FAQ - Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

[Imaginationland]

Just discovered today my Canadian SI doesn't have or need TPMS sensors. Awseome! save me a few bucks on my new hfp 18"s.

[OrdnanceMarine]

Just bought a set of new rims/tires from Tirerack and did not opt for TPMS sensors. TPMS light came on during my second drive of the day. The TPMS light bothers me much less than I thought it would and I'm already used to ignoring it after 5 days. Forget spending a few hundred bucks to make my new wheels TPMS capable!

[MN10EX]

I've been told that Honda changed the TPMS system on 2010 Civics and that the tool Tirerack sells does not work on 2010 models (told by Tirerack). I've also been told that VSA was also changed in 2010 so if it doesn't see all the TPMS sensors traction control cannot be turned off. I know this has been discussed at length but has anyone with a 2010 model tried to disable VSA after installing wheels with unregistered TPMS modules?

[OrdnanceMarine]

Originally Posted by MN10EX

I've also been told that VSA was also changed in 2010 so if it doesn't see all the TPMS sensors traction control cannot be turned off.

If this turns out to be the case it just adds another reason to buy FlashPro and just permanently disable VSA inside the user interface.

[MN10EX]

Originally Posted by OrdnanceMarine

If this turns out to be the case it just adds another reason to buy FlashPro and just permanently disable VSA inside the user interface.

It's true. TireRack has updated their site to tell you such and no 2010s are listed in the compatibility matrix on the vendors site. From what I have read about FlashPro it only disables the TPMS light, not the entire system. I'm not that up to speed on FlashPro so I very well might have missed something.

[OrdnanceMarine]

Originally Posted by MN10EX

It's true. TireRack has updated their site to tell you such and no 2010s are listed in the compatibility matrix on the vendors site. From what I have read about FlashPro it only disables the TPMS light, not the entire system. I'm not that up to speed on FlashPro so I very well might have missed something.

I'm not aware of FlashPro being able to do anything with the TPMS light or TPMS itself (this logic resides in a different part of the car from the ECU) but it is capable of eliminating VSA and no light comes on. I haven't personally checked to see if pressing the VSA button (which then lights up the VSA icon) actually enables it but as far as I know, it does not.

[MN10EX]

Originally Posted by OrdnanceMarine

I'm not aware of FlashPro being able to do anything with the TPMS light or TPMS itself (this logic resides in a different part of the car from the ECU) but it is capable of eliminating VSA and no light comes on. I haven't personally checked to see if pressing the VSA button (which then lights up the VSA icon) actually enables it but as far as I know, it does not.

Oh, gotcha. That makes sense. Thanks for the clarification.

[Unitas]

i officially hate TPMS sensors. i got a flat/tire slashed a few months back so i had to buy a replacment tire. once it was on, the shop that put my wheel on broke my TPMS sensor with out saying anything. after taking it into the dealer to get it check out...$180 later i find out i need to replace the stupid sensor. could easily think of 500 other ways id rather spend that loot

/rant

[jongp3]

I have a 2010 Si FA5, I just got the 17" bronze HFP rims from CHH and Star Spec tires. I opted not to go with the TPMS, reading the front of the this thread I figured i'd be ok, but now i wish i would have read the last page of these people saying that in 2010 they changed it and my VSA will not turn off when my TPMS light is on.

I'll try it out over the next few days and report my findings, i wanted a set of summer tires for autocross and figured TPMS is just a big waste of money. I have the extra sensors but 100 bucks to honda each time i change my wheels out is alot, that's 200 per year.

[Phalanx]

I doubt they really changed the functionality for 2010... there wouldnt be any reason for them to change it until the next model cycle. But I suppose it is possible, seeing as they added TPMS mid-model, I just dont see them changing how TPMS functions mid-model

[OrdnanceMarine]

Shouldn't take more than one launch to find out whether VSA is still active. If this is the case then perhaps FlashPro can disable VSA on your car. I programmed mine to totally eliminate VSA and don't miss it a bit and there's no VSA light on either.

[Phalanx]

Originally Posted by OrdnanceMarine

Shouldn't take more than one launch to find out whether VSA is still active. If this is the case then perhaps FlashPro can disable VSA on your car. I programmed mine to totally eliminate VSA and don't miss it a bit and there's no VSA light on either.

This is also a very good options that I hadnt thought of.

[jongp3]

Well i know for sure now that if you have the original tires with sensors in the trunk/back seat the TPMS light will not come on, drove about 20 miles so far. I'll take the tires out this evening and go for a few miles and see if it comes on.

[Phalanx]

Originally Posted by jongp3

Well i know for sure now that if you have the original tires with sensors in the trunk/back seat the TPMS light will not come on, drove about 20 miles so far. I'll take the tires out this evening and go for a few miles and see if it comes on.

The TPMS light will not come on for quite a while the first time. You having them in the trunk isnt doing anything. Your car just hasnt registered the system as inoperable, yet.

[jongp3]

I'm tempted to dismantle one, figure out what i need to do to trick the sensor into thinking its fully pressurized and taping them to the inside of my fenders. but i'd have to do it to all 4 to try it out

[OrdnanceMarine]

Originally Posted by jongp3

Well i know for sure now that if you have the original tires with sensors in the trunk/back seat the TPMS light will not come on, drove about 20 miles so far. I'll take the tires out this evening and go for a few miles and see if it comes on.

That's interesting. I think my sensors don't report data unless they detect movement. TPMS still hasn't proved useful for me yet. We were off roading in Death Valley last weekend in my Dad's 4 Runner and we could tell we had a flat while descending a rocky hill before the TPMS light came on. Also, my '05 CR-V does not have TPMS and this morning I though one of the tires looked a little low. Turned out to be 5 PSI below recommended so I think I got a leak off roading as well but in both instances a dilligent operator found the problem either before the TPMS or before it caused any loss. I just love when the government implements another "Stupid Tax" on me like they did with TPMS. I'm sure this won't be the last one either.

[jongp3]

Drove another 15 miles home with the tires in the trunk still no light. Took them out tonight, i'll have another 30 miles round trip tomorrow to work, we'll see when the light comes on. Then i'll test VSA out.

[MN10EX]

Originally Posted by Phalanx

I doubt they really changed the functionality for 2010... there wouldnt be any reason for them to change it until the next model cycle. But I suppose it is possible, seeing as they added TPMS mid-model, I just dont see them changing how TPMS functions mid-model

Two reasons, it stops a 3rd party tool from messing with their ECU and it brings the income back to them for TPMS learning. I have my new winter tires/rims already but the snow is going and I'm not putting them on til next fall now. It'll have to wait.

[jongp3]

OK I tested this morning, within 5 miles of my morning trip the TPMS light came on. I pulled over to the side of the road (this is a back country road, very little traffic) Turned VSA off, Yellow triangle light with the ! came on. I did a few launches and in each try I was able to spin the tires all the way to red line without the Traction Control preventing me to stop the tires from spinning.

So it's a official in 2010 nothing has changed with this part of TPMS, if your TPMS light is on VSA will still work normally, and turn off and on as you please.

I'm very happy with this.

[LatinFG2]

Do any you guys know if having the TPMS light on will affect any warranty repairs by the dealer?? I want to buy some TL-S rims and my 08 Si has the sensors. Last time I went to the dealer and asked how much it would be to mount/dismount/reprogram the new tpms sensor they said it would be around $200 or more!