Tyre Pressure Indicator didn't go off and tyre damaged

[gregozedobe]

The in-tyre sensor/transmitters for a radio version of TPMS are quite susceptible to damage by a clumsy tyre fitter too, and if you have an extra set of wheels (eg for winter or track use) you would need more transmitters.

But as I said earlier, the main reason for the change is because it is cheaper to monitor wheel rotations, so that is what VW do these days.

[olcoop]

Perhaps the salesman was mistaken (or dare I say, lying) that has been known to happen.



This may be true but in order to do so would require a pressure sensor in each wheel transmitting to a monitoring system or alternatively some sort of voodoo magic system. In my VW there are no sensors in each wheel, are there in yours?

Cheers

George

I don't know if there are any sensors in the wheels, but I can't see the ones on the Dodge either!
But I'm guessing there aren't any after reading this thread.
I'm pretty sure that the original B6 3.2 had them as standard. Can anyone confirm that?
I guess the salesperson was incorrect then???

[VolksFlagon]

Interesting discussions

I had a nail in the tyre which caused a slow'ish leak. The sensor alerted me very quickly (although you can never be sure just where tyres pick these things up) Within a few minutes of taking the tyre back to the correct pressure, the alert went off again.

One of the 1st things I did after getting the car was to calibrate the sensor with correct tyre pressure. I believe this has made it reliable. Somthing that dealers just dont do.

I would have thought that a rapid deflation would have been picked up instantly given how the sensor works. Sounds like if your sensors are not reset at correct tyre pressures then the system isn't going to do what you expect it too.

[rajdarge]

... it's all in the manual.

The manual, what a joke. Perhaps the most confusing document I ever read.

[richdave]

I check my tyre pressures, oil and coolant levels every time I fill up. It doesn't take long and it gives me peace of mind.

Can you open the bonnet on these new cars? I didn't think it possible... I just drive till the little blinky thingy on the dash tell me to worry and then I take it to the dealer...

[gregozedobe]

Can you open the bonnet on these new cars? I didn't think it possible... I just drive till the little blinky thingy on the dash tell me to worry and then I take it to the dealer...

Bet you don't admit that to any prospective buyers when it comes time to sell

[richdave]

Bet you don't admit that to any prospective buyers when it comes time to sell

I have all the service records and the car is in tip tip shape... what more is there to tell?

[gregozedobe]

I just drive till the little blinky thingy on the dash tell me to worry and then I take it to the dealer

Bet you don't admit that to any prospective buyers when it comes time to sell

I have all the service records and the car is in tip tip shape... what more is there to tell?

That's one of the reasons I prefer to buy a brand new car over a second hand one - then I know how it has been treated

[richdave]

I treat my car with due respect, it is clean (well most of the time) and well service and not thrashed... It will be a gem to buy for anyone when the time comes to get a new one.... I dont get the tissues and go all carporn on it though like some seem to

[gregozedobe]

I just drive till the little blinky thingy on the dash tell me to worry and then I take it to the dealer

I treat my car with due respect, it is clean (well most of the time) and well service and not thrashed... It will be a gem to buy for anyone when the time comes to get a new one....

So which of your statements is untrue ?

[Maverick]

Yup, the Phaeton made a big deal of this.

I am pretty sure they abandoned the idea as it used to trip out all the time.

As the MFD used to be able to say "low pressure - right front" it made a huge mess when tyres were rotated etc. as the system needed to relearn where the tyres were on the car. It also meant if you changed a flat tyre the MFD would continue to show a fault after you repaired it.

The system on the phaeton is the same as the system fitted to all the VW's in the USA. The car doesn't need to relearn where the tyres were on the car as it has the pickup for each wheel sensor in the wheel well.

I think the R36 System relies on ABS sensors, to monitor wheel rotations. It does this over a long period of time, not just one rotation, as someone said there is flex in a tyre and it would go off every time you went around a corner or hit a bump.

It is not a failsafe system. Nothing replaces the need to regularly check tyre pressures and fluid levels in your car.

Many forget this and leave it to the dealer to do it once a year

I have some more detail on the two TPMS system here

[richdave]

So which of your statements is untrue ?

Umm... I was taking the piss with the first post...

[rotelman]

The TPMS should have alerted the driver no matter how fast the leak happened though I can't see how the alert would have made any difference as it sounds like the tyre went flat immediately. Mine worked perfectly alerting me minutes after I hit a pothole that the tyre pressure had dropped. In Sylvester's case checking tyres regularly would have made no difference .

I think the TPMS is giving the driver a false sense of security. I just had a flat (rear)after the side wall was punctured badly. I heard the "PSSSSS" as I had the windows down. I drove probably 200m before I could pull in off the busy road to check. Driving in a straight line at 60kmh I could not tell it was completley flat.

TPMS did not go off. If I had the Radio cranked up then I may have kept driving. I had previously set the tyre pressures and TPMS only a couple of weeks ago. ABS originated TPMS are crapola! Beware!

[KWICKS]

My wife got a flat, the TPMS did not alarm. She changed the tyre and drove off. It alarmed after a while. She pulled over, RTFM, reset the TPMS and continued on her way.

Was this too much for the OP?

What is of more concern is the alarming regularity of flat tyres experienced by VW owners. I haven't had more than 1 flat in my family in a decade, here there are many regularly. Go whinge about the choice of tyre and unsuitability rather than the TPMS?

[Gravey]

Exactly rotelman, however most gadgets in new cars these days are marketed as 'driver assistance' devices, not as a safety device, this is to cover the manufacturers in the event the device fails and someone complains that "ESP failed and I crashed in the wet as a result" - the driver still needs to drive to the conditions. In the same way there is still a need for the driver to check their tyres and you shouldnt rely on the oil indicator to tell you when your oil is low (what if it fails?).
Most people should realise this.
Before an operator operates a forklift at work they have to go through a checklist, this happens every shift. Then you have people who cary a lot more valuable cargo (family)than the forks at work in their cars and dont check them at all between services!