Tires are under
inflated? Ensure your safety on the road by deploying TPMS.
Car's Tire pressure monitoring system or TPMS monitors the pressure in
the tire with the help of a wheel mounted sensor. Tire pressure monitoring
systems have been a legal requirement on new cars since 2012. The sole purpose
of these systems is to warn you if your tires are under inflated. The under
inflated tires often offer a less stable ride and there are more prone to
possible blowouts. The warning prompts the driver to inflate the tires to
proper level. Drivers are advised to keep their vehicle’s tires inflated to the
level indicated on tire placard. You can
easily locate placard on door jamb or glove box. TPMS often avoids major
fatalities that could happen on high traffic roads or bad weather locations.
TPMS comes in different
systems as direct and indirect TPMS. Let us know about these systems in detail.
INDIRECT
TPMS
The circumference of
under inflated tire is small. Therefore, Indirect TPMS of car
uses existing individual wheel speed hardware.
This hardware supplies car’s anti lock and anti skid control functions
in addition. This hardware identifies a pressure drop and alerts the driver
through either illuminated fascia light or an on dash message.
Indirect TPMS relies on
wheel speed sensors used by anti lock brake systems. The rate of revolution of
the wheel could help the system to detect relative size of tires. An under
inflated tire also causes a wheel to spin faster than usual, thus if detected,
computer would generate a warning for it.
So, indirect TPMS don’t
use electronic processing or any kind of instrument to detect the tire
pressure. They just create their results of pressure detection on the basis of
rotation of tire. Sometimes if a new tire is installed in a vehicle, it could
relatively generate false rotation rate so sometimes the results of indirect
TPMS may be inaccurate. These systems are less expensive than Direct TPMS but
at the same time they are less precise as compared to direct one. Less maintenance is required for indirect
TPMS but this system has to be reset after every tire rotation or inflation.
DIRECT TPMS
Direct TPMS employs a sensor
in each wheel and communicates with a separate transmitter. The Car's TPMSsensors employed can also provide tire temperature
readings. This system sends the data to centralized control module where it is
interpreted and analyzed. The indicator light illuminates as a signal for
warning that your vehicle’s tire pressure is low. System easily distinguishes
between the readings of each tire of the vehicle because each sensor is
provided with a unique serial number. Though Direct TPMS is more accurate and
popular as compared to Indirect TPMS, it requires more maintenance and is cost
effective. Another advantage to this system is its battery is quite long lasting
and there is no need to reset. It is a wireless system.
If there is some
problem with the battery of the sensor, then this might not be good news
because batteries are unserviceable and you will have to change the whole
sensor. The sensor stem is also prone to damage basically in case of accidents.
MAINTENANCE
AND REPAIR REQUIREMENTS
1. An integral battery
is sealed within each sensor. Each battery has a design life of about 10 years
or 100,000 miles. If one battery gets depleted the entire system has to be
changed. The new part needs to be activated and then coded to the vehicle. This
is quite time consuming and requires costly tools which are $140 per wheel.
2. Most sensors need a
service kit that includes new sealing washers as well as replacement TPMS valve of car core. The whole sensor is not needed to be replaced
whenever the tire is removed. Plastic caps are often used to protect core and
sensor internals whenever the sensor is dismounted.
3. Corrosion also affects
a sensor by damaging the stem causing small air leaks or complete deflation.
But stems can be easily replaced without undergoing replacement of sensor
because stems are affixed by small screws. If a TPMS sensor has been damaged by
careless tire fitter, then it must be replaced immediately.
4. If your system
detects fault, then you may need to replace your sensor. By disabling TPMS, we cannot modify the
sensors because it could alter car’s security system as well. So better have it
changed than following a cheap route.
5. The genuine OE sensors are less costly as
compared to other sensors. Buying a genuine replacement sensor may be a viable
option. You can also fit a good quality replacement sensor that can be
programmed with old sensor’s unique identifier.
6. When the warning
sign illuminates while driving, it means system has detected a tire low
pressure than standard. As soon as the warning is generated, the tires should
be inspected. When the tires are properly inflated, the warning lamp will
automatically extinguish.
7. Experts say that 25
% of the vehicles have under inflated tires. Inflated tire not only results in
poor driving experience or unsteady ride but also cause poor fuel economy,
small tire life and longer braking distances.
8. It may be necessary
to reprogram the TPMS when the sensor is installed or tires are rotated.
9. Proper wheel alignment adjusts the angle of
wheels thus correctly positioning the vehicle’s frame and maximizing tire’s life
10. Tire must be
replaced if tread depth is measured 2/32nds of an inch or less.
For more safety and
TPMS equipments visit partsavatar.ca which deals in best auto
parts across Canada.
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