How does TPMS work?

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Old May 26, 2007 | 01:29 PM
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Question How does TPMS work?

I searched but didn't see anything that addresses this. How exactly does it work? I know there are sensors inside the wheels, but how is the information transmitted from the spinning wheel to the computer? Is the extra nodule sticking out of the rotor a transponder?

And on that subject, I made the mistake of not knowing about that "transponder" and ordered rotors without them. Didn't realize it until I had the car off the ground and got the first rim off. Crap. Can anyone refer me to a source for replacement rotors for TPMS cars? These were just standard Centric rotors (I've had good luck with Centric). I don't want drill/slot, just quality replacements...

Thanks in advance for any help.
 
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Old May 26, 2007 | 03:01 PM
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Originally Posted by Nangpa
I searched but didn't see anything that addresses this. How exactly does it work? I know there are sensors inside the wheels, but how is the information transmitted from the spinning wheel to the computer? Is the extra nodule sticking out of the rotor a transponder?

And on that subject, I made the mistake of not knowing about that "transponder" and ordered rotors without them. Didn't realize it until I had the car off the ground and got the first rim off. Crap. Can anyone refer me to a source for replacement rotors for TPMS cars? These were just standard Centric rotors (I've had good luck with Centric). I don't want drill/slot, just quality replacements...

Thanks in advance for any help.
You don't need special rotors. The TPMS units in the wheels are a pressure sensor and transmitter in one. They transmit directly to the BCM via the same receiver used by the remote door lock system. I suspect the bolt you see sticking out of your hub is the one used on the coupes to keep you from putting the rear tires on the friont.
 
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Old May 26, 2007 | 03:12 PM
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^^^What he said...The TPMS is located in your rims on the tire stem valve. When you turn on your car theres a receiver on the tire well that sends out a signal to the transponder in the rim. That activates the system and tells the receiver if the tire is low on pressure. So, if you are still using your stock rims...You are good on the TPMS sensor...
 
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Old May 26, 2007 | 07:04 PM
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Originally Posted by usual_suspect
You don't need special rotors. The TPMS units in the wheels are a pressure sensor and transmitter in one. They transmit directly to the BCM via the same receiver used by the remote door lock system. I suspect the bolt you see sticking out of your hub is the one used on the coupes to keep you from putting the rear tires on the friont.
Holy crap, usual_suspect! So you mean my caution on this was unfounded, and I can go ahead and install the Centric rotors sans the "bolt sticking out"? That would be very fine, since I was preparing to return these!

What makes this even more frustrating is that, when I had the car up and discovered the bolt in question, I called the parts dept. at my local Infiniti dealership (Tysons in Vienna, VA) and asked this question: "are the rotors for '05 G35 Coupes with TPMS different than for those without it?" and he immediately said "yes!" I mean immediately, as in, split-second didn't take any time to check. I should have asked him about the "bolt" specifically. This guy was a gravelly-voiced old-school-sounding parts counter guy, and I'm guessing he was sure that he was right and in fact was not... Now that I think of it, isn't TPMS standard on '05 Coupes?
 
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Old May 28, 2007 | 06:48 AM
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Originally Posted by Nangpa
Holy crap, usual_suspect! So you mean my caution on this was unfounded, and I can go ahead and install the Centric rotors sans the "bolt sticking out"? That would be very fine, since I was preparing to return these!

What makes this even more frustrating is that, when I had the car up and discovered the bolt in question, I called the parts dept. at my local Infiniti dealership (Tysons in Vienna, VA) and asked this question: "are the rotors for '05 G35 Coupes with TPMS different than for those without it?" and he immediately said "yes!" I mean immediately, as in, split-second didn't take any time to check. I should have asked him about the "bolt" specifically. This guy was a gravelly-voiced old-school-sounding parts counter guy, and I'm guessing he was sure that he was right and in fact was not... Now that I think of it, isn't TPMS standard on '05 Coupes?
If the bolt you're talking about is the one on the face of the front hubs on coupes only, then yes, you don't need it. You can run any hub/rotor/wheel combo that you want and still make the TPMS work. I'm pretty sure TPMS has been standard on all G35's, except maybe a few early '03's. I read somewhere that it's going to be mandatory for all new cars in the next couple of years.

G/L with the rotors.
 
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Old May 30, 2007 | 06:39 PM
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Originally Posted by usual_suspect
If the bolt you're talking about is the one on the face of the front hubs on coupes only, then yes, you don't need it. ...
Yep, that's the one. Thanks for the heads up. I'll be doing it next weekend. I'm a bit embarrassed, because when I got your response, I was confident that it was as you described, so I went out next morning to do the deed. Got the car up and the first caliper off, compared the pads (glad I've made this a habit over the years) and they were the wrong ones! What's embarrassing about it is that I ordered them wrong. Didn't realize that pads were different for post-8/2004 manufacture '05 Coupes. Crap again.

Oh well, I've got jacking and supporting the front of the car wired now, so that's good.

Thanks again.
Steve
 
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Old Jun 22, 2007 | 02:14 AM
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Originally Posted by Nangpa
I searched but didn't see anything that addresses this. How exactly does it work? I know there are sensors inside the wheels, but how is the information transmitted from the spinning wheel to the computer? Is the extra nodule sticking out of the rotor a transponder?

And on that subject, I made the mistake of not knowing about that "transponder" and ordered rotors without them. Didn't realize it until I had the car off the ground and got the first rim off. Crap. Can anyone refer me to a source for replacement rotors for TPMS cars? These were just standard Centric rotors (I've had good luck with Centric). I don't want drill/slot, just quality replacements...

Thanks in advance for any help.
A sensor-transmitter integrated with a valve is installed on a wheel,
and transmits a detected air pressure signal in the form of a radio wave. The remote keyless entry receiver receives the air pressure signal transmitted by the transmitter in each wheel. The BCM reads the air pressure signal received by the remote keyless entry receiver, and controls the low tire pressure warning lamp operations. It also has a judgement function to detect a system malfunction

Condition Low tire pressure warning lamp
Less than 166 kPa (1.7 kg/cm2 , 24 psi) [Note 1] ON
Less than 188 kPa (1.9 kg/cm2 , 27 psi) [Note 2] ON
Low tire pressure warning system malfunction [Other diagnostic item] Warning lamp flashes 1 min, then turns ON.

According to the picture in the 07 manual, the sensor/xmtr actually penetrates the wheel body, requiring an o-ring to be replaced on each sensor/xmtr after each maintaince. Meaning that aftermkt wheels will have to be drilled inorder to continue using the TPSS or having that TPSS diabled if it can be. I would not like to have that light on all the time...
 

Last edited by Memphoman; Jun 22, 2007 at 02:23 AM.
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