TPM, turn it off?

[Mick-F]

I don't know how I managed to drive for sooo many years without a TPM system. Oh yeah, I regularly check my tires.
Anyway, I want to turn the thing off, not use it, go back in time so to speak. Is it possible/easy to do? When I get new tires this Winter, '09 GT, I just want to put standard valve stems on the rims. I change the Summer tires for all season in the late Fall, so the dam light is on all the time, (electrical tape).
I looked thru the posts and could not find anyone who has turned the system off, no sensors on the rims. Is this possible without expensive equipment, extensive training, advanced degrees, voo-doo incantations? Will it belch our a code on my yearly inspection, trigger a drone strike?
Any information will we helpful, or depressing.
Thanks, Mick

[kumquat]

I actually just did this today. There's a great thread about it here:
viewtopic.php?f=28&t=39913" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Basically all you need to do is pop two panels off the dashboard, unplug the TPMS computer, and shove a resistor in the connector. Remove it and plug it back in when you put the other tires on.

I took it a little further and spliced a SPDT switch in. Common goes to the pink wire running down the harness, pole 1 goes to the pink wire running to the connector, and pole 2 goes to the dark blue wire on the connector using a 3.3 kOhm resistor.

[vibenvy]

I will be using that same method ^ to disable the TPMS on both our 2009 GTs early next year when we get new tires installed on the 18s. I am going to have regular rubber valve stems installed so I can use some chrome valve stem sleeves on them to add a little more chrome to the wheels and match the chrome valve caps we already have.

[Zimm]

any chance someone will do a photo how-to? i'm finally going to have to replace my stock RSA's after 4+ years and 53,xxx (as of today) miles sometime between now and the holidays. i've never opened up my dash or messed with electronics, but would prefer not to have to look at a warning light for the next decade or so.

[kumquat]

any chance someone will do a photo how-to? i'm finally going to have to replace my stock RSA's after 4+ years and 53,xxx (as of today) miles sometime between now and the holidays. i've never opened up my dash or messed with electronics, but would prefer not to have to look at a warning light for the next decade or so.

I thought about doing photos while I had the dash open, but it's really straightforward. Just follow the instructions in the link to get the two dash panels off, and the connector is right there on the right.

[Zimm]

any chance someone will do a photo how-to? i'm finally going to have to replace my stock RSA's after 4+ years and 53,xxx (as of today) miles sometime between now and the holidays. i've never opened up my dash or messed with electronics, but would prefer not to have to look at a warning light for the next decade or so.

I thought about doing photos while I had the dash open, but it's really straightforward. Just follow the instructions in the link to get the two dash panels off, and the connector is right there on the right.

thanks-will have to check it out in detail when the ime comes. i've never bought a resistor before-are they available at the usual suspect chain auto stores? any idea of cost?

[kumquat]

any chance someone will do a photo how-to? i'm finally going to have to replace my stock RSA's after 4+ years and 53,xxx (as of today) miles sometime between now and the holidays. i've never opened up my dash or messed with electronics, but would prefer not to have to look at a warning light for the next decade or so.

I thought about doing photos while I had the dash open, but it's really straightforward. Just follow the instructions in the link to get the two dash panels off, and the connector is right there on the right.

thanks-will have to check it out in detail when the ime comes. i've never bought a resistor before-are they available at the usual suspect chain auto stores? any idea of cost?

Radio shack is the place to go. They'll come in packs of 5 for about $1.50. They're in the drawers in the back. You can just go in and say "I need a 3.3 kiloOhm quarter-watt resistor" and the guy will get them for you.

The resistors have thick solid wire sticking out of both ends. It's bendy, so you can just cut it so there's about 1.5 inches on each side, and shove the ends into the apprioriate holes on the connector. Put some electrical tape over it and zip the the connector to something in the dash so it doesn't rattle. Done.

[Salsa Guy]

On the 1st Gen you just push in to reset, let off, hold in again until the TPMS light comes on and goes out again.

[Zimm]

just to check before i go tire shopping the next couple of weeks-would tire shops have any problem with replacing tires with the OE metal valve stems with new ones having just the rubber stems? doesn't seem like it would be an issue but i'd rather know ahead of time in case some guy at the tire shop gives me bad info in an effort to make a couple extra bucks.

[kumquat]

just to check before i go tire shopping the next couple of weeks-would tire shops have any problem with replacing tires with the OE metal valve stems with new ones having just the rubber stems? doesn't seem like it would be an issue but i'd rather know ahead of time in case some guy at the tire shop gives me bad info in an effort to make a couple extra bucks.

Well there's no reason to replace the stems if you're keeping the same wheels. Might as well keep the TPMS, it's a handy system. Regardless, it seems most shops won't do anything that would bypass or disable TPMS. Some will.

[Mick-F]

So, I bought a set of Nexen tires, mount, balance and valve stems, $525.00 out the door.
Eventually you must replace the battery in the TPMS. I don't want them

Mick

[vibenvy]

Eventually you must replace the battery in the TPMS.

This is exactly why I am just going to disable the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) in both our Vibes. We'll be getting new tires in the spring and I would rather have my tire guy just go ahead and install rubber valve stems while everything's already apart, then have to pay more money to have him tear everything apart down the road to replace the batteries in the sensors. I will hold onto the sensors though in case we ever decide to get rid of one or both of the Vibes (this won't happen, but I learned a hard lesson with my last two vehicles about holding on to everything when it comes to doing modifications, etc).

