Tire pressure, how does this work on the Mustang

[RaceRedder]

Okay, I might sound very stupid right now, but still I'm going to ask, because when not asking, you stay stupid.

I searched this question on Google and watched some video's on Youtube, but I want to know how this works specifically on the Mustang, because yesterday I read something about a seller who said that the wheels he is going to sell are without sensors. And then I got confused, so here we go.

1. How does the car know that there is low tire pressure?
2. How does the car know what the PSI is on each tire?
3. How does the sensor communicate with the vehicle?
4. Is the sensor inside the tire or inside the wheel?
5. Does every wheel/tire you purchase come with the exact same sensor? If not, how can you check what wheel/tire you need?

Sponsored

 

[Alan Applegate]

This is about as clear as any:https://tiregrades.com/tire-maintenance/pressure/tpms/how-do-tire-pressure-sensors-work/

Ford's use in tire and Hondas use tire rotation sensors (as examples). The former works well, the latter doesn't!

 

[Skye]

1. How does the car know that there is low tire pressure?
2. How does the car know what the PSI is on each tire?
3. How does the sensor communicate with the vehicle?
4. Is the sensor inside the tire or inside the wheel?
5. Does every wheel/tire you purchase come with the exact same sensor? If not, how can you check what wheel/tire you need?

1. There is a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) sensor attached to the valve stem.

https://performanceparts.ford.com/part/M-1180-B

Check out the photo in the link above. The square, electronic bit, attached to the valve stem, is the sensor.

2. Inside the sensor is a circuit board, a battery (good for about five years or so) and an accelerometer. The sensor interprets the air pressure and makes it available to the car's Body Control Module via a Radio Frequency (RF) signal. There are two ways the car learns the PSI. One, the car can order the sensor to wake up and give a reading. The most accurate way is to begin rolling the tire. When the tire spins, the accelerometer and the circuit become alive and begin sending out data.

3. RF. I'm seeing 315MHz for some sensors; it could vary by year or generation. My Toyota uses another frequency. EU uses other frequencies still.

4. Inside the wheel rim.

5. New cars are required by law to have a functioning TPMS in-place and working. If you're buying a used car or swapping rims, check with the dealer for the PN# you need. Different vendors use different frequencies.

https://www.mustang7g.com/forums/threads/ford-performance-tpms-kit.158444/

Page 2 of this thread highlights PN#s (at least some) for the S650.

I recommend buying only Ford sensors, from a dealer. Many items on eBay are counterfeit. Or, old (bad batteries). Or the wrong frequency, etc.

Some more reading here.

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/th...n-the-car-not-the-wheels.206683/#post-4132502

 

[Skye]

As a follow-up, none of these systems use signatures. If you're in a garage full of Fords and try to reset or change your TPMS, you could end up confusing your own with another; I recently confirmed this with my truck, while sitting in traffic.

If resetting or checking, Ford recommends being at least 3ft/1m away from other vehicles.

Sponsored