Tpms

[mazda3zoom]

Does anyone know exactly how the tire pressure monitering system works on the 3?? ever since i put on new front tires my light has been blinking. ive checked the pressure a bunch of times and its always good. I dont know if it would change anything but it looks like my front tires are wider then the rears. But i dont get that either, there both 45s and 215 or 225 but the fronts (Bridgestone Potenzes i think) look about an inch wider then the rears (Falken ZIEX). any info would be kool cuz that light bugs the hell outta me. thanks.

[goldwing2000]

Two tires with the same section width can definitely have different tread width. The section width number (215, 225, etc) is taken at the widest portion of the tire, usually the middle of the sidewall. If one tire has a stiffer sidewall than the other, then it will be more vertical and have a wider tread.

Why in the world did you get two different kinds of tires?

Can't help you much with the TPMS but the tire buster that installed the new shoes may have broken one of the sensors. Did you check your owner's manual?

[goldwing2000]

Just checked some specs. A Falken ZE-512 in the size 225/45-17 has a tread width of 7.7 inches. A Bridgestone Potenza RE050 in exactly the same size has a tread width of 8.2 inches.
A half inch difference in tread width would definitely be noticable.

[mazda3zoom]

Just checked some specs. A Falken ZE-512 in the size 225/45-17 has a tread width of 7.7 inches. A Bridgestone Potenza RE050 in exactly the same size has a tread width of 8.2 inches.
A half inch difference in tread width would definitely be noticable.


HMMM...wish i would have known that before i got the tires. the reason i went with the bridgestones in front is because my front tires were bald and the rears were still good, then my buddy at discount tire got me a really good deal on the bridgestones. They were used but only had like 100 miles he said, they still had the little nubs on em and they were only $150 for both. I think those tires retail for about $180 a piece. I guess ill have to deal with the light for now tho. Do you think if i just pulled the fuse for the tpms it would kill that light????

[goldwing2000]

Do you think if i just pulled the fuse for the tpms it would kill that light????

(shrug) Try it and find out.

[mazda3zoom]

(shrug) Try it and find out.

guess it cant hurt anything...ill let you know how it goes.

[rbmazda3]

Does anyone know exactly how the tire pressure monitering system works on the 3?? ever since i put on new front tires my light has been blinking. ive checked the pressure a bunch of times and its always good. I dont know if it would change anything but it looks like my front tires are wider then the rears. But i dont get that either, there both 45s and 215 or 225 but the fronts (Bridgestone Potenzes i think) look about an inch wider then the rears (Falken ZIEX). any info would be kool cuz that light bugs the hell outta me. thanks.

there is a pressure transducer at the valve stem and the pressurec is transmitted via rf (like a remote control). it is very easy for tire shops to damage the transducer while removing the old tires if they are not aware that your car is equipped with a pressure monitoring system.

[mazda3zoom]

Yupp i cant find the fuse for the damn thing. anyone have a clue or am i just an idiot.

[goldwing2000]

Yupp i cant find the fuse for the damn thing. anyone have a clue or am i just an idiot.

The owner's manual should have a layout of what fuses go where. Did you check that? (rtfm)

[mazda3zoom]

The owner's manual should have a layout of what fuses go where. Did you check that? (rtfm)

What kinda idiot do you think i am????? (cricket)

Haha j/k, yes i looked in there and not in the either fuse box is there anything labeled TPMS or anything close to that.

[goldwing2000]

Hmmm... just checked the O.M. and didn't see anything.
If nobody pipes up before this evening, I'll check the service manual when I get home.

[JOS3]

if you're only going to replace 2 of the 4 tires, why would you NOT buy the same tires as stock? mix-matching tires on a car is ghetto. btw, if youre tires were bald in the front and the rear was fine, that could have been helped by simply rotating the tires. i usually rotate my tires every other oil change (~6000 miles)

[goldwing2000]

Hey, sorry I didn't get back to you on this sooner. The TPMS system actually pulls power from four different sources:

Underhood
IG KEY 1 - F11 30A
IG KEY 2 - F13 30A
ROOM - F31 15A

Under Dash
IG SIG - F70 10A

IG KEYs 1&2 both feed IG SIG, depending on the position of the key. Removing ROOM under the hood and IG SIG under the dash should cut power to the TPMS system but will probably also cut power to many other systems.

From a quick look at the schematic, F70 powers the wipers and TPMS. F31 powers the whole gauge cluster, key interlocks, TPMS, door locks, audio, navigation and all interior lights.

[mazda3zoom]

Hey, sorry I didn't get back to you on this sooner. The TPMS system actually pulls power from four different sources:

Underhood
IG KEY 1 - F11 30A
IG KEY 2 - F13 30A
ROOM - F31 15A

Under Dash
IG SIG - F70 10A

IG KEYs 1&2 both feed IG SIG, depending on the position of the key. Removing ROOM under the hood and IG SIG under the dash should cut power to the TPMS system but will probably also cut power to many other systems.

From a quick look at the schematic, F70 powers the wipers and TPMS. F31 powers the whole gauge cluster, key interlocks, TPMS, door locks, audio, navigation and all interior lights.


so basically im gonna have to deal with the light.......untill i trade it in for an SRT-4

[mazda3zoom]

if you're only going to replace 2 of the 4 tires, why would you NOT buy the same tires as stock? mix-matching tires on a car is ghetto. btw, if youre tires were bald in the front and the rear was fine, that could have been helped by simply rotating the tires. i usually rotate my tires every other oil change (~6000 miles)

how is that ghetto? its not like anyone can even tell unless they got down and read the tires. Also the rear tires are a little balder on the inside because of the lack of a camber correction kit, so why would i want those in the front where i would need all the traction?? and the reason i didnt go with the same tires i had before is because after 2 sets of falkens i decided i dont care for them that much. (rockon)

[goldwing2000]

so basically im gonna have to deal with the light.......untill i trade it in for an SRT-4

Pretty much. Unless you have the dealer figure out what the actual problem is. I have a feeling they won't be cooperative, though.

[rbmazda3]

Pretty much. Unless you have the dealer figure out what the actual problem is. I have a feeling they won't be cooperative, though.
I'd take it back to the shop that put your tires on and check the TPM transducer. It's probably damaged and causing your light to come on.

[briand805]

I'd take it back to the shop that put your tires on and check the TPM transducer. It's probably damaged and causing your light to come on.

I had a nail in my right front last week.. Took it into the shop and got it fixed.. Tpms would reset so i took it back in. Apparently the guy changing the tire snaped it off during the install and tried to play it off.

The manager ordered a new sensor and I just had it installed a few hours ago.. Problem is I cant get it to reset.. I even unhooked the battery.. Going to try how the manual says one more time.

EDIT>> third times a charm... just needed to drive on it longer.

[rbmazda3]

I had a nail in my right front last week.. Took it into the shop and got it fixed.. Tpms would reset so i took it back in. Apparently the guy changing the tire snaped it off during the install and tried to play it off.

The manager ordered a new sensor and I just had it installed a few hours ago.. Problem is I cant get it to reset.. I even unhooked the battery.. Going to try how the manual says one more time.

EDIT>> third times a charm... just needed to drive on it longer.
Hurray! :)

[JOS3]

yayz for fixing yor fuxorz