Useless TPMS?

[PandaCar]

FoMoCo TPMS stem sensors are self-setting. I confirmed this with my brother-in-law (a Michelin Tire Dealer) and the dealer too.
I have the Titanium Performance Pkg with 18" rims and a 16" steel full size spare. I had the dealer order 4 more matching steels (why have 3 different rims?) with 4 TPMS's at dealer cost (I used to work there) and Michelin X-Ice x2 winters from brother-in-law.
Once the car was on the road fo a few minutes the TPMS light went out and no problems since.
I keep the winters in michelin tire-totes and swap at first snow fall.

[aaron.b]

Well ill give it a week or so before I return the tpms programming tool. I put on a lot of miles so I should find out soon if I get the warning light. But has anyone here actually had to program the tpms sensors with a programming tool on their focus? I wonder if they really are self setting.

[PandaCar]

As I said above, if the sensors are FoMoCo (possibly others too), they do not require "programming".

[aaron.b]

Good deal thank you! Wish the tire rack rep on here knew that!

[CeeBee]

Originally Posted by PandaCar

As I said above, if the sensors are FoMoCo (possibly others too), they do not require "programming".

Why did the Ford sensors and reset tool that I bought from Ford, come with directions to pair them with my car specifically then? I don't disagree with you, because I haven't installed my sensor equipped winter wheels yet, but it just doesn't make sense to me.

[suss6052]

Originally Posted by CeeBee

Why did the Ford sensors and reset tool that I bought from Ford, come with directions to pair them with my car specifically then? I don't disagree with you, because I haven't installed my sensor equipped winter wheels yet, but it just doesn't make sense to me.

Yeah, perhaps when the original tires are rotated the car wouldn't need to re-learn the sensor ids, but you were still supposed to re-train the car to know which sensor was located at which corner even if all the system tells you is that one is low. At least from what I recall about how the sensors work per the manual and the service documentation that's been floating around.

[PandaCar]

I'm visiting the dealer this afternoon, I'll get another opinion on that. My wife drives a 2009 Honda Accord V6 EX-Navi (works there), and the dealer had to re-program the new TPMS's on her steelies after her brother put on winters. Her brother (the tire dealer) said to have them programmed, but that the Ford stem-type, on mine would self program.
Must admit, I'm now confused by some of the contradictory posts!

[aaron.b]

Well I'm up to 500 miles and still no warning light after no reprogram

[suss6052]

Originally Posted by aaron.b

Well I'm up to 500 miles and still no warning light after no reprogram

Not sure if its driven by # of miles or # of drive cycle events before it detects either no sensors or the wrong ones, but you could save yourself the trouble and just trigger them properly and then not have to worry.

[aaron.b]

I'm not worried I'm gonna let it go and see if it eventually throws the light. If it does ill reprogram. If it doesn't I'm just gonna return the reset tool. Will be good info for others too I'm guessing so ill report back after a week or so.