MrAce72

My wife damaged her front right tire and wheel, resulting in both requiring replacement.

I initially put the dissimilar full size spare on the car (why Ford cannot use a real wheel with rim on the spare is beyond me). Within a day the low tire pressure light came on, not to my surprise because I knew the system would detect a missing sensor. The strange thing is, however, that after another day of driving the message center began to display an tire sensor system fault message. Wasn't too worried at this point because I had not yet replace the wheel.

Ford wanted outrageos sums of money to replace their OEM wheel and tire, so I decicided to upgrate the wheels and rims. I bought four 20 inch MB Jump wheels from discounttiredirect.com. I had the merchant put the Ford / Lincoln TPMS sensors on each wheel.

Initially, I had put the Nitto 295 50R 20s on the car on the suggestion of the merchant. Once I got them installed, they were too big to the point that when I turn the car they rubbed the lip of the fender flare. When I spoke to DTD they said that it sounded like the tires were too big for the car, even though the specs of the car suggested that they should fit. DTD apologized for representing that the tires fit the car and with no hassle shipped new tires to me and are picking the old tires up. They even agreed to reimburse me for the cost of dismounting them from the wheels, mounting new tires, and balancing them. DTD was great with the transaction, very stand up. They earned my respect on this one and I would recommend them. The ultimate tires I put on the wheels are the Nitto 420s 265 50R 20s. They are a tad big in terms of extending about 1 quarter - 1 half inch beyond the fender flare but fit fine and look good.

I cannot get this sensor fault to clear. I have hit reset every time it comes on but as soon as I turn the car on again it reappears. I called Ford to diagnose and they spat their OEM speak at me and said that the installer must have screwed up. The Ford service guy even suggested that there may be no sensors at all on the new wheels. They offered to check the car for $100...

When the new Nittos arrived, I had them installed and because I had to have the wheels broken down I had the techs verify that indeed the sensors were properly installed.

For the life of me I cannot get this fault to clear. Ford will not clear it without breaking down the tires.

Is there a special technique or process I need to go through to reset the senors?

The Goodyear tire shop I went to said that there is really nothing else that can be done.

They way the sensors were explained to me, they are basically magnets that are either there or are not. It was told to me that the new sensors do not need to be registered with the car's computer like an ESN number for a cell phone, but that the system should just pick them up.

I am also concerned because it's my understanding that these sensors are integrated with the ABS sensors, traction control, and other safety systems, and that if they are malfunctioning other things may not work.

Any advice? With TPMS, it seems like the consumer gets the shaft by the dealer / mfg if they want to change a tire...

Thanks.

 

Johnny Mullet

The sensors will probably need retrained with a special tool that the Ford Dealer has. It should work, but with aftermarket wheels, it's hard to tell.

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MrAce72

Do you think that there are any non-dealership mechanics that have this tool and the skills to do it? I just don't want to hear the dealer's BS about modification BLAH BLAH BLAH, it's not like I put a chip in the car...

Johnny Mullet

If I am not mistaken, the tool is special and not just a magnet that is used on Expedition vehicles. You may have to just pay for the diag at the dealer and maybe a good tech can get it working for you without making a big deal about the rims. Being a differant size rim might be the problem to begin with due to the way these sensors work while the wheel rotates.

Don't ya just love all the crap on newer vehicles!

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MrAce72

Oh boy, I hope that the folks at Discount Tire put the right sensors on... They used the Ford / Lincoln sensors. I guess it's a good thing that I have my old wheels with the original sensors on them. I could always swap them if push came to shove.

I recall reading something that these were not just magnets but were in fact transmitters.

The strange thing is though that the message center does not tell you what tire is faulting or is flat.