Hey guys, thought I would share some of the latest information with you concerning the TPMS. For you guys wondering about switching wheels or running lower pressure this may answer some questions. This applies to ALL 2008+ vehicles under 10,000lbs. as they are now Federally mandated to have TPMS installed from the factory.

A legal distinction has been made between the TPMS monitoring "system" and the TPMS MIL (Malfunction Indicator Lamp). The monitoring system may be disabled after the first retail sale of the vehicle. The MIL light may not be disabled at any time (consumer, dealer, etc...) as it is required safety equipment.

What this means is that you CAN feel free to use whatever wheels and tires you like. You CAN run whatever tire pressure you like. You CAN damage, remove the or disable the TPMS system entirely. These actions MAY cause the MIL light to come on. You (dealer, consumer, etc...) may NOT disable the MIL light as it is correctly reporting that there has been a malfunction with the vehicle safety system.

If you are a new car dealer or shop and install wheels and tires BEFORE the vehicle is titled, BOTH the TPMS system and TPMS MIL must function as they would stock.

Most systems are set to illuminate the MIL at pressure less than 25% of factory specification.

 

Can you elaborate. Reading through the owners manual, it leads you to believe the system will reset after driving 15 miles or so after the system has indicated a low pressure - say after airing down for a wheeling adventure. Ok that's easy.

The question is do you need to move the (or get replacements) MOPAR valve stems to your aftermarket wheels? Can the system be recalibrated to offer the 25% cushion but at a lower starting pressure? Factory pressure on the label on the door is 35psi. In most cases that is to high of a starting pressure and applying the 25% "rule" to that nets you a 26.25psi minimum before setting off the "alarm". Runnning your tires stok or aftermarket at say 28psi doesn't leave much marginn for "error".

Any 08 drivers that have swapped wheels tires that can elaborate on their findings?

Thanks

 

I have swapped out wheels on my 08. I just had the shop use the stock valve stems with the monitors. No problems at all. As far as when the light comes on I think the owners manual said 30psi (I think, don't flame me if I'm wrong!). I'm too lazy to go look.

So if you air down the light will come on along with a bell. The bell gives up after a short period of time but the light remains until you air back up and drive a few miles. The system does not give you individual tire pressures, only the idiot lt and bell. There is also a monitor in the spare that is actively monitored so if your spare goes down you'll get the light/bell and have to guess where the problem is.

The advantage to the system not giving specific tire pressures is that you don't have to reset the monitors after you rotate the tires, it doesn't matter where the tire is as long as it's being monitored.

Al

 

The disadvantage is that you have to guess or check to see which one is low.

 

When the system is activated for low pressure does the bell ring once or everytime you start up. Is the only real con of not replacing the sensors having the indicator light stay on? Or, will you have a constant bell ringing all the time?

 

You could always put the sensors in a small air tank, air it up to 30 psi, and leave it in the back.

 

The dealer reflashed mine for 30psi....took about 15 minutes and $40. I no longer have a problem running at 28 psi, my light won't come on till I get to 23.

 

I'm guessing this is BS, but I read some jeep owner claiming if you have good pressure when you turn the ign off, as long as the sensors are not close enough to be read, the computer will not notify you of anything. He put normal stems on, moved the sensors far away, and had NO alarm from the 'puter. I don't believe it, but just reporting what I read!

 

Anybody running new wheels/tires without the sensors switched over? If so, what does it do? Bells, lights, etc.

 

Bell/chime sounds at start up and light remaains on........after your first 500 miles your engine blows up....ok, just kidding on the second part