Why do TPMS systems fail?

[Snomas]

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.

[RCMAN46]

Camp2Camp wrote:
We bought a TPMS system - Tire Minder TMG300C. We installed it for our four travel trailer tires, checked the pressure on the four trailer tires, and everything looked good. We drove about 200 miles, got to our site, detached the camper, and then drove into town for supplies. Here's what is weird. After detaching the camper, we drove for an hour with the TPMS monitor in the car and the TPMS monitor continued to show tire pressures for all four trailer tires! We were an hour away from the camper when finally ONE tire on the monitor started showing a "no signal" warning. Has this happened to anyone? How do I know whether the TPMS is really updating every 20 seconds like it's supposed to do so?

I recently replaced a Pressure Pro system with the TST system. When the sensor is out of range of the receiver it will not alarm for 1 hour. It also displays last pressure/temperature readings. I confirmed this with TST customer service. My Pressure Pro system would alarm after 15 minutes.

If you have marginal reception of a sensor such as a trailer behind a 5th wheel you may not be getting data on a timely manner and may miss a real event such as rapid loss of pressure. The 1 hour timer resets each time there is a successful transmission from a sensor.

You can clear the TST alarm by removing power for a short time. I do this when I am away from the 5th wheel shopping eating dinner out etc.

[smlranger]

John S. wrote:
I would never put them on my coach. Lots of friends had issues with them over time. Some people swear by them though. You can not protect against everything. One day the inside the wheel sensors will become more popular for big rigs. I will not put a hunk of metal and plastic on a valve stem and spin it.

I think I agree on this. I have a TST system and had a monitor fail and several sensors. TST replaced the monitor and the sensors but I then had more sensors fail. I got tired of fooling with it.

My '07 coach has the Smart Tire system which works very well. However, the company no longer supports the RV industry. I believe a few of the Les Schwab will install/program the sensors if you can find a source of them.

[JimM68]

my (second) TST system will go hours still showing pressure from the toad tires under those conditions.

I "assume" it will react instantly to a change in pressure, someday I"ll have to actually check that.

[bshpilot]

Camp2Camp wrote:
We bought a TPMS system - Tire Minder TMG300C. We installed it for our four travel trailer tires, checked the pressure on the four trailer tires, and everything looked good. We drove about 200 miles, got to our site, detached the camper, and then drove into town for supplies. Here's what is weird. After detaching the camper, we drove for an hour with the TPMS monitor in the car and the TPMS monitor continued to show tire pressures for all four trailer tires! We were an hour away from the camper when finally ONE tire on the monitor started showing a "no signal" warning. Has this happened to anyone? How do I know whether the TPMS is really updating every 20 seconds like it's supposed to do so?

not w/ uur TST system.... when i detach our toad - usually to back the coach in the CG slot or at our storage after a trip, by the time i get back in the coach the thing is alarming that its lost the toad signal.

when i change the batteries or have to adjust the pressure - as soon as i remove the sensor i get alarms.

[Camp2Camp]

We bought a TPMS system - Tire Minder TMG300C. We installed it for our four travel trailer tires, checked the pressure on the four trailer tires, and everything looked good. We drove about 200 miles, got to our site, detached the camper, and then drove into town for supplies. Here's what is weird. After detaching the camper, we drove for an hour with the TPMS monitor in the car and the TPMS monitor continued to show tire pressures for all four trailer tires! We were an hour away from the camper when finally ONE tire on the monitor started showing a "no signal" warning. Has this happened to anyone? How do I know whether the TPMS is really updating every 20 seconds like it's supposed to do so?

[bshpilot]

Ive got the TST system - never had a leak or problem


Have the sensors on the toad too...leave 'em on 24/7/365 - even when we're not towing the jeep I drive around w/ the sensors threaded on the valve stem....never had an issue.

I've got the TST 507 system with replaceable batteries...its a HUGE time saver....never have to drag out and compressor / air lines OR even a pressure gauge....just turn on the monitor to check my tire pressures.

i replace the batteries every 15 - 18 months (when i start to see one of the units stop reporting) -
10 batteries run me less than 4 bucks (38 cents per batteries, including shipping).

fwiw - TST does make an IN the tire sensor for those that think theres something wrong w/ threaded-on sensors.

[stripit]

I used to sell the tire pressure system and also installed it for the new owner when they bought from me. Many many times the valve core stem was not in the proper position to activate the sensor, or just barely in the right position and the sensor would give a reading, but after a short time would stop sending pressure or temperature. A minor adjustment of that core stem up a tad, I'm talking a smidge would fix the problem of the monitor receiving a signal. In talking with the system company, most of the returned senders worked perfectly on their test valves and they could find zero issues with the returned part. That small valve core causes a lot of problems and it is the easiest to fix. But, many folks just blamed the TPMS and tossed their hands in the air and gave up, such a waste of a great product.

[Snomas]

My TPMS is Tire Tracker. I sent it back for credit. I don't think I will use one again. I had one tire go flat while in storage because of the sensor. I've never had any tire problems in 12 yrs. before I tried a TPMS.

[mci7]

Took me about 3 years to get my pressure pro setup to not leak. Pressure Pro company claimed I was too stupid to install them. Finally cured the issue in two steps,
Step 1-Purchased new seal kit from Pressure Pro $12.00
Step 2-When purchased new Michelin tires (6), all new valve stems, no leaks in past 9 months, almost scary. Always show good pressure now.

Having tires blow out due to the TPMS is related to the chap who can destroy an anvil with a wet feather.
Dave M

[John_S_]

I would never put them on my coach. Lots of friends had issues with them over time. Some people swear by them though. You can not protect against everything. One day the inside the wheel sensors will become more popular for big rigs. I will not put a hunk of metal and plastic on a valve stem and spin it.

[John_Joey]

FWIW, the couple of guys I know that have TPMS on their trailers had tire blow outs going down the road. Prior to that they never did. They started to question if the TPMS system was the cause of the blow outs.

[Effy]

teddychamp wrote:
The tire that you cannot inflate, needs the valve stem unscrewed a little bit, maybe half of a turn. The valve stem sits to low in the valve and is not properly activated when the airchuck pushes on the stem,and this is why your pressure sensor reeds low pressure because the stem does not let enough air out for a proper reading.

It reads fine. I have tried that, the valve simply will not let air pass through to fill. I think the same valve is leaking. It's not the TST reporting falsely low PSI, it is low. I think the TST is causing it to leak. It's a bad sensor.

[teddychamp]

The tire that you cannot inflate, needs the valve stem unscrewed a little bit, maybe half of a turn. The valve stem sits to low in the valve and is not properly activated when the airchuck pushes on the stem,and this is why your pressure sensor reeds low pressure because the stem does not let enough air out for a proper reading.

[2gypsies1]

We've had Pressure Pro for 10 years with no problems. However, because of the length of the motor home we've added an additional extended aerial which we unroll and lay on the floor when driving. This is also because we have the monitors on our tow vehicle, also, which is a long way back there.

[Effy]

What kind of system? I have a TST and if it rains one of my sensors falls off line. I also have one that I can't add air to and incidentally it's the same tire that is always low. I think the valve is bad in it. That said TST will replace it. I have very good luck with their customer service.