Why do TPMS systems fail?

RCMAN46 wrote:
Recommend you do an inventory of what is in the coach. I suspect there is something that operates on the same frequency as the TPMS system. IF I remember correct the TPMS operates in the 400 meg band the same as many remote temperature devices.

As a matter of fact, I do have a remote thermometer. If replacing the antenna and junction box doesn't work, I'll reposition the remote temperature sensor to the back of the coach.

Wish me luck.

holstein13 wrote:
I had the TST tire sensors for three years on my old coach and struggled with them on almost every trip until I finally had enough and just gave them away. My coach was only 31 feet long, yet virtually every sensor would stop working occasionally. Sometimes it would spontaneously come back and other times I'd switch out the batteries and re-program the thing (which wasn't fun). A couple of times I had to return them to the manufacturer who sent me new ones.

Originally, I had to unscrew them to add air to the tires until I switched to the pass-through model. But the pass-through model was too close to the rim on the front tires so I ended up having to unscrew those as well to fill.

My main concern was the "lost signal" alarms I'd get while driving somewhere. I found it overly stressful to worry about something that might be going wrong even though I was fairly certain that it was fine.

After I gave them all away, I simply checked my pressures manually on a regular basis and had much more stress free trips.

Now, I've got the "in the tire" models built in that came factory installed and integrated with the trip-tek system and, would you believe it, I'm still having problems with the lost signals. They are replacing the antennas and junctions in a couple of weeks and hopefully that will fix the problem for good.

strange - were you running a repeater ?

I've got the TST 507 system with the user serviceable battery sensors in our coach. I can get about 15-18 months out of a set of batteries (using the repeater helps when the batteries get weak).

Ive never had to REPROGRAM my TST sensors after i replace the batteries.

Given the fact that your having failures with a 2nd I'd have to say that you've got some environmental / interference issue.

For me nothing could be less stressful than having the TST system....the only time i have to add air to any tires is when the weather changes.....its a pain in the butt to drag hose out and start a compressor or the coach (if I'm at a RV park) & the valve stem on my inner duels are tough to get to....if it weren't for the temperature change in the winter id probably never have to add air to a tire.

I have a small 10lb Co2 bottle & 175psi regulator on the bottle that i can throw in one of my storage bays to take withe me for adding air to tires or running an air tool (to avoid hauling a 120vac compressor or running our coach at camp).

holstein13 wrote:
I had the TST tire sensors for three years on my old coach and struggled with them on almost every trip until I finally had enough and just gave them away. My coach was only 31 feet long, yet virtually every sensor would stop working occasionally. Sometimes it would spontaneously come back and other times I'd switch out the batteries and re-program the thing (which wasn't fun). A couple of times I had to return them to the manufacturer who sent me new ones.

Originally, I had to unscrew them to add air to the tires until I switched to the pass-through model. But the pass-through model was too close to the rim on the front tires so I ended up having to unscrew those as well to fill.

My main concern was the "lost signal" alarms I'd get while driving somewhere. I found it overly stressful to worry about something that might be going wrong even though I was fairly certain that it was fine.

After I gave them all away, I simply checked my pressures manually on a regular basis and had much more stress free trips.

Now, I've got the "in the tire" models built in that came factory installed and integrated with the trip-tek system and, would you believe it, I'm still having problems with the lost signals. They are replacing the antennas and junctions in a couple of weeks and hopefully that will fix the problem for good.

Your TST system was not working most of the time. When the receiver losses contact with a transmitter the signal has to be lost continuously for about 1 hour before an alarm is generated. So you probably was never getting reliable data.

Recommend you do an inventory of what is in the coach. I suspect there is something that operates on the same frequency as the TPMS system. IF I remember correct the TPMS operates in the 400 meg band the same as many remote temperature devices.

67Cutlass wrote:
For those of you that have sensors dropping out while driving.

Are you using any wireless digital thermometers? Typically these wireless thermometers operate at the 433Mhz frequency the same a most TPMS systems. They do cause interference.

I have a wireless thermometer with three remote transmitters. I was having a lot of sensor dropouts until I found out about the wireless thermometers causing interference. I have the TST 507 system and called TST about this problem. I talked to the owner and he acknowledged there is an issue with these wireless thermometers. The fix was to install a repeater. Once I did that no more problems with sensors dropping out.

