Hi guys. In case you were curious. Several individuals on the internet, (namely Ford owners from the stuff I read), have found an effective way to eliminate their TPMS in aftermarket wheels. They have taken their wheel sensors, put them in a PVC pipe with two endcaps, drilled a hole in one cap and installed a conventional rubber valve stem. They then pump up the pipe to the TPMS recommended PSI, and throw the contraption in the trunk, thus eliminating the idiot light on the dash. They do this to run conventional valve stems for their aftermarket wheels.

Has anyone, hopefully 08 xB owners, done this? I just want to make sure our sensor style works with this "trick", before I proceed. Any tips and tricks? Thanks.

 

it works.
just make sure you have the end caps glued on well so you dont have any leakes and use a bolt on type valve stem (just go to a tire shop and ask a guy out in the shop if you can have just one)
the regular valve stems work just fine but will start to leak over time, the bolt on type last longer

 

Thanks for the reply. I know the Ford guys swear by it, but most of those are the sensors with the long metal band going around the middle of the wheel. I wasn't sure if our style, the valve stem sensor, works with this as well.

Would it be appropriate to add some type of padding to the pipe, to alleviate having the sensors roll around in there, without screwing up the PSI reading?

 

alot of cars use the valve stem type of sensor now.
its still only a PSI sensor.
you could just put some old rags or something like that to keep them fron rolling around if you wanted to, it will not mess with the PSI.

 

maybe i'm slow but i got to ask, why are people trying to eliminate the sensor?

 

Not trying to eliminate the sensor but most aftermarket wheels are not designed for the set up so your stuck with the stock wheels or a really expensive dealer wheel that can work with the sensor

 

That, and if you want to run a nice set of dedicated summer wheels and tires, as well as a set of steelies with snow tires, you have two options. Either buy a second set of sensors, so both have them, and go to the dealer and have the set that's being put on "recognized" by the ECM. That's an expensive proposition, both to buy and then for the labor cost in the spring and fall. Your other option is to say forget it, and just live with the dash light for the season.
Doing the pipe deal is cheaper, and solves the light. However, you will not have the safety net the TPMS provides (Not generally a problem for the car enthusiast anyway)

 

OH come on like car enthusiasts really get all worried about making sure there car is in proper running condition

 

I feel that TPMS is completely unnecessary, and it's for the people that know absolutely nothing about cars.

 

well.. if that were true.. there's plenty of people out there that need them...

 

it was something that the highway saftey people did.
it had to be 100% compliant by 08 on all new in the US.

if you check your tires every now and then it not nessesary.
its for people that just get in turn the key and drive and never check anything, thats why they call it "The Ideit Light"

 

ive heard of problems with the direct band system tmps but i haven't heard of a wheel our tmps won't fit?

 

I've read that on some wheels there isn't enough space where the valve stem hole is, so you can't mount the TPMS. I don't know whether or not that's true, or how often that problem arises though.