Tire Pressure Sensor in Spare?

[rachaelseven]

Does anyone happen to know if the Gen III spare tire has a tire pressure monitoring sensor installed? Or if it is supposed to have one? Just had a look at mine and it appears to have a regular valve and not a TPMS sensor. Also, the computer printout my dealer gave me that shows the registered ID codes for the sensors only shows 4 - there's space for a 5th one, but the information is blank. I wonder if a 5th one can actually be registered? Is it worth it to register a sensor for the spare for the peace of mind of knowing it still has air?

[Glider]

The manual (p343) says that the compact spare tire does not come with a pressure warning valve and transmitter. I think that's the spare tire I got with my car - not sure about yours. Also, I remember the service rep saying it didn't have one.

I don't remember getting any computer printout when I bought the car. Was this after you had it serviced?

- g

[Glider]

Sorry, its p434.

[rachaelseven]

Originally Posted by Glider

The manual (p343) says that the compact spare tire does not come with a pressure warning valve and transmitter. I think that's the spare tire I got with my car - not sure about yours. Also, I remember the service rep saying it didn't have one.

I don't remember getting any computer printout when I bought the car. Was this after you had it serviced?

- g

I knew I should have RTFM... again. Must have missed that on my first time through - thanks for the page reference.

The printout was from when they were setting my custom functions before the delivery. The tech let me look over his shoulder and as we were exploring together (it was the first Gen III he'd hooked up to), I asked him to print the TPMS page. I figured it might be handy to know the ID's of the sensors for future reference (like come snow tire time).

Rachael

[bluetwo]

That was good thinking Rachael. TPMS sensors are actually far more of a PITA than they are good, just speaking in terms of percentages. The number of people they've inconvienced has got to be far greater than the people who have actually needed a little light to come on and say they dummy you have a low tire.....

They are just as much a pain to people who want to have an extra set of snow tires as they are to people who put performance rims and tires or bling/bling wheels on their G ride. Usually, from what I've read about most models, it only takes a few minutes of riding around after the spare is removed and stowed again for the regular tire pressure monitering system wheel to communicate with the ECU and turn that pesky dummy light out again.

[Glider]

Originally Posted by rachaelseven

Is it worth it to register a sensor for the spare for the peace of mind of knowing it still has air?

Sorry, forgot to mention that this is a very good point. I rarely check my spare (dumb me) and it wasn't too long ago, on another car, that I asked them to use the spare as part of the tire rotation and had them inform me it had something like 10 PSI in it. A flat spare isn't much good is it??

- g

[rachaelseven]

Originally Posted by Glider

A flat spare isn't much good is it??

Exactly what I was thinking. And I'm honest enough with myself to admit that I will never check the pressure in the spare. I mean seriously... it's all I can do to check the pressure in the 4 on the car... I drive the thing, ya know? So I thought a 5th sensor would be a nice way to know that the spare is still a spare rather than some dead weight in the back. Unfortunately, everything I've been able to unearth so far indicates that only 4 sensors can be registered to the system, despite the apparent space for a 5th on my printout. As an interesting side note, the Techstream printout also makes reference to a 2nd set of sensors and a switch between the two - also features that are unfortunately not included on the Gen III at the moment, but were at least thought about when they created the TPMS ECU. Perhaps we'll see an update in the future.

[jay_man2]

The bad thing about the spare is that the the way it's stowed the valve stem is face down, so it's a major PITA to pull the cargo box out, pull the spare out, then check the pressure.

[rachaelseven]

Originally Posted by jay_man2

The bad thing about the spare is that the the way it's stowed the valve stem is face down, so it's a major PITA to pull the cargo box out, pull the spare out, then check the pressure.

Like I said, you have to be a heck of a lot more dedicated and responsible than me to make that check a regular occurrence. I'll make the dealer do it at oil changes or something :S

[jay_man2]

Originally Posted by bluetwo

... TPMS sensors are actually far more of a PITA than they are good, just speaking in terms of percentages.....

I used to check tire pressures every Saturday morning, along with the fluid levels and battery indicator (the green or blue eye on a 12v battery). With the advent of TPMS, I'd completely fallen out of that very useful habit, but I'm trying to work it back into my weekend routine.