FAQ - Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

[zetarin71]

wow i didnt know that
thanx for the great info

[Phalanx]

For what its worth...

I have been able to confirm what GSXRSpeed said about the (!) light and VSA. Thanks to the cold weather my (!) light as come on a few times and I was able to test it yesterday.

Yesterday, I launched my car (in an isolated, empty, parking lot) with the (!) light present and while switching VSA on/off multiple times.

When VSA was enabled, it acted normally in trying to prevent my wheels from spinning.
When VSA was disabled, my tires were allowed ot spin freely until I let off the gas to gain traction.

[smcurry83]

I had just put a set of Potenza G019's on my wife's '07 sedan. We decided to trade it so I though it would be a great idea to swap her wheels and tires onto my '08 coupe. I noticed the tpms light and figured I would just pull a fuse the next day. (I don't need a light to tell me about my tire pressure)

Needless to say, the night AFTER we traded my wife's car in, I tried to pull the fuse for the tpms and the light stays on! I don't know if I'll get failed during an inspection for that light, but aside from having the stealership install new sensors, is there a way to outsmart the system? Can I actually remove the entire system?

[Phalanx]

Originally Posted by smcurry83

I had just put a set of Potenza G019's on my wife's '07 sedan. We decided to trade it so I though it would be a great idea to swap her wheels and tires onto my '08 coupe. I noticed the tpms light and figured I would just pull a fuse the next day. (I don't need a light to tell me about my tire pressure)

Needless to say, the night AFTER we traded my wife's car in, I tried to pull the fuse for the tpms and the light stays on! I don't know if I'll get failed during an inspection for that light, but aside from having the stealership install new sensors, is there a way to outsmart the system? Can I actually remove the entire system?

i dont believe anyone has done that yet. to my knowledge its built into the ecu so you wont be able to get rid of it

as for passing inspection? probably not. its mandatory on 08+ models so its likely mandatory to pass inspection

[smcurry83]

Originally Posted by Phalanx

i dont believe anyone has done that yet. to my knowledge its built into the ecu so you wont be able to get rid of it

as for passing inspection? probably not. its mandatory on 08+ models so its likely mandatory to pass inspection

So if it's in the ecu, I can't just remove the bulb b/c it'll show up when they plug into the diagnostic port, right?

Anyone have a quick guess at what the stealership charges for a new set?

[Phalanx]

probably roughly $30 per sensor. then whatever the wanna charge for labor.

[spcdan]

Stealership! HAHAHAH! That Outstandin! Great Thread!!!

[bLaCkWiDoWSi]

these TPMS sensors suck people did fine without them lol be careful going through the car wash if your have chrome valve caps on my TPMS sensor snapped and cost maaadddd money to repair

[wannabfast]

also the light will turn on if the tires are OVER-inflated

[wannabfast]

Originally Posted by Phalanx

For what its worth...

I have been able to confirm what GSXRSpeed said about the (!) light and VSA. Thanks to the cold weather my (!) light as come on a few times and I was able to test it yesterday.

Yesterday, I launched my car (in an isolated, empty, parking lot) with the (!) light present and while switching VSA on/off multiple times.

When VSA was enabled, it acted normally in trying to prevent my wheels from spinning.
When VSA was disabled, my tires were allowed ot spin freely until I let off the gas to gain traction.

but thats when you have a tire pressure light and NOT the TPMS light illuminated, the vsa will still function normally with a low pressure situation, but if you have wheels WITHOUT tpms sensors, the system will go into dummy mode and will keep vsa on as it thinks you are now driving WITHOUT wheels...

you can check this by swapping out the wheels with wheels without sensors

at least this is what happened in the 06RL i drove, it had no sensors.. couldnt shut a darn thing off

[tuner student]

uggg i thought we setteled this argument^ phalanx

[wannabfast]

Originally Posted by tuner student

uggg i thought we setteled this argument^ phalanx

no he confirmed that IF you have the (!) light on, and NOT the TPMS light on, you can deactivate the vsa, but if you have the TPMS light on, you cannot deactivate vsa

[tuner student]

i thought it was the other way around

[Phalanx]

@ wannabfast: im not sure if you read all of the original post, and im going to look at it again right now and make sure everything is accurate... but...

neither the (!) or the TPMS light will permanently enable or disable VSA.

edit: part of the original post was a little confusing regarding the function of VSA. I tried to clear it up a bit

[tuner student]

ok well i still think its a bit weird that the manual would be totally off like that

[The Power of Dreams]

Originally Posted by wannabfast

also the light will turn on if the tires are OVER-inflated

According to Honda, not so.

[wannabfast]

Originally Posted by The Power of Dreams

According to Honda, not so.

well inflate your tires to 50psi and try it out.. ive seen this happen on about 5 cars at the dealership..

maybe the vsa function is different on the si than on other models

[Si ckWitIt]

Originally Posted by GSXRSpeed

Anybody using nitrogen in thier tires? Every time it gets cold out my (!)-(Low Pressure) light comes on and won't go off even if I fill it to 32 psi. I have to go to the dealership and this gets annoying. I'm thinking nitrogen might solve my problem.

Also, I think you're backwards about which lights disables your control over VSA. Yesterday was the first time my (!)-(Low Pressure) light came on this year, first day around 30 degrees. Anyhow the roads were wet and I turned off my VSA and did a huge burnout, traction control did not kick on. Plus I'm pretty sure the manual says it's the TPMS light that doesn't let you turn off VSA. I'm on my way out the door and will check my manual to be sure.


Edit: I checked my manual, Pages 212,213.

If your (!)-(Low Pressure) light comes on check air pressure in tires. If inflated to proper levels and the (!) light stays on proceed cautiously to ther dealer.

If the TPMS light comes on, there is a problem with your system. VSA will always be on regardless of if you hit your VSA button or not. Proceed to dealership.

Nitrogen will help in that it is more consistent and does not fluctuate with air temperature. If you decide to get nitro, you must make sure that you get as close 98% pure or better. Anything less will not yeild any results. The installer should have a gauge to test it.

[Si ckWitIt]

When installing the sensors into aftermarket wheels, it is best that the sensor sits flush with the wheel, but not necessary. The system will still function even if the sensor is not touching the inside of the wheel. It is important however to leak test the stem to make sure there is no air leaking from around the grommet.

[Si ckWitIt]

Originally Posted by The Power of Dreams

According to Honda, not so.

I haven't seen it on Hondas yet, but I have seen it on GM's, Bmw's, and Nissans