TPMS Questions

[supersuckers]

I own a 09 MS3 Sport. A month or two after purchasing the vehicle, the TPMS warning light came on. I immediately checked the pressure and found all of the wheels to be w/in spec (34F & 32R).

After ignoring the light for several months I had my dealer investigate. Their solution was to inflate all four tires to 35psi. They told me that the sensors are set to 35psi and will send an alert at when the tires are +/- 2psi. This basically means that my rear tires will generate an error any time they are set to Mazda's advertised spec. Unfortunately, there's no mention of the expected behavior of the TPMS sensors in the owners or workshop maunuals.

1. Has anyone had a similar experience? How did you resolve?
2. Is my dealer correct? Seems way too sensitive.
3. Is there a way to cripple the TPMS such that the idiot light remains off?
4. Does Mazda have less sensitive sensors that will work with the Speed3?
5. Are the sensors temperature aware? Do they account for pressure changes while driving?

Thanks!

 

[SwampAss]

TPMS are calibrated to alert the driver @ a psi <27psi.

I don't know of any way to stop the light on the dash. Your dealer is incorrect.

 

[ohioan]

^agreed. Hope someone finds a way to turn off the light. Otherwise, I'm going to feel obligated to purchase 4 new sensors @ $100 ea. when the summer tires go on...

 

[robin2660]

^agreed. Hope someone finds a way to turn off the light. Otherwise, I'm going to feel obligated to purchase 4 new sensors @ $100 ea. when the summer tires go on...

I simply ignore mine. Obcessive/compulsive?

 

[ohioan]

^ I feel like I am sometimes. How many sports cars had tpms before 1995?

 

[robin2660]

^ I feel like I am sometimes. How many sports cars had tpms before 1995?

???

Frankly, I am capable of checking my own tire pressure.

 

[BigDaddyMS3]

Tpms

My dash light comes on when I'm below 25 psi. and when I'm over 45 psi. The tires heat up at the track, especially in summer, so now I use nitrogen to keep the temps in a smaller/tighter range.

Your dealer is wrong about the small psi variance. Why would there be a difference between an 07 and an 09 MS3? Insist they change it if its still under warranty.

 

[LovinMyMS3]

If your pressures are good and there's no contamination they need to replace the sensors.

 

[MikeHTally]

It is amazing how ignorant the dealers are. Too many of the "techs" are actually no more than wrench-pullers.

 

[BudUMfan]

I don't have em in. The factory pressure sensors have silver valve stems, I have black wheels. Hence, black valve stems. I don't even notice the light anymore.

 

[oaklandopen]

^ I feel like I am sometimes. How many sports cars had tpms before 1995?

1986 porsche 959....just looked it up. also, TPMS didn't start out on the valve stems. earlier systems used to just use the wheel speed sensors to see if the pressures were out of whack. if one wheel has less pressure than the others it will rotate at a different rate than all the other tires, so that would set off the system warning

 

[Remspeed3]

I'm going to feel obligated to purchase 4 new sensors @ $100 ea. when the summer tires go on...

I got mine from Street Unit.com for 299. for a set. Tire Rack also has them, but im not sure what they cost.

 

[#sand]

Maybe you're getting interference from something you've got hooked up? When I had a nail in my tire and pressure was really low, I got an audible beep and the light. Then I started just getting the flashing light followed by solid light with no actual pressure problems. Finally figured out it was because of some type of interference from the ground loop isolator I was using to eliminate the buzz with my Mp3 hooked up to the aux input and 12v power. Did several tests and confirmed it was the ground loop isolator. Tried a different one and haven't had a problem since.

 

[Nliiitend1]

My dash light comes on when I'm below 25 psi. and when I'm over 45 psi. The tires heat up at the track, especially in summer, so now I use nitrogen to keep the temps in a smaller/tighter range.

Your dealer is wrong about the small psi variance. Why would there be a difference between an 07 and an 09 MS3? Insist they change it if its still under warranty.

You know, you could get pretty much the same exact effect from using dry air.

Nitrogen is a ripoff, for the most part.

 

[ALIEN3T]

MIne wouldnt turn on till almost 16psi.

 

[not yellow]

if the light blinks a few times then stays on it means the TPMS is malfunctioning or not getting a reading. my wheels don't have TPMS so this happens every time i get in the car. doesn't bother me in the least. if there is an audible "ding" and the light comes on it means the tire pressure is outside of acceptable range according to the TPMS.
are you on stock wheels? and which warning are you getting?

 

[chief_wiggum]

I got mine from Street Unit.com for 299. for a set. Tire Rack also has them, but im not sure what they cost.

I got mine off Ebay for $105 shipped (that's for all 4). They're off a regular 3 but have worked flawlessly since installed.

 

[BigDaddyMS3]

Originally Posted by BigDaddyMS3
My dash light comes on when I'm below 25 psi. and when I'm over 45 psi. The tires heat up at the track, especially in summer, so now I use nitrogen to keep the temps in a smaller/tighter range.

Your dealer is wrong about the small psi variance. Why would there be a difference between an 07 and an 09 MS3? Insist they change it if its still under warranty.

You know, you could get pretty much the same exact effect from using dry air.

Nitrogen is a ripoff, for the most part.

Nliiitend1,

I have a friend at Big O and did'nt have to pay for the nitrogen. But your right at $5 per tire it can get expensive compared to dry air. The track we go to has Big O as a sponsor and they have reps there with nitogen for tire track temp tests and its free if ya have a Big O membership card.

 

[Nliiitend1]

Nice.

I suppose if it didn't cost me any extra, I'd use it too...

My air compressor (fitted with a nice in-line filter/dryer, of course) does me just fine though, and I can't see myself ever paying someone for nitrogen as long as I still have it.

 

[meicalnissyen]

You know, you could get pretty much the same exact effect from using dry air.

Nitrogen is a ripoff, for the most part.

I always use 79% nitrogen, but I add a bit of argon, just a trace, and Of course the 4/10% of CO2.

But thats my private recipe, I could tell you rest,...... but then,.......... well you know