain.

Sigh.

 

Which takes me back to my OEM suggestion. There were system changes for TPMS based on the law. Originally all you had to show was a low tire. (my '09 Tacoma for example) My '17 F150 and '18 Acura show pressure by wheel position.

Why fiddle with it, buy tools etc?

 

I'm curious if the free software known as FORScan could do much the same as stand-along costly tools for gathering that sort of info? Might be worth looking into for those with TPMS.

 

I have heard that you can change the range of the TPMS system with a sophisticated enough OBDII tool. I have played a bit with FORSCAN but I have mainly been using a product called FCOM. I really need to update my tool as there is some need to have a proper vehicle profile loaded in to access all features.

The tire shop tools differ from from the OBDII tool in that they directly read the TPMS sensor. They really are just sophisticated RFID tags similar to inventory control tags. Used in conjunction with an OBDII scan tool, I'm sure you could get a good grip on this whole TPMS thing. Matching up compatible sensors and vehicles would be a big help.

I have two vehicles each with two sets of tires each that I am trying to manage. A 2006 Escape and a 2009 Expedition. I'll post up any solutions I find.

 

And the plot thickens.

Today, quite mysteriously, the TPMS warning light and the message disappeared on the Expedition. No relearning was performed.

I discovered that you should be able to read TPMS data through the OBDII port using Torque Pro. I have been using the free version, so I'm going to aquire the upgrade and see if I can do this.