Have an older car without TPMS? Want it?

[stevej37]

Bought one of these for my 98 Prelude...which does not have tpms.
For $50 it will monitor all 4 tires for tire pressure. If the battery in one of them goes low, it's an easy diy for just the cost of the battery.
Solar powered or it has a cord for usb or 12volt power.

[stevej37]

Makes me wonder why the car manufacturers don't make them the same way...on the outside of the tire instead of inside.

[cantdrv55]

That's cool. I'll put it on my trailer tires. Thanks.

[Rusty Heap]

I used one I bought off ebay, they have lots of choices there in different styles and shapes. Didn't really sync up the head unit with sensors so I garbage canned it.

YMMV

[stevej37]

^^^ I found this one from a member of the Honda Prelude Forum. I haven't installed it yet..I went on his review that it worked perfectly.
The box arrived today and it said the caps are pre-synced to the display on delivery.

For $50, if I don't like it, it's not a big loss.

[GH85Carrera]

Maybe (doubtful) it is like a smart phone. Once I have it, I will wonder how I lived without it.

So far I have been driving since 1970 without TPMS, ABS, traction control, backup cameras, keyless entry, seat warmers or air conditioned seats, lane monitoring, blind spot warnings and adaptive cruise control.

My wife's Macan has all those things and some are nice, but I don't need them.

Get off my lawn, I have clouds to yell at.

[Dr J]

I bought something similar for my dad’s Jeep and ending up removing it in less than a year. It’s a bit of a hassle if you want to add air. On the other hand, I bought an orange tpms for the 911 and have had it for about 6 years and it worked fantastic. I had a shop enlarge the hole of the valve stem to fit it in.

While we are at it, don’t bother with the cap that changes color green-yellow-red to indicate normal to low pressure. By the time it’s red, the pressure is super low.

[stevej37]

I have had tpms on my Fit and my Civic...I like the idea, but hate having to take the vehicle in for a low battery on the sensor.
These are outside the tire (in the caps), so battery replacement is an easy 5 minute job.

With my Prelude, which I don't drive often, I spend lots of time checking tire pressure the 'old fashioned way' Now I can just look at the screen.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Makes me wonder why the car manufacturers don't make them the same way...on the outside of the tire instead of inside.

because $$$

[stevej37]

^^^ How can it be cheaper to build them inside, when they could just add valve caps that do the same?

[masraum]

Until your "caps" get stolen...

Until you try going 120+mph with heavy TPMS caps on your valves which causes a failure (911s with Fuchs have metal brackets to support the valvestems).

Still, for your avg car, that's pretty cool. Both of our cars have per tire TPMS, so you can look at the dash and determine what the pressure is of each tire. I like that a lot. I understand that there are some cars that are more like TPMS idiot lights. You'll get a warning that one or more of the tires is low, but to determine the pressure of individual tires, you have to measure them the old fashioned way.

I've had my boxster since Aug 2014. I'm not aware of the TPMS or batteries ever having been replaced and it's still going < knock, knock, knock on wood >. I'm expecting it at any time.

[stevej37]

^^^ The batteries typically last 10 years at a mininum.
This thing is designed for cars that were built before tpms was born....as my Prelude was.

There is a curved wrench provided to fasten them down tight...not easy to get off.

Plus...I can't imagine anyone trying to steal my tire valve caps.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stevej37

^^^ The batteries typically last 10 years at a mininum.
This thing is designed for cars that were built before tpms was born....as my Prelude was.

There is a curved wrench provided to fasten them down tight...not easy to get off.

Plus...I can't imagine anyone trying to steal my tire valve caps.

You'd be surprised. Kids will steal all sorts of stuff.

[stevej37]

The kids around here are never out in the drive-ways...esp in other homes.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by stevej37

^^^ How can it be cheaper to build them inside, when they could just add valve caps that do the same?

You misinterpreted my post.

It is not cheaper.


It creates an entire industry.

[Superman]

I have assumed the tire rotation somehow provided the electricity to charge the tiny battery in the valve/sender. How else can the valve send information to the central unit, for years and years?

[stevej37]

^^^
10 years is the average life age of a tpms battery.

[Rot 911]

They sell these on Amazon. From what I read on Amazon the TPMS is only activated when the tire is rotating. That’s probably how they can get so many years out of the batteries.

[stevej37]

^^^ That is true. The battery is a CR 1632 Lithium and it's part of the valve stem cap.
They are asleep until the car is in motion.
If the battery dies...it's a simple replacement because it's in the valve stem cap.

And yes...I bought mine from the Amazon for $50

[Ctopher]

I have trouble finding 2 piece chrome valve stems because everything is TPMS now. I still think back to why it was developed and pushed on consumers….because idiots were driving Ford Explorers with flat tires until they flipped or had an accident.

I’m happy having my cars without that crap. I am smart enough to check my tires before getting in my car, every time I’m going to drive. I also regularly check my tire pressures and if the car is feeling funny, I’ll pull over to check my tires.

I’m with Glen, all my cars have no TPMS, traction, stability, camera or backup/lane change sensors. I am happy with my vehicles and don’t need to deal with batteries on dummy sensors.

Get off my lawn!


CTopher