Tire Change - Four dead TPMS Sensors?
 

I upgraded to the Pirelli P-One Neros - my Mazda Service Mgr said they couldn't handle 18" wheels, so go to Discount or Belle. Belle Tire has a new Michelin tire changer that handles 24" rims and is very gentle on rims. They got the tires from TireRack.

When I started my car, leaving Belle Tire, the TPMS light came on. I was in a hurry so it took me a week to deal with it. First I went to the Mazda dealer who said that all four sensors were bad.

Belle Tire was surprised but promises to make it right. They have changed many sets of tires with sensors with no problems. They have a binder with photo copies of many service manual TPMS procedures, including the RX-8. I don't think they removed the units during the change process, is this mandatory?

Has anyone had problems with TPMS sensors on stock rims?
Is there any way to tell which wheel has a bad one?

Any info would be appreciated!

Maybe they are on different corners of the car and need to be re-registered?

Can be found on page 5-27 of the manual

I've had my tires changed on the stock rims numerous times (going from summer to snow tires) and haven't had a problem. They screwed up somehow. But as long as they make it right. Those sensors are like $100 a piece, aren't they?

Re-registering.. Belle had the same idea and tried to re-register them. Only problem is that they are on a very busy street with traffic lights every quarter mile. To follow Mazda's directions, you have to keep the car above 16MPH for more than 10 minutes. I'm going to try to follow the directions to the letter, by heading straight for the freeway, early in the morning on Saturday. How else could you keep it above 16MPH, continuously?

TPMS cost.. I heard the same figure of $100 each, somewhere in another thread. That's why it would be helpful if there is a way to test them individually.

The non-precise directions for re-cal and no easy way to test them is sloppy engineering. For the most part, I've been very impressed with Mazda's engineering and attention to detail. I hope they pick up on this and make it right!

I re-registered the sensors per the Service Bulletin instructions: Ignition On / Ignition Off for at least 15 minutes. I had my car pointed out so I wouldn't have to back up and creeped down the driveway, under 5mph. I drove for 29 minutes without going under 30 MPH. No help. Still shows the 'Bad Tire Pressure' light.

Next step - Belle Tire gets to replace all sensors.

I would try taking it on the highway for at least ten minutes. Discount Tire broke off one sensor when they remounted my summer tires, and when they replaced it the TPMS light beeped 3 times, then stayed on. I had errands to run nearby and started/shut off the car a few times but it stayed on, until I hit the highway, and by the time I got home the light had vanished. Maybe it's speed variable. Try it out

My "re-register" trip was all highway. Other than running stop signs at the freeway entrance and the exit where I turned around, the majority of the time I was above 70 mph.

The sensors are due at the dealer, next week. Belle Tire decided to let Mazda install them.

I've been searching the forums for info on the CanScanners and whether you can read the individual sensors. No luck, so far.

I now think they messed up your sensors. Yesterday I put on my OEM (summer rims) with the OEM sensors. My winter rims did not have TPMS’s I just covered the light all winter. The light went out on my first drive over 10 minutes / 55 MPH without having to do anything special. If nothing was wrong with yours the light should have gone out.

Prologue
 

Got my car back from the dealer with one TPMS changed. They had originally said that all four were bad, so it appears there is a way to isolate a bad one. Does anyone know if you can see these sensors on the CAN bus? I'd like to be able to verify they are functioning as a diagnostic.

Belle Tire paid the bill: $114 for one TPMS, $85 labor, $5 "materials".. total $210!

be careful!

End of story.

TPMS malfunctions & Belle Tire
 

Hey Charles Cope, sorry to hear about your frustrations with Belle Tire. I purchased winter rims and blizzaks last year from our friends at Tire Rack. I thought long and hard about forking out the $550 for the TPMS but eventually caved in to it because I get paranoid when driving along with a light on the dash. I dont like the idea of covering it with tape either. Anyway, I installed the TPMS myself as it was dead easy - they just push through the schrader valve hole in the rim with a locking coller outside. The unit is about 2.5" long by 1.5" wide by 0.3" thick and sits nicely in side the rim away from the tire bead seat. Bottom line is that I bet money that Belle Tire screwed up your TPMS by whacking them with their bead breaker on their tire changing machine. When you get them changed, ask the dealer to inspect the old items and i`ll bet you seen "contact" marks on all 4 of them. They are pretty sensitive little bits of instrumentation.

Whats the moral of this story? Anyone getting tires changed, avoid back street abortionists like Belle Tire, Firestone, Gemini and anywhere else that does not employ trained mechanics who know how to respect these parts. Try to use either your Mazda dealer (not too expensive) or Tire Rack will always recommend good fitters in your area.

Good Luck

Tom

I have to stand up for Belle Tire. They really did OK by me.

They had a three ring binder with the owners manual pages for each make/model with TPMS. The RX-8 owners manual, at least the 2004 edition, doesn't give enough info for tire dealers to know better. That's why there is a Technical Service Bulletin about TPMS, which does give reasonable detail about how to properly treat the sensors. (IMO it should give some indication that it is possible to determine which one is bad, if you do toast one)

I printed out the TSB and gave it to Belle for future reference. I suggest that anyone taking their vehicle in for a tire change take a copy of the TSB and make it painfully clear that the dealer will be held liable if they break a sensor after saying they know how to deal with them. Painful to the tune of $114 a piece! Also, that the Mazda dealers are the only ones that can determine which sensor has failed!

Anyway, don't blame Belle Tire, they really worked hard to help me out and paid the bill with the Mazda dealer without question.

cc

TPMS Malfunctions & Belle Tire
 

Yes, Belle Tire may have been willing to sort this out - which is comendable. Are you happy that it happened in the first place though?

I hope all goes well for you now

Happy motoring

Tom