Tire Pressure Monitor System a Congressional Mandate Explained
Posted: Sunday, May 13, 2007
by Mark Gittelman
certifiedmastertech.com
Tire pressure monitoring systems began appearing on passenger cars and light trucks in the 2005 model year. You will find this system on all new cars and light trucks. But what happens when you need tire service?
Following a congressional mandate requiring them on all vehicles weighing less than 10,000 pounds by the 2008 model year. Most manufacturers installed tire pressure monitor systems well ahead of the September 7, 2007 deadline. The regulation that requires a dashboard tire pressure monitor system in passenger cars, light trucks and vans appears to be one government mandate that offers benefits to drivers without significant increases to manufacturing costs.
The tire pressure monitor system components are vulnerable to breakage if handled incorrectly or too quickly. For example a particularly breakage prone area is the air pressure sensor mounted on the inside base of the valve stem.
The sensor is connected to a small radio transmitter powered by a long life lithium ion battery, which transmits information to a microprocessor that in turn signals when a tire is under inflated. The system is designed to warn the driver, by buzzer or flashing light, when a tire has deflated to 25% less than recommended inflation pressure. When it comes to handling an assembly with a valve stem mounted sensor, speed is the last thing on the list. The plastic tire pressure sensor is very easy to break.
The process of mounting any tire on a wheel with a valve stem mounted sensor is slow and cautious or breakage of the sensor is likely. It should be the tire dealers responsibility to repair any damage caused by their technicians. The individual tire presure sensors are around eighty dollars a piece. If the tire dealer breaks all 4 he is out $320.00. If the tire shop breaks your sensors you will know it because you will be blinded by the red light on the dash that say's tire pressure warning!
Mark R Gittelman is an ASE Certified Master Technician and an auto repair expert. Mark provides free DIY auto repair tips or take a look at mark's new squidoo page that answers Popular car questions.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)I know that this is an old post, but my TPMS is just now starting to fail in my 2005 truck. So, thanks to uncle Sam, in order to "fix" it, I now must purchase about $320 worth of new sensors to make the idiot light go out on my dash even though I know my tires are inflated to the proper PSI. I was doing quite well with my own digital pressure gage before the government mandate, thank you.
I will probably put black tape over the idiot light and continue to use my digital tire gage and save myself $320.
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