08 TPMS questions

[cornerstrike]

Stupid question,

if you I use the same wheels that came with my 08 Si, but you a different set of tires that are the same size as the OEM tires, will I have any issues with the TPMS? Do I have to go to a Honda dealer to get these tires mounted? Or can any tire shop mount aftermarket tires on the 08 Si wheels?

[Solo2EG]

It will be fine, just make sure they're careful with the tire mounting machine not to damage the sensors... I've seen that happen.

[0720Steve]

would it work to put the 4 sensors in the spare if you wanted to run aftermarket wheels? this is assuming they wouldn't fit on certain aftermarket wheels.

[Solo2EG]

Originally Posted by 0720Steve

would it work to put the 4 sensors in the spare if you wanted to run aftermarket wheels? this is assuming they wouldn't fit on certain aftermarket wheels.

I guess this could work if you were prepared to machine 3 more valve stem holes into the spare tire since the sensors are the actual valve stem... but you really shouldn't have an issue putting the sensors into most wheels anyway.

[pgFA]

Haven't had any issues with my sensor. Just transfered it to my after market wheels. Like what Solo2EG said, most name brand after market wheels are TPMS compatible. Hopefully someday Rota will be too.

[cderalow]

Originally Posted by 0720Steve

would it work to put the 4 sensors in the spare if you wanted to run aftermarket wheels? this is assuming they wouldn't fit on certain aftermarket wheels.

no, the sensors are designed to "wake up" and tell the TPMS system they are active based on the wheels rotation, this ensures that they're not constantly sending a signal to the car while the vehicle is off and stationary... this saves battery life in the sensor itself.


I love to see all of the wrong info people have on this system, it's amazing...


Some basics.

There's sensors in all 4 wheels, and a receiver unit in the dash, the sensors are part of the valve stem, and can be transferred to most wheels with some minor modifications to the wheels (adding padding below the sensor to support it).

Pulling the fuse might disable the system, but it will put your car into a constant state of having the stability assist active. A TPMS malfunction forces VSA on, a critical low tire warning will force VSA on.

Modifying your suspension will have no effect on the system, similar to how modifying your suspension has no effect on the wheels themselves.

Changing tires will not effect functionality of the system as long as the sensors aren't damaged.

pulling the fuse is illegal by federal law, as it circumvents a federally mandated safety feature, similar to messing with the SRS system.

all in all, when the system is functioning (and the sensors aren't wonky), it's a nice little feature. At least Honda had the brains to implement a wheel based sensor, and not a suspension geometry based one similar to lexus and other high end makes. that system can be a total pain in the ass, though does allow for more flexibility with wheel selection.

[Solo2EG]

Yeah, it's handy as long as you're not an autocrosser and don't like to run winter tires... am I ever glad this hasn't been mandated in Canada yet... (though it has been installed on many models)

[civicracer32]

Read all 5 pages and still slightly confused on how to reset the 2nd set of TPMS sensors I will be buying...Arghh. Someone said draining and re-airing the tires, someone else mentioned reprogramming the ECU? I'm hoping the air down/air up procedure is how they re-program them. I'm ordering rims and sensors soon and want to know what I'm doing before I do it.

[Spencer@tirerack]

I had a buddy re-set his VW tpms with that method. Not sure if it works here, on this, but I can ask the techs when they come in on monday, but the method used there was lowering the pressure, driving sround, raising it back up, driving again, then it picks it up. sounds stupid i know

[Solo2EG]

You will need to take the car in and have the sensors repogrammed by Honda on their HDS... the higher grade system in the Ridgeline and MDX will allow more sensors and just reset itself by driving around, but the Civic onle recognizes the 4 at a time without being reprogrammed...

[gimpy]

I have three sets of wheels and regularly check my tire pressure and didn't want the hassle of TPMS. I wrapped my TPMS sensors in foam and duct taped them in my spare and reinflated to 40psi.... problem solved. I can change wheels without headaches - no light and can turn VSC off.

If I ever need my spare I MIGHT damage them, but it's a gamble I'll take.

[markiev37]

This whole tpms thing has me confused..I have an 08 si sedan with aftermarket(rota) wheels....Orderd the tires and rims online as a package so tpms's are still on my oem wheels...While the "tpms" light is constantly on(something that I can live with) I am aslo able to disengage the VSA. Correct me if i'm wrong but when VSA is disabled a yellow triangular icon with this(!) in the center of it appears on the dash.... Can someone please clarify this...I had the same system on my G35 and I just dealt with the light being on..I was able to disengage the VSA on the G35 also while not having any tpms's...

