i was unlucky enough to run over a screw this week and hit a semi truck tire. the tire presure sensor worked but i was wondering if anyone nows if they can be put on an aftermarket wheel and tire? if so how?

 

There are no "sensors" on the wheels. The car calculates how many revolutions each wheel makes using the ABS sensors and ECU. If one tire is lower than the rest, it will have to make more revolutions than the rest. It then trips the warning light, but it's up to you to figure out which tire is low. Likewise, if all four tires were leaking at the same rate or all were low, the warning light would never come on.

 

Good answer, Jason.

I'm glad that the system worked for you.

FYI - the system on the Sienna minivan uses resonant frequency to determine whether or not a tire is low.

LATER

 

Good info, Jason. I also take it when your "fix" the bad tire, that you need to push the button to reset things?

Kevin

 

I think that would be a yes

 

With my tc sitting in the driveway, I took off a littlle air from one tire and started the engine.
The Tire Pressure Monitor activated and showed the flat tire indicatror in the dash.
I think the tires do not need to turn for the TPM to detect low tire pressure. This is also one good way to test the sensors for all the tires if you do it one by one.

1manila

 

So, is Tire Pressure Monitor a standard feature or optional?

 

Standard

 

I never thought of that, my chances of purchasing tC is increasing! (I'm researching which Sport Coupes would be better... My current choices are either Scion tC, Acura RSX, Hyundai Tiburon GT V6, or Toyota Celica)

 

If you can afford RSX....why not?

 

Well, the thing is, it's too small in the back and the price's a bit too high, but I could lease it.

 

how exactly do you find your tire pressure by pressing the button? then drive like 10 miles? then press it again? where does it show the numbers? on the odometer lcd? the clock lcd? or the scion mp3 player lcd? sorry for the noob question... manual in the car down stairs.. in a parking lot.. too lazy to go get... thanks.

 

it doesnt show you the number, it just alerts you that one of your tires is low. its upto you to find out which one.