Since 2014, new vehicles have been fitted with what is known in mechanics’ jargon as TPMS.
WHAT IS TMS?
The tyre pressure monitoring system, which monitors the pressure level of each tyre at all times. The acronym stands for Tyre Pressure Monitoring System and, like stability control, it has been mandatory on all new cars sold in Europe since 1 November 2014, as it is considered part of the vehicle’s safety system.
Depending on the year of manufacture, the system is more or less sophisticated. In the early days, only an orange warning light on the dashboard warned of a problem in the system, without specifying the pressure level or the wheel(s) affected. In modern vehicles however, on-board information is much more accurate, allowing this safety parameter to be better controlled.
Although most warnings are resolved by increasing tyre pressure, such systems can still be affected by malfunctions, the most common of which are as follows:
MAIN PROBLEMS AND MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE TPMS
- The TPMS focuses on the fact that the battery in the sensors has run out, as it has an average life of 3 to 7 years. They are not replaceable, so the sensor must be replaced.
- If the tyre is knocked against the rim, either by hitting the kerb or by impact when removing the tyre, the pressure measuring foil in the sensor may be damaged. Therefore, when removing the old tyre to change it in the workshop, the mechanic must be careful when inserting the tyre lever so as not to hit or damage the sensor.
- De-programming of the control unit, when the battery is completely empty, when changing the battery or during a clamp start. In these cases, the control unit loses the coding of the sensors.
- The vehicle mistakenly reading the sensors of a nearby vehicle (e.g. at a traffic light, as they all communicate by radio on the same frequency). The control unit recognises the sensors of each wheel because they are coded, but if the control unit is deprogrammed, it no longer recognises its sensors, making it necessary to re-code with specific diagnostic equipment.
- When parking in areas with frequency inhibitors or in a strong magnetic field (e.g. near a high-voltage pylon), occasional system errors may occur, but when leaving such an area, the system will usually function correctly again.
- Failure due to improper tightening or leakage of valves with integrated sensors, which are usually metal necked, unlike normal valves which are rubber sealed to the rim bore.
- False alarms if, for example, the car is parked with one wheel is in the sun and the rest in the shade, as the heat can increase the pressure in that tyre and cause false alarms.
In any case, if there is a problem or malfunction with the TPMS that cannot be resolved by the driver, we recommend that you contact a reliable workshop to resolve the problem with a system that is part of the vehicle’s safety.
REMSA PRODUCTS
Get to know our range of products for cars and commercial vehicles: brake pads, brake disc, brake shoes.
Comentarios
No Comments