Exasperating TPMS

[Chateau_Nomad]

Any assembly is only as strong as it's weakest or poorly assembled part. Sometimes it's the assembler... sometimes it's the assembly.

 

[nsraja]

My spousal unit managed to knock a tire off the wheel and get a flat.
We have a full size matching spare so it was easy to change.
However:
Due to the internal tpms the spare doesn't read and never could in a practical manner because it wouldn't know where it was on the car if it did have a sensor.

So now I get to swap tires just to accommodate the internal tpms.
Had I an external tpms the flat would be fixed and used as the spare.

I don't believe much in rotating tires(I've never done this)
But
How do you do it with internal sensors?

I dont see a point in rotating tires for RVs. But I did due to the suspected front wheel inner wear (5% camber/caster purposefully (supposedly) done on RVs) to distribute the wear to other tires. And the $10 tool suggested by 16ACE27 should help re-learn, it is super easy, only I got stopped out at the problematic tire,. Once I fix the TPMS sensor, rotating should not be a concern. Takes 2 minutes to re-learn all wheels.

 

[ducksface]

Thanks.
I wasn't sure how the relearn worked.

 

[nsraja]

Thanks.
I wasn't sure how the relearn worked.

These are the steps. Put the key in, ignition on, engine off. Press and release panic button three times. The system will honk and enter learning mode. It will ask you to identify front left driver side. At this point you can either air out (and lose upto 15 PSI) to excite the sensor or use the tool (EL-50449 for Ford), which sends a special frequency and excites the TPMS without losing air. System will honk and ask you to move to the next tire. Then you move on to front right, then right rear outer, rear inner and so on. Every time a tire is identified, you get a honk. I could not complete this cycle. I am glad I have the tool now (thanks to 16ACE27) and dont have to air-out to excite the TPMS. The tool is hands down the best method. Surprisingly it is able to excite the TPMS on the correct tire you point at in a dually so close to each other.

 

[nsraja]

I got the new TPMS sensors, generic (specifically marked as E-350 and E-450 and pre-programmed) and Motorcraft part number TPMS-62. The generic brand had aluminum barrel where as the Motorcraft had stainless steel chrome finish, slightly heavy too. The choice was immediately clear, and I was going to use the Motorcraft because it looked more sturdy given the frequency of interaction we have with the valve stem.

To my dismay, the vehicle failed to honk for the Motorcraft or generic sensors. So I think it may have something to do with the module in the vehicle that is throwing a fit. I came across a post on Forest River forums where this type of issue is discussed and couple of posters said it is notorious on E-Series. Now I have to find a Ford dealer willing to look at the vehicle. I have also seen youtubers showing how to clone new sensors to have the same serial number as dead TPMS. So I may have to do just that and fool the vehicle system.

Or should I get something like this?

https://www.amazon.com/Autel-MaxiTPMS-TS508WF-One-Click-MX-Sensors/dp/B089Q4ZC7H?th=1

Or it may have to be installed and pressurized.

 

[16ACE27]

Or it may have to be installed and pressurized.

I don't know the answer to that but that sounds like a reasonable question to get the answer to. Did you try one of the new sensors at a position other than the trouble position?

 

[nsraja]

I don't know the answer to that but that sounds like a reasonable question to get the answer to. Did you try one of the new sensors at a position other than the trouble position?

Yes, I start from front driver side, then front passenger, then the problematic passenger rear outer. If you dont get a single honk on each tire, it will not move to the next one. So I tried the inner one in place of outer one (to fool it), it moved on to the next one. I tried it on the new ones in place of good existings sensors and no honk.

I think the sensor may have to be installed and pressurized or the sensors come deactivated (the tool I have is not likely for activating) or I need to connect to the vehicle system and make it accept the new sensor or I have to fool the system by giving the new sensor the old sensor's serial number.

 

[16ACE27]

Yes, I start from front driver side, then front passenger, then the problematic passenger rear outer. If you dont get a single honk on each tire, it will not move to the next one. So I tried the inner one in place of outer one (to fool it), it moved on to the next one. I tried it on the new ones in place of good existings sensors and no honk.

I think the sensor may have to be installed and pressurized or the sensors come deactivated (the tool I have is not likely for activating) or I need to connect to the vehicle system and make it accept the new sensor or I have to fool the system by giving the new sensor the old sensor's serial number.

Well, you're above my head and experience. I have replaced all 4 TPMS sensors on both a Chevrolet Silverado and Ford Fusion and using that same cheap TPMS tool got each vehicle to learn the new sensors and their positions. But they were a;; installed on the wheels, in the tire chamber with air pressure and the wheel installed.
So without actually installing one of your new sensors, your testing may be done.

 

[nsraja]

Well, you're above my head and experience. I have replaced all 4 TPMS sensors on both a Chevrolet Silverado and Ford Fusion and using that same cheap TPMS tool got each vehicle to learn the new sensors and their positions. But they were a;; installed on the wheels, in the tire chamber with air pressure and the wheel installed.
So without actually installing one of your new sensors, your testing may be done.

Thanks for all the tips. Yes, it has to be installed or the vehicle needs to be trained with the new serial number.