Tomorrow morning I am going to stop by Radio Shack and pick up the resistors to do the TPMS disable. I don't know when I'll get around to it, but it will hopefully be as soon as I have the free time so we won't have to see the light come on all winter long .

I am so anxious to see how nice some chrome valve stem sleeves will look on the OEM Vibe GT wheels !

[vibenvy]

Picked up a 5 pack of the 3.3 k0hm 1/4 watt resistors from Radio Shack today. They were $1.99, $2.13 with tax. At the Radio Shack I went to they were out on the floor so I didn't have to ask for them. There were a bunch of drawers with all sorts of different electrical things. They had a few drawers that said resistors on them and the 5 packs were in there seperated by size and all.

I am hoping to have time to do the TPMS disable some time this week. When I do I will add some pictures to the thread in the how-to section.

If anyone wants a resistor, let me know as I'll have 3 leftover after I do our 2 Vibes and won't really have any use for them. Send me your address and I'll mail you one for free (since they're so freakin' tiny!) !

[jake75]

My TPM warning light lit up today - all tires were about 23 psi. Some of that must be due to the 20 degree temps but I wonder if the tires were properly inflated at the last LOF. The dealer claims they check all those things but I am becoming skeptical.

[kumquat]

My TPM warning light lit up today - all tires were about 23 psi. Some of that must be due to the 20 degree temps but I wonder if the tires were properly inflated at the last LOF. The dealer claims they check all those things but I am becoming skeptical.

You lose about 1 psi for every 10 degree change in temperature.

You also lose about 1 psi/month in general.

So 23 sounds about right.

[Caretaker]

my TPM light went on for the first time in 5 years after the nitrogen in my Costco Michelins escaped by over 7 pounds overnight. I have never seen anything like it. I though nitrogen was supposed to (in addition to keeping your tire from rotting out from the inside from moisture) keep the pressure in the tire pretty constant? Well, one 20 degree night and on came the light. It went off in seconds after driving 50 feet and getting the tires filled back up to 35 pounds.

[kumquat]

my TPM light went on for the first time in 5 years after the nitrogen in my Costco Michelins escaped by over 7 pounds overnight. I have never seen anything like it. I though nitrogen was supposed to (in addition to keeping your tire from rotting out from the inside from moisture) keep the pressure in the tire pretty constant? Well, one 20 degree night and on came the light. It went off in seconds after driving 50 feet and getting the tires filled back up to 35 pounds.

Air is almost 80% nitrogen.

There's virtually zero advantage to filling your tires with pure nitrogen.

[jake75]

my TPM light went on for the first time in 5 years after the nitrogen in my Costco Michelins escaped by over 7 pounds overnight. I have never seen anything like it. I though nitrogen was supposed to (in addition to keeping your tire from rotting out from the inside from moisture) keep the pressure in the tire pretty constant? Well, one 20 degree night and on came the light. It went off in seconds after driving 50 feet and getting the tires filled back up to 35 pounds.

Air is almost 80% nitrogen.

There's virtually zero advantage to filling your tires with pure nitrogen.

But maybe the 20% oxygen is enough to facilitate tire rot. That said, I think Nitrogen fill is all hat and no cattle. Most of the rot is going to come from sunlight - on the outside.

[vibolista]

Nitrogen tire fill is not much more than dried air... moisture taken out. The only advantage of this modified air is to limit expansion and contraction somewhat as the tire heats and cools, but it's really only a small amount of advantage compared to unmodified air.

Make it a habit to check your tires at least every couple of weeks, especially when the temperatures are yo-yoing like they have this fall up here in the north country. As noted before, tires go down 1 psi every 10 degrees of cooling on average. If you checked your tires when it was 70 out, and now 3 months later the ambient air is 20 degrees F, you are probably about 8 pounds down, or more. With normal everyday driving on tires that soft, you will be grinding the shoulders down at a pretty quick rate and using a lot more fuel in the process, never mind running on a tire that could be compromised in the event you have to make a sudden emergency maneuver. An under inflated tire will be slow to change direction and subject to sidewall damage as it rolls over in a hard avoidance turn. Maintaining at least recommended pressure on a regular basis will help tire sidewall rigidity, promote even tire wear that increases longevity while saving you fuel.

I even try to do a quick walk around the car each day before I head off. One night after I got back from a long trip in our work van, I happened to take a quick look at all tires on my car before heading out for home and found my passenger rear almost flat. Got the air pump and inflated the tire, moved the car forward a bit and found a screw in the treads. Wasn't leaking so I drove it gently home. Kept the air in the tire, unless the screw was down under the tire, where it allowed air to leak out. If I had not looked at my tires that night, I probably would have driven home and ruined the tire and quite possibly damaged an expensive wheel in the process.

Those 4 small contact spots between the car and the road are pretty important to every driver. Keep an eye on them and check those tire pressures regularly. It's easy to do and can pay good dividends. That's my "please check your tires rant".

[vibenvy]

Well, I just completed the TPMS disable on both our Vibes. It took all of 5 minutes per Vibe. I ended up not taking any pictures because it's really self-explanatory. So nice to not see that d@mn light come on anymore... ever!

[Mick-F]

"all hat and no cattle", never heard that one before!
I have been riding motorcycles for many years and I am kind of fanatical about checking tire pressure on a motorcycle, ATGATT too.
Has any reputable car magazine ever done a test on nitrogen in tires? I never tried it.
I still have to do the TPM fix on the computer.

Mick