zoomalot

I had a winter tire set from The Tire Rack installed by my dealer. A master technician wondered about wheels without TPS and called Mazda - the Tech Line, I believe they said. Mine was the first 8 they had installed winter tires on.

The dealer was told by Mazda that it is not recommended to run wheels without TPS because the sensors affect not only the TPMS but also ABS and DSC. The implication being, of course, that those other systems would also malfunction. This per Tech Assistance Reference 322819.

This just doesn't sound correct to me. I have never heard or read of any such connection. Did I miss something? Has anyone else heard such a thing from their dealer, or any other source?

I requested that they install the winter tire set anyway. All I've seen is the flashing TPMS light, just as expected.

Gord96BRG

It's either pure BS, or Mazda Canada has a lot of explaining to do! The RX-8 in Canada is not equipped with the TPMS, but does have ABS and DSC. My stability control and ABS systems work just fine, despite my car not having TPMS. I've been running winter wheels/tires for 4 weeks now, and the DSC and ABS still work just fine, as they did with the OEM wheels/tires (again, which don't have tire pressure transmitters in them either).

If you want to confuse your dealer, ask him how the Canadian RX-8s are different since they have functioning ABS and DSC with no tire pressure monitoring system.

Regards,
Gordon

silvercloud

Zoomalot,

Have you tried to active the DSC and ABS with the new wheels?
Do they kick in?
I'm wondering because I have wheels/tires on the way from the Tire Rack.

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

From what I can glean from the shop manual wiring diagrams and diagnostics, the TPMS is independant and won't affect ANYTHING if it is disabled.
It is only connected to the ECU via the CAN buss to report errors. That is it.
ABS is independant as well. DSC is integrated.

zoomalot

I haven't had the opportunity to activate either ABS or DSC with the winter wheels and tires on. There are no warning lights signaling except for the TPMS.

Tire Rack said all the information they have indicates that the information from the dealer is not correct. They had not heard of such a thing from other customers.

Mazda may be promoting sensor sales.

zoomalot

Well, the BS alarm went off for me.

It did cross my mind about the Canadian cars. The whole idea just didn't make sense. It doesn't exactly inspire confidence to think that a master tech would buy it. The service writer said this is a technician who attended the RX-8 school.

zoomalot

Thanks for looking in the shop manual. Are you familiar with Tech Assistance References, what weight they carry, and how they may relate to TSB?

SnyderMazz

Maniac is right, they are indepentdent. The TPS system has no control over the ABS. Give it up to Mazda for trying to sell something that the car doesnt even have lol My Master Tech (who has attended RX8 school) said (in regards to the TPS and non-stock tires), " Doesnt matter as long as the TPS system is still connected. Its apart of the valve stem and wheel itself, not the tire. It has no bearing on the ABS or any other systems. Its only job is track air pressure. The only thing you might get from not running the TPS system is that [annoying] light."

Also if you ABS goes out, you still have regular brakes regardless. You dont understand how many customers I get that freak out because the ABS light is on lol I know, Im beating a dead horse, but I wanted to add that comment in

zoomalot

SnyderMazz,

Can you find out what Tech Assistance Reference 322819 actually says? I think it should be corrected or retracted. If it's something that is distributed or posted by Mazda, it could give incorrect information to to other dealers and customers. With it, Mazda could attempt to say that if a problem arises with ABS, it is caused by running wheels without TPS and the warranty would be void in such a case.

zoomalot

I had the first really snowy communute with the 8 today. I can tell you that the ABS and TCS are functional and working fine. (This without tire pressure sensors in winter wheels.) As expected, what Mazda told me through my dealer is false.

silvercloud

Thanks for the info Zoom

syntrix

Or could it be the dealer misinterpreted Mazda Tech line?

Wouldn't the Tech Assistance Reference number be like an order number? IE, they issued that to the service tech to reference their tech line database, and owner information with?

Have you emailed or called MNAO directly about this information?

zoomalot

The Service Manager said the Tech Assistance Reference was by phone. It could be misinterpretation. He says they don't have it in writing. It must be on record somehow at MNAO, though. Today the Service Manager said he would contact the Tech Line to (hopefully) get a correction. This erroneous information could be going out to other dealers. I have not called Mazda myself. I wanted my dealer to follow through on what they told me.

syntrix

Glad the dealer is following up! Keep up posted!

Blue Demon

So, is this right?

Press the DSC button and it turns off the traction control but leaves the stability control on. Only the DSC indicator sights up.

Press and hold the DSC buton for several seconds and it turns off both traction control and stability control. Both DSC and stability control indicators light up. This condition will remain as long as the key is in the on position, will reset to the default of both systems on upon turning the key off then on again.

Blue Demon....