[jkocr2]

VSA cannot be turned off, even though it appears you can turn vsa off. Anytime the tpms light is on vsa CANNOT be disabled even though the little yellow exclamation point is visible.
This info is stated in the manual.

[PhoR11]

Just as an aside, when you install TPMS sensors in aftermarket wheels, you'll need to get them re-balanced anyway...

So even if you can de-bead the tire and install the sensor yourself, I wouldn't recommend it unless they also have access to a static wheel balancer, wheel weights, etc...

Just get a tire shop or your dealer to do it.

[markiev37]

Thanks for the clarificationn..I'll reread the manual again...

Originally Posted by jkocr2

VSA cannot be turned off, even though it appears you can turn vsa off. Anytime the tpms light is on vsa CANNOT be disabled even though the little yellow exclamation point is visible.
This info is stated in the manual.

[Solo2EG]

Originally Posted by jkocr2

VSA cannot be turned off, even though it appears you can turn vsa off. Anytime the tpms light is on vsa CANNOT be disabled even though the little yellow exclamation point is visible.
This info is stated in the manual.

Plus it'd be pretty easy to figure out... just toss the car into a corner too hard or try to spin the tires... you'll know if the VSA's still on!

[OrdnanceMarine]

I just read through this entire thread and getting the TPMS system to work with a second set of tires sounds like a royal PITA. My goal was to buy a set of rims with mounted tires, possibly with new TPMS sensors installed. I'd drive around most of the time with my new rim/tire combo but would keep my OEM setup since I like to take my FA5 on road trips when possible and often visit places where I've got to do some light trail driving that I wouldn't want to risk my light weight/high performance wheel/tire set on. The CLOSEST Honda dealership is almost 100 miles away and the one I go to is just over 110 miles away so I am not willing to go in and have the dealership reprogram my car to recognize it.

Looks like my options are to remove the TPMS from my stock rims and have these tires remounted then build up a section of PVC (or other pressure vessel) with a schrader valve on one end and toss my TPMS sensors inside and leave this in the trunk in perpetuity OR just deal with the light being on all of the time and the possible VSA activation (have we figured out if this is the case?)

Am I reading everything correctly?

[xXxMLEExXx]

Originally Posted by OrdnanceMarine

I just read through this entire thread and getting the TPMS system to work with a second set of tires sounds like a royal PITA. My goal was to buy a set of rims with mounted tires, possibly with new TPMS sensors installed. I'd drive around most of the time with my new rim/tire combo but would keep my OEM setup since I like to take my FA5 on road trips when possible and often visit places where I've got to do some light trail driving that I wouldn't want to risk my light weight/high performance wheel/tire set on. The CLOSEST Honda dealership is almost 100 miles away and the one I go to is just over 110 miles away so I am not willing to go in and have the dealership reprogram my car to recognize it.

Looks like my options are to remove the TPMS from my stock rims and have these tires remounted then build up a section of PVC (or other pressure vessel) with a schrader valve on one end and toss my TPMS sensors inside and leave this in the trunk in perpetuity OR just deal with the light being on all of the time and the possible VSA activation (have we figured out if this is the case?)

Am I reading everything correctly?

I'm in the same boat, I bought my wife a set of new rims/tires/tpms for her new Si. I thought as long as the sensors are in the rims all is ok. I guess I was wrong. It's not bad enough that I have to bring the new rims to the dealer to reset, but when she put on her original set for the winter, I'll have
to bring it back to reset again. What a PITA...So as someone mentioned, the
sensors activate by the rotation of the wheels activates the sensors. The pvc mod will not work.

[PhoR11]

This is why 07 is the year model to buy

(on a side note, I wonder if a hondata ECU reflash can/will get rid of the "VSA always on when TPMS malfunction" behavior... because that's the only real reason the TPMS system is such a POS to deal with)

[thedamaja]

Originally Posted by xXxMLEExXx

What a PITA...So as someone mentioned, the
sensors activate by the rotation of the wheels activates the sensors. The pvc mod will not work.

It's true that some sensors record Gs but the Civic isn't one of them. Heck even those that do record motion still don't need to be "in motion" to work.

The Civic uses a simple TRW 315mhz sensor, they are not capable of detecting motion. They transmit pressure and temp but, the Civic only looks at the pressure information.

Look no accelerometer inside...


You could throw all the sensors in the spare if you wanted (be hard to use it though with them rattling around) or put them in a PVC pressure chamber with one valve exposed to inflate.

If you would like to test this simply put the original wheels inside the car for a bit and drive around for a bit to see if the light comes on. If you still have them on the car just swap out one oe and throw that one in the trunk.

I'd love for this to be put to bed once and for all.