Ive got the 507 system and I also have a wireless digital thermometer (i keep the remote sensor in my outside entertainment bay & the display receiver in the master suite) and don't have an issue.

our coach is full of metal (all the basement bays are metal boxes w/ aluminum doors), the floor has a metal sheet and theres quite a bit of steel framing)....initially i had trouble w/ ONE sensor periodically dropping out (on our jeep), i thought it was because of the 40+ feet length from display to the sensor so i added the repeater....later i wound up talking to TST & replaced the battery and I've never had another problem.

I had the TST tire sensors for three years on my old coach and struggled with them on almost every trip until I finally had enough and just gave them away. My coach was only 31 feet long, yet virtually every sensor would stop working occasionally. Sometimes it would spontaneously come back and other times I'd switch out the batteries and re-program the thing (which wasn't fun). A couple of times I had to return them to the manufacturer who sent me new ones.

Originally, I had to unscrew them to add air to the tires until I switched to the pass-through model. But the pass-through model was too close to the rim on the front tires so I ended up having to unscrew those as well to fill.

My main concern was the "lost signal" alarms I'd get while driving somewhere. I found it overly stressful to worry about something that might be going wrong even though I was fairly certain that it was fine.

After I gave them all away, I simply checked my pressures manually on a regular basis and had much more stress free trips.

Now, I've got the "in the tire" models built in that came factory installed and integrated with the trip-tek system and, would you believe it, I'm still having problems with the lost signals. They are replacing the antennas and junctions in a couple of weeks and hopefully that will fix the problem for good.

Snomas wrote:
I was wondering if anyone has had there tire pressure monitors not give PSI readings if there is another wireless device nearby? I sent back a TPMS system because the monitor would only read the PSI on one or 2 tires and the rest of them were blank.

As more and more of our world goes wireless this is going to become a growing problem, however,, Generally no.

I have seen false readings, and no/readings, but the circumstances suggested that the cause was a passing vehicle with the same system and there are only so many ESNs, so I'm guessing the passing vehicle had a monitor with the same ESN (Electronic Serial Number) send a packet to my receiver.

On the other hand I have had a legit alarm tell me that I'd been screwed,, So I added air, kept adding air till I got to the tire store, where they removed the screw and put in a proper patch, So then I'd been "Booted". Total cost, around 25-50 cents in gasoline and about an hour's time.. Not bad.. Another customer of the same company i bought from failed to install his right away.> Same tire, over 2,000 in secondary damage PLUS tire and rim.

I believe that they fail because they are just cheap knock-offs of the ones mandated by the federal government for all vehicles under 10,000 pounds. The ones on most vehicles have a life span of 5-12 years and 100,000 miles and they very seldom give any problems at all. In fact, until the signal light goes on on your dash, most people do not even give them a second thought.
My experience with the RV TPMS systems shows they are inaccurate and have a battery life of 18-24 months. I use a hose coupled inflation system so I am inflating my duals and my front tires together at the same time. I still get TPMS pressure readings that often show 3-4 pounds of variance between a pair of tires that were connected together during inflation.
When TPMS systems were mandated for automobiles and light trucks, the cost was estimated to be less than $70 per vehicle, for the complete system. Naturally they were dealing with a much larger quantity but they also seem to be built at a much higher quality level than the units sold for RV's.

Tire Minder's receiver must go through its third sleep cycle (when there isn't anyone nearby and the display goes off) before it will display NOS. We always just turn our receiver off after the fifth wheel is unhitched and we're stationary for a period of time. Minder Research's staff is excellent and always eager to help solve problems. They have been excellent in our book.

bshpilot wrote:

427435 wrote:


These solve the problem of broken extenders.

http://www.ryderfleetproducts.com/dill-eaton-9059-7/flexible-valve-stem-extension-7-p-c28-90597

lots of folks swear against extensions - sighting stories of them leaking or causing leaks.

an extension would not have worked in my case, since it was on one of the steer wheels (not an inner duel). My valve stem fractured at the base where the nut met the wheel

These extenders are not pressurized except when applying or checking air. The original valve in the valve stem is left in place and is released by a small wire inside the extender when a chuck is put on the other end of the extender. If the extender fails, no air is let out of the tire.

Pressure Pro has a repeater option. They also have an extended antenna option.

I used the extended antenna with my Pressure Pro system with good results. I mounted the antenna under the rear of my pickup on the trailer hitch.