How many TPMS sensors can the MK3 keep and use?

Elizabeth · Mar 22, 2017

I ask because I cannot find this info from Ford.

My current 2014 Ford Focus ST clearly can hold at least 8 TPMS t one time.
For my Summer wheels, and for my Winter wheels.

What I wonder is:
IS EIGHT the limit? Or can the car save more than eight?
(12 would be great!)

What I do not want is to have the current eight, then try adding another set, and losing some from one other set, and part from the OEM wheels. So they never work right anymore.
Anyway, Can the car permanently hold only 8 TPMS? or more? (like 12)

pasta · Mar 22, 2017

Would contact ford on this.

BrApple · Mar 22, 2017

Since they can be "programmed" and they can even be swapped without "programming" I would think that there is no limit?

Elizabeth · Mar 22, 2017

BrApple said:
Since they can be "programmed" and they can even be swapped without "programming" I would think that there is no limit?

Sorry, little computer minds have tiny limits. The space to store codes is certainly limited. I wonder how limited.
I would go so far as to guess the limit is coded into the program.

Maybe I can ask the dealer service manager.

IngotMK3 · Mar 22, 2017

Might be 2 sets as in two sets of wheels. I had my 16in alloy set and another aftermaket snow set. Sold those both and got a oem steel wheel set up with tpms and the light came on even after trying to program it.

Best thing to do is code off the stupid tpms with focccus, done.

MK3 ST3 · Mar 22, 2017

Eight, or two sets of sensors.

tuxtanium · Mar 23, 2017

I haven't tested, but if I read the 'System Description and Operation' properly, after startup and over 32 km/h (20 mph), the first 4 sensors to transmit within 18 minutes win.

Hypothetical: BCM has a particular set of TPMS sensors saved. Those sensors don't transmit, but a new set does. BCM will just save the new set into the PID.

The TPMS19 tool is just to 'wake-up' the sensors. The BCM only receives the radio signal, it doesn't transmit one.

MK3 ST3 · Mar 23, 2017

tuxtanium said:
I haven't tested, but if I read the 'System Description and Operation' properly, after startup and over 32 km/h (20 mph), the first 4 sensors to transmit within 18 minutes win.

Hypothetical: BCM has a particular set of TPMS sensors saved. Those sensors don't transmit, but a new set does. BCM will just save the new set into the PID.

The TPMS19 tool is just to 'wake-up' the sensors. The BCM only receives the radio signal, it doesn't transmit one.

Nope, the BCM doesn't auto-learn (on some cars this happens but not on the Focus). It does only receive, but each TPMS has an ID.

When I had my transmission replaced under warranty, my Winter tires were on the car. At this point I had been switching back and forth between Winter and All-Seasons (replaced my Summers) for 4 years now (I learned my Winter wheels when I originally got the rims). When I put my All-Seasons back on a month ago, after 30 minutes of driving, my TPMS light came on and said cannot communicate with sensors. I relearned the sensors and it's been fine since.

BTW, 18 minutes is incorrect, the sensors need 20-30 minutes of movement before the BCM "gives-up" and deems the sensors damaged/faulty/absent.

FFhb13 · Mar 23, 2017

I just swapped new tires on new rims from oem rims I bought...they didnt reactivate or do a relearn procedure, the new sensors just worked, no warnings...is this correct? I want to make sure they are actually working

BrApple · Mar 23, 2017

FFhb13 said:
I just swapped new tires on new rims from oem rims I bought...they didnt reactivate or do a relearn procedure, the new sensors just worked, no warnings...is this correct? I want to make sure they are actually working

I would say that if the warning light has not come on then they are working. This past fall when I swapped my winter wheels on I did not use the TPMS19 tool this time to "sync" the tires, light has not come on. However they are also the OEM wheels and sensors that where on the car.

When I put my aftermarket wheels on the car for the first time I couldn't get them to take using the TPMS19 tool. Come to find out a day or so later I believe it was because the OEM wheels where to close to the car. Never had the light turn on in the mean time. I used OEM sensors I got from Amazon for the new wheels.

I know when I looked into aftermarket wheels for our Subaru on Tirerack they sold a TPMS programming tool, so for that car it seems that the sensors do need to be programmed to the car.

MK3 ST3 · Mar 23, 2017

FFhb13 said:
I just swapped new tires on new rims from oem rims I bought...they didnt reactivate or do a relearn procedure, the new sensors just worked, no warnings...is this correct? I want to make sure they are actually working

Have you gone for an extended drive? If all of your drives are under 30 minutes you will never see a fault for "no communication with sensor"

How many TPMS sensors can the MK3 keep and use?

Elizabeth

pasta

BrApple

Elizabeth

IngotMK3

MK3 ST3

tuxtanium

MK3 ST3

FFhb13

BrApple

MK3 ST3

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