Subaru TPMS Nonsense

[Grimlock]

The BRZ would be my first Subaru with TPMS ( My '05 LGT didn't have it). I read this section in the Owner's Manual:

Registering ID codes (vehicles with a tire pressure warning system)

The tire pressure warning valve and transmitter is equipped with a unique ID code. When replacing a tire pressure warning valve and transmitter, it is necessary to register the ID code. Have the ID code registered by your SUBARU dealer.

With a little bit of sleuthing, I have determined that this is a common thing with Subarus. Every time you change TPMS sensors (such as having 2 sets of wheels/tires) you have to re-register the TPMS sensors with the car.

I plan of having 2 to 3 sets of wheels and tires for the car (Winter/ Summer/ stock), and I really don't want to have to go back to the dealer twice a year just to get the TPMS recoded ( and I really don't like blinky lights in my instrument panel).

Is there someone here with a more current Subaru that has dealt with this issue? Is there a tool I can buy to re-encode the TPMS in the comfort of my own garage? I saw someone who bought a spare TPMS computer to go with a second set of whhels on legacygt.com. Is that the only solution?

[Draco-REX]

There are some TPMS programming devices out there. The good thing about the TPMS system in Subarus is that it can be programmed via the OBD-II port.

That said, if you're ok with maintaining your tire pressures the old fashioned way, you can just put up with the little light on your dash.

[neutron256]

ATEQ Quickset tool is an affordable solution for programming TPMS sensors. Some people report having problems with it but mine works great.

[grst1]

I would rather not have TPMS at all. It is really for general public who don't have a clue what tire pressure is....
I check my tire pressures routinely, and never run TPMS in the wheels anyways. Light is annoying though.

What bothers me the most is the fact that they have TPMS but don't show the actual pressures in each tire on the dash in 99% of the cars, even though the info is basically there.... Would have been so useful on the track!
I was blown away when Impala rental had those pressures right on the dash. Great - very useful in THAT car!

[engee]

I have owned a recent Subaru and I don't find it to be a big deal. I run a set of winters and the only thing that happens is that you see a light on your dash. That's about it. If you can live with that, problem solved.

[(K)]

One solution is to buy a second set of sensors. A PITA but it's cheaper than having the tires unmounted, sensors removed and installed on new wheels, programmed, and tires remounted, balanced, etc.

[neutron256]

Originally Posted by (K)

One solution is to buy a second set of sensors. A PITA but it's cheaper than having the tires unmounted, sensors removed and installed on new wheels, programmed, and tires remounted, balanced, etc.

But unless you have the tool you still need to have someone reprogram the sensors on many cars. Some have a way you can do it without a tool, but not many.

[Grimlock]

Originally Posted by engee

I have owned a recent Subaru and I don't find it to be a big deal. I run a set of winters and the only thing that happens is that you see a light on your dash. That's about it. If you can live with that, problem solved.

I can't live with the blinking light on the dashboard. To me, it's like a smack in the face every time I drive the car. If you can live with it, it saves a lot of aggravation.

Originally Posted by (K)

One solution is to buy a second set of sensors. A PITA but it's cheaper than having the tires unmounted, sensors removed and installed on new wheels, programmed, and tires remounted, balanced, etc.

Having a second set of sensors is fine, but you still will need to get those sensors programmed to the car somehow, or the car won't even know they are there. That's the problem.

[engee]

Originally Posted by Grimlock

I can't live with the blinking light on the dashboard. To me, it's like a smack in the face every time I drive the car. If you can live with it, it saves a lot of aggravation.

It's not a blinking light. It's just a light that is on. It blinks when you first start your car and then it just becomes a steady lit light. It really isn't too bad.



That little light there is all it is. You can also dim it just like you dim your dash lights.

Hope this helps!

[(K)]

I see what you're saying. Then I believe the best solution would be to buy a device that allows you to set the frequency of the sensors each time, as mentioned earlier. I'm not sure how the BRZ will work, but my friend's G37 sedan only recognizes 1 set of frequencies at a time. My suggestion to buy a second or third set of sensors would only solve the issue of having to mount and remount a tire/wheel combo.

Remember when you could mount wheels and tires without having to worry about a dash light coming on?

[chulooz]

Nonsense indeed! But 2012 is 2012 so we will just have to live with it. Some of the consumer products can cure this issue fortunately. Another thing the car could have done without in my opinion.

[Fenrir]

Strange that they need to be reprogrammed for Subaru. The TPMS in my Speed3 picks up any TPMS sensors in a 30 foot radius, it seems. It's amusing, since my wheels don't have TPMS if I'm driving on the highway next to someone who does, the light on my dash turns off until they go out of range :P

EDIT:

Originally Posted by chulooz

Nonsense indeed! But 2012 is 2012 so we will just have to live with it. Some of the consumer products can cure this issue fortunately. Another thing the car could have done without in my opinion.

It's a government mandated safety feature, wasn't Subaru or Toyota's choice to put it in.

[switchlanez]

Originally Posted by Fenrir

Strange that they need to be reprogrammed for Subaru. The TPMS in my Speed3 picks up any TPMS sensors in a 30 foot radius, it seems. It's amusing, since my wheels don't have TPMS if I'm driving on the highway next to someone who does, the light on my dash turns off until they go out of range :P

That's probably the precise reason Subaru requires a unique ID; so your car doesn't falsely display TPMS data transmitted from other cars.

[zoomzoomers]

BTW, how much does the stealership charge to reprogram the TPMS sensor anyway? Is it nominal? If it is, then it shouldn't be something that's a HUGE pita. No?