[2011 SE]

If you have new TPMS sensors in your wheels and want to teach your car's computer to relearn which sensors to be looking for, this is how you can do it. Note that I'm going to go over the method that I know works (because I did it), and then the methods that I was told would work, but didn't. I only mention that because they MAY work for your 2008-2011.


Tools you'll need:
1. Generic Ford TPMS Reset Tool (Part number 8C2Z1A203A)
2. A set of TPMS sensors that your car is not currently linked to


Process:
1. Get in your car
2. Close the door
3. Release the parking brake
4. Place the key in the ignition
5. Rotate the key forward to the ON position, then back to the OFF position THREE TIMES. When in the ON position, wait about half a second before going back to off.
6. On the THIRD time you rotate the key to ON, leave it there.
7. Press the brake pedal, then release it
8. Rotate the key to OFF.
8. Repeat steps 5 and 6 (OFF to ON another three times, staying at the ON position on the third time)
9. If you've done this correctly, you'll know you're in RELEARN mode because your car horn will chirp once.
10. The odometer message block will inform you that you are now in sensor relearn mode.
12. You will now be going to each tire on the car to tell the TPMS sensor to broadcast its code to the computer. You MUST do them in a specific order, which is:

• Driver side front
• Passenger side front
• Passenger side rear
• Driver side rear

13. Starting with the driver side front wheel, place the TPMS reset tool against the tire where the sensor is, and press the button. You should be aiming the reset tool directly at the sensor through the tire's sidewall.
14. If you placed the reset tool in the correct location before pressing the button, after about two seconds your car horn will chirp, letting you know that it has accepted that sensor.
15. Once all four sensors are accepted, you can turn the car off and let out a sigh of relief. You won't have that annoying error on your dash anymore [wrenchin]

I know that not a ton of people will run into this problem, but as the batteries in your sensors die in a few years and you need to get them replaced, I hope this helps (and saves you money)...especially since Ford told me I'd be charged $80 for them to do exactly what I outlined above. Seeing as I have two sets of wheels (winter/summer) with two DIFFERENT sets of sensors, knowing how to retrain the car's computer is VERY helpful when the seasons change.

 

[2011 SE]

Now here are the methods that I haven't confirmed, but are rumored to work:

1. Instead of using the TPMS reset tool you may be able to use an industrial strength magnet. When walking to each wheel, place the magnet on the sidewall of the tire next to the valve stem (or location of the sensor). I am not sure if this will work for the band-style sensors.
2. I was originally told a different method of getting into the relearn mode, which was moving the key from OFF to ON 8 times then tapping the brake. This didn't work for me.

Please note that the style of TPMS sensor CHANGED starting in 2010 models. All 2008-2009 Foci have the band-style sensors, and all 2010-2011 Foci have valve stem-style sensors. I was told that the sensors are incompatible, but I know for a fact that both transmit at the same frequency (315 MHz), so you MAY be able to train 08/09 sensors to a 10/11. Until I test it myself and know for a fact that they are incompatible, I'm going to leave the possibility open.

 

[save_HUTCH]

Uh one of my sensors broke (band style) so when I got tires I just had them all removed. I dont like random stuff inside my tires anyway. And a tire pressure gauge and a bike pump work just fine.

 

[st12131]

Great article. +1 for you!

 

[Dedbent]

Thought I might bump this up as I used it today to thrown on the winter wheels. Thanks for this.[wave]

 

[2011 SE]

Hooray! I'm glad it helped someone!

 

[Sal Fasano]

How much is the TPMS tool vs the cost of 4 new sensors? Or can you just replace the batteries in them? We have a tire machine at work so breaking the bead to get to the sensor is no issue for me, I don't need a dealer to do it.

 

[2011 SE]

-The TPMS Reset Tool cost me $43 including shipping from Tousley Ford.
-Four (4) new stem-style sensors cost me $213 including shipping from Tousley Ford.

You can't replace the battery on the sensors, so if there's anything wrong with them, the only solution (other than trying to re-sync the sensor) is to buy a new one.

 

[Slammed_2.0]

Uh one of my sensors broke (band style) so when I got tires I just had them all removed. I dont like random stuff inside my tires anyway. And a tire pressure gauge and a bike pump work just fine.

FYI if you get into an accident and it was cause by your tires and the insurance see your TPMS is faulty for any reason, you will be at fault no matter what. It also may cause you to not be able to get your vehicle fixed

 

[Sal Fasano]

-The TPMS Reset Tool cost me $43 including shipping from Tousley Ford.
-Four (4) new stem-style sensors cost me $213 including shipping from Tousley Ford.

