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Does the Fusion tell each tire pressure? Or do you have to get the big boy Taurus to get that?
 
Does the Fusion tell each tire pressure? Or do you have to get the big boy Taurus to get that?
Sorry, you need to try Lincoln for that kind of technology. Well, good luck with the future ride, spaceman! [;)]
 
TPMS sensors do not transmit when they are not rotating to save battery life.

No rotation= no signal to monitor.
Some TPMSs transmit when they're rotating. Some do not. In my experience, the Focus is the latter. There were times where my Focus picked up my shelved TPMS tires and the dash light actually went off.

I think a more elegant solution would've been to use the ABS sensor to count the rotations of the tire and use that to compare tire diameter vs. tire pressure. It'd be all software based, and no more hardware which would've kept cost down. No more replacing sensors in the wheels, training new sensors, etc.
 
Some TPMSs transmit when they're rotating. Some do not. In my experience, the Focus is the latter. There were times where my Focus picked up my shelved TPMS tires and the dash light actually went off.

I think a more elegant solution would've been to use the ABS sensor to count the rotations of the tire and use that to compare tire diameter vs. tire pressure. It'd be all software based, and no more hardware which would've kept cost down. No more replacing sensors in the wheels, training new sensors, etc.
TPMS units contain a battery that has a finite service life of 5-7 years. That long battery life is only possible because the sensor is activated by rotation. They do not stop transmitting immediately when rotation stops but generally shut off within about 20 minutes after the car stops moving to conserve battery.

EDIT: Just found this (credit to PratoN):

"When the vehicle is stationary, the TPM may periodically transmit to the vehicle. This allows (as long as the vehicle receiver is always on) the driver or vehicle operator to be warned of low pressure as soon as the Ignition system is switched on rather than having to wait until the vehicle is moving."
 
I think a more elegant solution would've been to use the ABS sensor to count the rotations of the tire and use that to compare tire diameter vs. tire pressure. It'd be all software based, and no more hardware which would've kept cost down. No more replacing sensors in the wheels, training new sensors, etc.
There's a way to enable that with Focccus. I'm going to try using it this winter.

I find it an enigma that a shelved tire could be constantly transmitting data.
I don't think it's a constant thing - maybe more like a periodic pinging thing. In the winter, my TPMS light would go off whenever I visited my parents' house where the tires had been sitting in the garage for months. It would come back on like 30-40 minutes from my house like clockwork.
 
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I think a more elegant solution would've been to use the ABS sensor to count the rotations of the tire and use that to compare tire diameter vs. tire pressure. It'd be all software based, and no more hardware which would've kept cost down. No more replacing sensors in the wheels, training new sensors, etc.
You would have to calibrate to a known good reference state. That would change with switching tires, wear, etc. Not robust.

There are second gen indirect systems out there looking at frequency decomposition of the ABS signal to detect certain modeshapes. Not sure how well they work.
 
I think the problem is some folks have no idea what the light even is for.
I couldn't disagree more. Also the person above who stated the TPMS is completely useless, I firmly disagree and here is why:

Although the TPMS does not tell you which tire has a problem, just seeing the light come on is enough to inspect all 4 tires.

Car owners are people, and not all are enthusiasts. I hate seeing posts bashing people for not being car experts. It reeks almost as bad as the computer/techno elitists. We all lead busy lives, not every tire failure is the result of pure negligence.

I understand that tires are the most neglected and important parts on a motor vehicle.

The TPMS light came on in my 2012 just 2 weeks after getting brand new tires and allowed my to discover a problem with the rear control arm that was affecting the camber and making the tire wear improperly.

Not saying it's a perfect system, but for anyone to knock it, especially on an economy car, govt mandated or not, is laughable.
 
You say that but its on my friends colbalt Her 2008 base model roll up Windows colbalt.
Well one thing I think we can all agree on is instead of GM putting their money onto that they should've put that money into the ignition switches.
 
Does anyone know what the pressure threshold is for the TPMS sensors to indicate low pressure? Does the system tell you which tire is low?
On my 2013 SE Hatch with factory 16" alloys and Contis, the factory placard calls for 35 psi and my TPMS alerts at 30 pounds.

It does not tell you which tire is low but truthfully, even if it did, I would still check all 4 tires as long as I had my gauge out.
 
