TPMS failures

GMandJM wrote:

Heavy Metal Doctor wrote:
I know a couple of things relating to it: The sensors are triggered on the motion of rolling along down the road and turns itself off when sitting still. Usually by the time I hit 25MPH or so the monitor is reading pressure of all sensors. So no battery life lost while parked.

Where are you getting this information?

When my car is sitting in the garage, I can turn on the TST monitor and within a few minutes I will get PSI and temp readings even if the car does not move.

It requires a bit of time for all the sensors to register with the monitor. Motion does not trigger them.

As far as I know, TST sensors do not "go to sleep".

I have read a manual for another brand that does have a sleep mode. TireTrakker, IIRC.

After reading my manual, it states that the sensors drop into "battery saving mode" when there is zero pressure. In other words, when you remove them from the valve stem.

It also says "automatic activation when vehicle is in motion". I'm not sure if that means they are "asleep" until motion is detected, or if it means there is nothing to do to check tire pressure, or what.

I'm sure TST would be happy to elaborate. They have, quite honestly, one of the best customer service departments I have dealt with in years.

I think if you have any questions about specific systems, then the customer service should be contacted for the respective company. There seems to be quite a bit of misinformation regarding TPMS systems and their functionality.

I don't quite understand the reluctance to use/rely on a TPMS. Yes, you should visually inspect tires at each stop. But you can't do that while physically driving. Even if the TPMS doesn't perform exactly like everyone thinks it should, why not have that extra bit of insurance while on the road?

And trust me, if it loses pressure like a blowout, it WILL alarm you pretty darn quick. Within seconds. I have tested it myself by removing the sensor from the stem while the monitor is in my hand. Or, as an alternative, just don't use a TPMS and run it down to the rim/blowout on the road as so many people have reported doing, while tearing off the side of their camper. There has been TWO cases where the TPMS has saved me. Once, I had a tire starting to delam, and temp went up. Other time, picked up a nail and had a slow leak.

Is it a perfect system? Nope. But I'm going to run one as insurance and a backup to normal vigilance.

Again, I encourage everyone to contact whichever TPMS system manufacturer they wish and ASK QUESTIONS. Don't rely on information you see on the web. Call and ask.