I check my tire pressures monthly, don't want to shell out for new wheel sensors. Can't I disconnect the transponders (front & rear) and go on with my life?

 

The only way to disable it will be thru programming, and even then you’ll be hard pressed to find a shop that has both the capability and willingness to do so. Federal law requires TPMS on all passenger vehicles since 2008 so the shop would be committing a felony to disable it.

The sensors are inside the tires, so removing them won’t do any good - you’ll just be dealing with an alert that the TPMS system needs service.

Your choices are to deal with the alert or to have new sensors installed.

 

[QUOTE=GumbyRT;3439395]The only way to disable it will be thru programming, and even then you’ll be hard pressed to find a shop that has both the capability and willingness to do so. Federal law requires TPMS on all passenger vehicles since 2008 so the shop would be committing a felony to disable it. /QUOTE]

That pretty much agrees with what I've heard, except for the felony part, according to a lawyer/friend who looked up some case results; YMMV. Thanks for responding.

 

You’re welcome. I wasn’t totally sure it was a felony- I just figured breaking federal law and felony were the same- but that’s why I’m a mechanic and not a lawyer. I would expect, at the least, any shop caught disabling the TPMS would be paying a fine in the tens of thousands as it would be on the same plane as modifying the emissions software or similar violations.

 

There is Windows software available that can turn off the TPMS, it is Appcar DiagFCA (cost $49). You need a computer running Windows and an OBD interface compatible with ELM327 (cost $10 and up).

 

....there’s also that

 

On my 18 Caravan you put regular stems in then drive. Light will flash then go off.

 

TPMS were on some vehicle as early in 1990's but it was made mandatory on all vehicles for safety reasons after the Ford Firestone fiasco where tires were blowing up and people were dying in crashes.

 

It's in the manual.

 

the federal mandate for tmps systems is for emissions...saving fuel consumption. The tire and rubber association of Canada estimate 258 million liters will be wasted in one year due to tire underinflation in Canada alone. This amounts to 593 000 metric tonnes of co2. Warning people of impending tire damage is just an added bonus.