tire pressure monitoring system

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vybr8d
Posts: 19
Joined: Fri Aug 03, 2012 4:41 pm
Location: Linn Creek Missouri

tire pressure monitoring system

Post by vybr8d »

My owners manual keeps referring to this; but I don't have this reset button. Did some of the 2009's not have this?
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trb
Posts: 1670
Joined: Thu May 08, 2008 4:06 am
Location: Houston, TX

Re: tire pressure monitoring system

Post by trb »

All cars 2008 and later are required to have the TPMS setup. I think the reset switch is a leftover comment in the owners manual from the 2008 models, as I don't recall a switch in my 2010. There are a lot of items in the 2009-10 owners manual that are wrong because they did not update it from the 2008 model cars. Lazy, or maybe they knew it would not be around for much longer. The only way to reset it is to make sure all the tires are aired up, or if a sensor is bad, have a new one programmed to your car.
Thomas
the "Mustang Guy"
1987 5.0 LX Mustang
2016 Mustang GT - current daily
2004 Satellite Vibe &
2009 Red Vibe GT -twin's cars
2003 Neptune Vibe GT - prior daily
2010 Red Vibe GT - RIP 6/16/14
2006 Platinum Vibe - son's car
Caretaker

Re: tire pressure monitoring system

Post by Caretaker »

no, there is a reset button on all cars. They are at the base of the bottom side of your steering column. Slide your hand down the bottom side of the shaft (don't get too excited), and you will feel a small button where the plastic cover ends and the exposed steering shaft starts. Press and hold it to reset the light. In my case, I ditch the aluminum stems every time they get broken and put in a normal rubber valve stem. I don't mind riding around with a TPMS light on all the time. It beats paying $100 a pop ever time a tire jockey breaks the aluminum stems.
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trb
Posts: 1670
Joined: Thu May 08, 2008 4:06 am
Location: Houston, TX

Re: tire pressure monitoring system

Post by trb »

Good information! My daughter just brought my car back, and I found the tiny little button just where the owners manual said it is. I've seen the dash mounted buttons on the earlier models; that was what I was thinking about since I've never seen it. Good to know how these monitors work too vs those in our Ford. So if you hit the reset button, it takes the current pressure of each tire as the new baseline pressure. I don't see anyway to do a reset on our Exploder, it always turns on at about 27 psi. I try to keep the tires at 35 psi.
Thomas
the "Mustang Guy"
1987 5.0 LX Mustang
2016 Mustang GT - current daily
2004 Satellite Vibe &
2009 Red Vibe GT -twin's cars
2003 Neptune Vibe GT - prior daily
2010 Red Vibe GT - RIP 6/16/14
2006 Platinum Vibe - son's car
jake75
Posts: 4792
Joined: Sun Feb 09, 2003 1:33 pm
Location: Columbus, OH

Re: tire pressure monitoring system

Post by jake75 »

On my 2009 I have had a few low tire warnings - I have a really slow leak in one tire. And when I added air they went away. So far have not had to "reset".
2009 Vibe 1.8L Carbon Gray AT Power Pkg 1/12/092003 Vibe 1.8L Neptune AT Mono Power Pkg 1/27/03 [sold 2/2/09]2007 T&C SWB 7/31/07 "Broke people stay broke by living like they're rich. Rich people stay rich by living like they're broke."
09vGT
Posts: 1457
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2009 10:36 am
Location: Little Rock, AR

Re: tire pressure monitoring system

Post by 09vGT »

Every time the seasons change from warm to cold my tire light will come on. It was on last week for a while before I put air in them since the temp dropped into the 30's. The lowest was around 25 PSI. I've never had to use the reset button and mine has come on many times; though, I have seen the button trying to change out some fuses.
vybr8d
Posts: 19
Joined: Fri Aug 03, 2012 4:41 pm
Location: Linn Creek Missouri

Re: tire pressure monitoring system

Post by vybr8d »

Thanks for all the help! I did notice the manual seems kind of "generic" and "vague" at times; but I still really like my car.
tpollauf
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Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2010 11:37 am
Location: Toledo/Oregon, Port Clinton Ohio
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Re: tire pressure monitoring system

Post by tpollauf »

Wow ... never knew this existed :? Junior's Vibe GT has had the TPM light on since springtime when we had a "slow leak" repaired. He still has one tire that is a slow leaker (typical on alloy rims from what I'm told) so I'll look for this button the next time I drive it ;)
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2009 Vibe GT (manual), 2009 G8Gt, 2009 Vibe GT (auto)
2014 Silverado, 2004 Vibe GT

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vibenvy
Posts: 7121
Joined: Wed Apr 15, 2009 5:38 am
Location: Sandwich, IL

Re: tire pressure monitoring system

Post by vibenvy »

*knocks on wood* I don't think the TPMS light has ever come on on either one of our Vibes because of a tire being low. I do check the tire pressure regularly though, so I don't think the tires have ever gotten more than a couple pounds below the 32 I keep them at. It seems like they have to get significantly low, like 10+ pounds, to trigger the light.
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Vulcan05
Posts: 248
Joined: Tue Sep 01, 2009 11:44 am

Re: tire pressure monitoring system

Post by Vulcan05 »

Jumped in the Vibe last night and drove about 20 miles to a neighboring town to see a movie. About half way there, the TPMS light came on. "Must be the drop in temperature" I thought.

This morning, I went out to check the tires and found the left rear at about 10 lbs. Blew it up to 32 and the warning light went out as we drove to church. Came out of church and the light was on again. Stopped to see a friend who lived nearby. When I checked the pressure before leaving a couple of hours later, the pressure was 20 lbs. My friend turned on his air compressor (farmers ALWAYS have one) and blew it up for the ride home.

When I got home, I pulled the tire and there is a sheet metal screw in it. Might be too close to the edge to repair. Will see what the tire shop says tomorrow.

I was never a fan of the TPMS, but I now am a convert. By the way, after bringing the tire up to pressure, the TPMS light would go out after a couple of minutes of driving. No reset needed.
2010 Vibe. Moon roof, Monsoon, 2.4 engine, 5 speed auto, cruise, dark gray.
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