You can't replace the battery on the sensors, so if there's anything wrong with them, the only solution (other than trying to re-sync the sensor) is to buy a new one.

Ah, I see. I would honestly prefer my car has no sensors. I didn't even realize it had them until I did my tires.

 

[iitenaciousg]

Let's say I don't have the TPMS re-learn tool. If I go into "learn mode" and then don't do anything, what will happen?

 

[2011 SE]

My guess is that nothing will happen until you turn the car off. The odometer message center will display that you need to use the tool on the driver's side front wheel, but I don't think it will do anything else.

Not 100% sure, though...

 

[Stangbanger242]

FYI if you get into an accident and it was cause by your tires and the insurance see your TPMS is faulty for any reason, you will be at fault no matter what. It also may cause you to not be able to get your vehicle fixed

And they can prove this how?[scratch]

 

[Dedbent]

Let's say I don't have the TPMS re-learn tool. If I go into "learn mode" and then don't do anything, what will happen?

I heard somewhere that a strong magnet works if you don't have the tool. I have never tried it out though.

 

[2011 SE]

Yeah, back when I was doing the research for all of this I talked to a few Ford techs and a few from NTB. Only certain types of sensors which use a switch-type reset will be able to use an industrial strength magnet. You can try it, but I have no idea if it will work.

And I took the day off today, so I may try going into relearn mode and not doing anything just to see what happens. I might bring my other wheels nearby to see if it confuses the computer at all. Or if I just annoys the hell out of my neighbors because the horn keeps honking.

 

[iitenaciousg]

And I took the day off today, so I may try going into relearn mode and not doing anything just to see what happens. I might bring my other wheels nearby to see if it confuses the computer at all. Or if I just annoys the hell out of my neighbors because the horn keeps honking.

So did you annoy the neighbors? haha

 

[2011 SE]

Whew. Long time no post on this thread. I never ended up going into relearn mode again because get this...I never needed to. For some reason I expected that my car could only be synced to a single set of TPMS sensors, but that's not the case.

When I put my stock wheels back on with the stock sensors, I never got a TPMS fault. In fact, the idiots that mounted the tires before the alignment never filled the tires with air like I asked, so they were all running at about 26 PSI, thus about 10 miles down the road the "LOW TIRE PRESSURE" warning came on. Pretty nifty.

So the lesson learned is that apparently you can have MORE than one set of TPMS sensors synced to your car, and even if it's 6 months later, your car will recognize them without needing to re-sync! Pretty sweet.

 

[st12131]

I was at a dealership the other day and they stated that its a Bluetooth connection!
So much like a cell phone it can be synced to multiple TMPS sensors.
Take it with a grain of salt, but that's what they state.

 

[KyleQ]

It can't be a bluetooth connection, it doesn't fit within the operating frequency to fit the specification. They are UHF based, as in Ultra High Frequency - the same band as your key-less entry fobs. US TPMS (mostly) uses 315MHz for data transfer.

The simple fact is your car can learn multiple key fobs, just like the TPMS computer - someone put two and two together and assumed it was bluetooth because it acts similar, but is completely different.

Bluetooth uses a radio technology called frequency-hopping spread spectrum, which chops up the data being sent and transmits chunks of it on up to 79 bands (1 MHz each; centered from 2402 to 2480 MHz) in the range 2,400–2,483.5 MHz (allowing for guard bands). This range is in the globally unlicensed Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) 2.4 GHz short-range radio frequency band. It usually performs 800 hops per second, with AFH enabled. [7]

 

[2008X2]

We recently purchased a used 2008 Focus. While driving down the expressway, the tire pressure monitor fault light came on. We checked the tires. All were ok. After restarting the car, the light wasn't on. Came on again about 200 miles later, (on the expressway) stayed on for about 8 minutes and went off. Now the light comes on more frequently when driving around locally. The dealership put 4 new tires on it before we purchased it. We purchased car from a non ford dealership and have called them regarding this warning light, but are reluctant too look at it. Car has been driven less than one month and we have put on less 600 miles. Any suggestions? I have printed out steps about resetting the warning light. After reading several forums, it appears that when the tires were changed the TPM wasn't reset. Is that correct? Therefore falling under the dealerships responsiblity of the tire warranty we have. Before purchase, the car was inspected and drove but the light didn't come on during that time frame (of course!) Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.