On my 2013 SE Hatch with factory 16" alloys and Contis, the factory placard calls for 35 psi and my TPMS alerts at 30 pounds.

It does not tell you which tire is low but truthfully, even if it did, I would still check all 4 tires as long as I had my gauge out.
My 2012 SE Sport Hatch with the factory 17's alerts around 36 psi.

i thought the system was crazy the first time it happened. I've never had a car run high pressure (i.e. low profile) tires.
I'm used to 75 series where 24 psi is low.

The first time the system alerted me, I managed to check the low tire first and saw something around 34 psi.
I thought the system was broken until I checked all the rest and found 42 psi on the other 3.

I'm supposed to keep 42-ish psi in the tires.
For the past year or so, I've been running 46. I haven't seen any detrimental wear.
 
If the sensor is accurate, it would cost almost nothing for them to display the actual pressures. This is not a cheap car unless you buy it "stripped", and the competition is fierce. Low cost thoughtful features like that add up to make a nice car.
 
If the sensor is accurate, it would cost almost nothing for them to display the actual pressures. This is not a cheap car unless you buy it "stripped", and the competition is fierce. Low cost thoughtful features like that add up to make a nice car.
Unfortunately ours is a discreet sensor. It's outputs are only "OK" or "LOW".

They'd have to install an analog sensor that is addressed to it's current location on the car.
It'd have to be something that updates itself when the tires are rotated so you don't get false readings.
There are cars that do this, but it's more difficult than it sounds.

I believe there are cars that do this at the Focus price point (though I am at a loss to name one).
 
I test-drove a 2013 Malibu that told you which tire and how much. Their information center is much nicer than the Focus. It's a nicer car, IMO, just not as sporty or economical. I was considering it, but changed my mind and bought a (much cheaper) dinosaur, which I'd prefer to drive anyway.
 
Unfortunately ours is a discreet sensor. It's outputs are only "OK" or "LOW".

They'd have to install an analog sensor that is addressed to it's current location on the car.
It'd have to be something that updates itself when the tires are rotated so you don't get false readings.
There are cars that do this, but it's more difficult than it sounds.

I believe there are cars that do this at the Focus price point (though I am at a loss to name one).
Negative.

Each TPMS sensor has a unique address and outputs a (digitized) analog value.
 
Negative.

Each TPMS sensor has a unique address and outputs a (digitized) analog value.
Question: So... Do the sensors determine the 'alert' psi? Or does the car determine the alert psi?

So no matter which sensor as long as it works, will alert at the CARS correct alert level?

OR, do the sensors decide the psi level they 'alert' at? So if you say get sensors for a slightly older Ford with 32psi full pressure, they will not work in a car like the ST with a normal psi of 39?

And the Ti with sport package.. if you switch wheels and tires say to Winter with TPMS, does the car still expect 39 standard pressure?
So say you buy 16" wheels and end up with tires needing only 32psi in Winter, your low tire pressure light will be coming on? [rant]
 
Question: So... Do the sensors determine the 'alert' psi? Or does the car determine the alert psi?

So no matter which sensor as long as it works, will alert at the CARS correct alert level?

OR, do the sensors decide the psi level they 'alert' at? So if you say get sensors for a slightly older Ford with 32psi full pressure, they will not work in a car like the ST with a normal psi of 39?

And the Ti with sport package.. if you switch wheels and tires say to Winter with TPMS, does the car still expect 39 standard pressure?
So say you buy 16" wheels and end up with tires needing only 32psi in Winter, your low tire pressure light will be coming on? [rant]
The sensors themselves don't "decide" what is considered too low.
Rather, they simply report the pressure for each tire.
 
The TPMS sensors report to the Body Control Module via RF signals. When the TPMS sensors are replaced, they have to be activated for the BCM to recognize them so that you're not getting the TPMS signals of the vehicle driving next to you. They also have to be calibrated to set their specific position on the vehicle, as each has a distinct RFID code.

The BCM compares the tire pressure received with a programmed desired tire pressure set in the BCM. The BCM is programmed with the reference pressure shown on the vehicle ID label on the drivers door sill. According to the service manual, the programmed desired reference pressure cannot be changed.

Using tires with a lower pressure would affect the accuracy of the TPMS system, and using tires below the low pressure threshold would cause a TPMS fault.
 
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