TPMS Service Kits - UPDATE!

[Chris_in_the_UK]

Folks

Is there such a thing or is it a new sensor when the battery give up the ghost?

Any sources for them other than OPC?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

Chris, apart from what I said in my email, check this out: http://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/tpms/huf_beru_tpms_sensors Looks like the RDE 004 could be the one, but best to check part numbers. Beru are suppliers to Porsche, so may well be the exact same thing.

 

[Chris_in_the_UK]

Thanks Richard! I'll see if it settles or look to swap them out. Hate random faults that appear and then go as fast as they appeared........

 

[Geoff_Fields]

PET shows 987 uses porsche part 99760602120 which I think may correspond to RDE010 Bit of a minefield this one!

 

[Chris_in_the_UK]

Thanks Geoff - minefield indeed!!! Richard has kindly offered to check based on my VIN number when I get chance to send him it (my good lady has gone for a drive in the sunshine!!).

 

[Geoff_Fields]

She shouldn't be driving around with the V5 in the glovebox![]

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

ORIGINAL: Geoff997 PET shows 987 uses porsche part 99760602120 which I think may correspond to RDE010 Bit of a minefield this one!

I know the 997 Gen1 and Gen2 sensors are different. Other sites show the RDE004 as being for Gen1, but it does need checking.

 

[Chris_in_the_UK]

Erm..... You know what I meant - V5 is in my filing system....[]

ORIGINAL: Geoff997 She shouldn't be driving around with the V5 in the glovebox![]

 

[Chris_in_the_UK]

UPDATE Having done a lot of searching and exchanging e-mails with Richard (thank you sir - most helpful) am at the point of looking at getting the car checked via Durametric or PIWIS to find out for certain what the issue with my TPMS is. I re-set it this morning and it looks as though the near side sensors have expired/near expired batteries. I am in the process of manually checking/inflating the tyres and getting the system to set itself again. Whilst I nearly had a heart attack when Richard revealed the OPC prices for just one sensor assembly!!! £228.55 per wheel!!!!. I tracked some down in the US which were OEM (Beru) items and the cost for 4 is less than $400 and the shipping would be $45 - obviously there will be the potential for cistoms and handling fees but it would still be less than OPC prices. Fast forward to mid morning today and I found some UK supplied ones which look viable - I have no connections with the sellers and I am in the process of contacting them to 100% confirm compatibility. The prices are pretty good TBH. http://www.rlauto.com/TPMS/contents/en-uk/d165_2005-2008.html The OE part (originally Beru but they have been bought out by Huf) come in at £78.75 + VAT for the sensor which sits inside the tyre plus another £7.95 + VAT for the alloy valve assembly. There is an option to use an aftermarket part which comes in at £37.75 plus VAT complete - including the valve assembly. If my TPMS has failing batteries I will be buying from these people methinks. Hope this is useful folks.

 

[Geoff_Fields]

Be sure to check with vendor what battery life guarentee is expexted. OE ones last approximately 5 years depending on use. Some pattern parts I've seen only offer 2 year battery life expectancy, so not as cheap as first appears.

 

[Chris_in_the_UK]

Indeed Geoff - the OEM option should be identical and still far cheaper than OPC prices. I will make a decision once I have the data on what the issue is.

 

[Chris_in_the_UK]

UPDATE I have exchanged some e-mails with the supplier of the aftermarket TPMS units - the answers to my Q's are below. What is the expected battery life? 1) battery life = 5- 7 years Do the units synchronise with the car automatically or is diagnostic equipment needed? 2) synchronisation is automatic - subject to any instructions in your instruction manual for you to follow. Do the units come with the valve assembly or is this an additional cost? 3) the sensor and valve are sold as a complete unit - for the Beru/Huf version they are separate.

 

[Chris_in_the_UK]

UPDATE The TPMS error is indeed due to 2 failed batteries on the N/S of the car - I suspect the O/S are not fare behind!. I have bitten the bullet and ordered the aftermarket ones based on the responses to my Q's posted above. They arrived today and look top quality. I will book some time at the local tyre firm and take the wheels off and get them fitted - I'll report back on ease of fitment and pairing etc.

 

[Motorhead]

Chris, I suspect that we're going to see more threads on this subject in the future because EU legislation approved in 2009 will mean that approved TPMS systems will have to be fitted to all new cars sold in the EU from 2014. And of course, such systems are now part of the MOT test. Jeff

 

[Chris_in_the_UK]

Indeed mate. There seems to be some more cost effective ways to deal with the issue for those outside (or unwilling to pay for) OPC warranties. As posted, I will report back.

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

ORIGINAL: Motorhead Chris, I suspect that we're going to see more threads on this subject in the future because EU legislation approved in 2009 will mean that approved TPMS systems will have to be fitted to all new cars sold in the EU from 2014. And of course, such systems are now part of the MOT test. Jeff

Jeff, I think we will see more threads because these cars are now 6-7 years old and the batteries are going flat! My indy friend is certainly doing a lot more recently.

 

[Motorhead]

Agreed Richard. No doubt your friend, other Indies, PCs and the tyre factors will find this a useful additional income stream. I wonder how soon we'll be seeing TPMS batteries/units included in the Porsche maintenance schedule along with oil and brake fluid changes? As an aside, VW use a simple maintenance-free system based upon signals from the ABS sensors which pick up a 1/rev from the metal valve bodies. The system is manually initialised once the correct tyre pressures have been set and a warning is given when a tyre starts deflating, causing a change in the wheel's rolling radius. Obviously it's not as comprehensive a TPMS system as that offered by Porshe, etc, as the actual tyre pressures are not monitored, but it does give an indication of tyre deflation. And ChrisH reckoned that the TPMS system on his new 981 didn't give him much (or any?) warning when a tyre deflated rapidly when he hit a pothole. Jeff

 

[Chris_in_the_UK]

UPDATE... Well tomorrow is the day!! Wheels off and old balance weights removed and wheels cleaned up.

Replacement TPMS sensors that will be fitted.

Tyre man is ready and waiting..... I will probably treat the tyres to a nitrogen fill at the same time. Watch this space!!!

 

[Chris_in_the_UK]

Ok folks, as promised - the final stages of the TPMS fault/failure. I dropped the wheels off at ATS this morning along with the new TPMS sensors. In preparation for this I had carefully removed the old balance weights and cleaned the inside of the wheels properly. On collection I had a chat with the tyre guy and he said that the old valves were pretty much seized into the wheel and they had to break them to get them out. All back on and working ok so good news!!. In terms of costs....... Porsche TPMS sensors were quoted at £228.55 per wheel plus fitting - OPC said it would be 'around' £1000 for 4 fitted. I actually paid £46.24 each including postage (total of £184.94) from the source earlier in the thread. ATS charged me £32.96 today for breaking the beads on the tyres, removing the old (seized) valves and sensors, fitting the ones I supplied and re-fitting tyres plus nitrogen fills all round. The total for the job is a few hours of my time and £217.90 - saving on nearly £800!!!. Quite a satisfying day all round. I decided to see what precious stones reside inside the TPMS sensor on my return home and dissected one of the old sensors. Old sensor (minus valve).

Rear side showing 'potting' gel.

Removal of the 'potting' gel

Small circuit board (and more potting gel) plus the battery that had died.

Battery contacts

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

Well done Chris! Almost makes me wish I had TPMS now.