TPMS? Can you tell if it's there by looking?

[Daffy]

Here's a dumb question. Can you tell by looking at the valve stem without taking the tire off if there are TPMS's on it or not?

Looking at a set a guy bought used & he's not sure if the TPMS is installed and we're trying to figure out without having to brake the tire bead seal, or mount them on the other car & see if we get a dash light, lol. Thnx

 

[5spd07gt]

I don't think you can tell just by looking at the valve stem. Its either attached by a band going around the wheel or by a second valve on the inside of the wheel. My true forged wheels have the later of the two.

The wheels don't have to be physically mounted for the car to pick up the sensors. They can just be beside it.

 

[Catmonkey]

I think if you have the TPMS integrated with the valve stem, you could take out the schrader valve and probe the inside of the valve stem with a small wire. If there's no restriction, there is no TPMS, although you could still have one with a band. If there is a restriction, it's likely the TPMS.

 

[5spd07gt]

I think if you have the TPMS integrated with the valve stem, you could take out the schrader valve and probe the inside of the valve stem with a small wire. If there's no restriction, there is no TPMS, although you could still have one with a band. If there is a restriction, it's likely the TPMS.

yeah, didn't think of that. What kind of wheels are they Dave?

 

[Daffy]

Oh yea, these are factory stock Mustang wheels, GT premiums off a 2011 or '12, the black with machined face ones, so it'd be the factory valve stem TPMS from Ford I'm trying to verify.

 

[5spd07gt]

Do you know what car they came off of? Could run the vin to see if they came with them. Also, do you have the TPMS programmer remote?

 

[zporta]

I have the programmer tool somewhere. You could run the test to see if they pick up

 

[5spd07gt]

I have the programmer tool somewhere. You could run the test to see if they pick up

that's what I was going to suggest. or he could run it by Dougs and just break one of them down and check.

 

[Daffy]

Yea I have a programmer. How can I use that to check on the wheels?

I got one & never had to use it, everytime I've swapped wheels my car has learned the new ones itself and not been stubborn, lucky.

 

[Daffy]

I had him shoot me a pic of the stem & it's gold/brass with a rubber stem. I feel like the Ford TPMS metal stem is silver ... I'll try to find a pic, it rained so I don't have my car here, duh.

 

[Daffy]

No, I'm wrong looks like the Ford TPMS is brass colored metal, not silver, so haven't ruled it out yet.

 

[Robert M]

It is easy to tell if a car has the valve stem type TPMS in place, look for the hex head, this type bolt together................

Also shown in the link below, look for the hex head, they bolt together...........


http://www.partsgeek.com/gbproducts...or+2011+2012&gclid=CPOCusiBmrsCFUtp7AodPx0ApQ


If you are asking about the earlier band-type, those use a regular valve stem that pulls through the valve stem hole in the wheel and do not look anything like the TPMS stem shown above.



R

 

[Daffy]

Bingo, thanks.