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smart car owners forum model 451 fortwo - Discuss upgrades, modifications, ideas > smart car owners general chat forum > smart car tech and performance forum > Much to learn about tire sensors. |
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smart car owners forum model 451 fortwo - Discuss upgrades, modifications, ideas > smart car owners general chat forum > smart car tech and performance forum > Much to learn about tire sensors. |
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| Much to learn about tire sensors. | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Sat Jan 12th, 2008 06:05 pm |
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1st Post |
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Harleyduo Member 
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Starting in 2008 all new cars in the United States have to have a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). There are currently two different ways of doing this. Mercedes chose to use the sensor inside the tire attached via the tire valve stem on the Smart Car. While it's great that those come with the car, I"ve learned the hard way that it complicates the issue when buying an extra set of tires and wheels. First, I was not prepared for how expensive they are. (List price is almost $100 per tire). Secondly, I thought at that price I would get everything I needed. (Wrong!) I am now trying to find/order/afford a set of the attaching hardware (a rubber sealing grommet and a nut type grommet to screw onto the threaded metal valve stem of the sensor unit). I've learned that they are almost $7.00 per tire. So, throw in the cost of the new set of tires, a new set of steel rims, hubcaps for the rims, sensors and mounting hardware plus pay for mounting and balancing and I'm wondering if it wasn't just easier to check the tire pressures manually. Of course, I had the option of just having the warning light show I had low tire pressure all winter long, but after reading how some insurance companies might not cover accidents if they learned you did not have working tire pressure system, I decided to play it safe. It'll be just my luck that they will change the law and go back to manual tire pressure checks or allowing owners to run 'flat-proof' in their tires, instead. I just wanted to let those early purchasers know that unless they use their sensors that come with their stock tires, it's not going to be inexpensive to have an extra set of tires that work properly.
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| Posted: Sat Jan 12th, 2008 07:45 pm |
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2nd Post |
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ALephart Administrator 
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Another method of tire pressure monitoring is allot cheaper but not as accurate. Also no sensors to wear out. It simply monitors the revolutions of each tire via the built in ABS wheel speed sensor. When it notices a large variation between the wheels, it assumes that is because the pressure is low and provides for more revolutions per mile. Simple method of doing it. If all you tires are near flat it won't throw a code though, because it uses the variation of all 4. However if you are driving a smart car with 4 low tires and don't notice it; there are bigger issues at hand. All the best, Aaron Lephart
____________________ I got my smart car! |
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| Posted: Fri Feb 22nd, 2008 01:25 am |
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3rd Post |
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bumblebee Member 
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This might be a stupid question but if you unmount the tires from the wheels do you have to get a new set of sensors? I am asking this because I am thinking about getting my wheels powder coated. And if I go to discount tires and have them unmount my tires only to find out I need to get a new set of sensors to put it back on I am looking at about $400 just for the sensors. If this is the case I can see why the dealership is charging butt load of money to powder coat the wheels.
____________________ 2008 LY/B/B passion fortwo. Bumble Bee Jr. #1173 took delivery 1/24/08 at approx. 6:00 pm #14 delivered by smart center of Dallas. Mods: shorty antenna, rubber floor mats, shelf liner, no holes plate bracket, personalized plate, window tint. |
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| Posted: Fri Feb 22nd, 2008 02:09 am |
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4th Post |
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ALephart Administrator
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Hello, I believe (someone point me out if I am wrong) the tire pressure sensors (TPS) are similiar to the Corvette's; in that the sensor is part of the air valve stem. Replacement is a breeze for any tire shop. Removal and then getting them coated should not BEE (sorry I had to) an issue. Aaron Lephart
____________________ I got my smart car! |
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| smart car owners forum model 451 fortwo - Discuss upgrades, modifications, ideas > smart car owners general chat forum > smart car tech and performance forum > Much to learn about tire sensors. | Top |
