I'm looking to import my 2004 Canadian RX-8 6MT to the US as I am moving there for work in the summer this year. However I have ran into a problem where my car is illegible for import due to a missing Tire Pressure Monitoring System.

In order to qualify for import, my RX-8 has to comply with Federal (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) FMVSS from the US government. It seems like that 2004 Canadian RX-8's did not have the TPMS install from the factory. As such Mazda Canada have told me that it is illegible for export to the US.

I've called up a dealer, to which they hastily told me it is impossible to add the system due to the ECU and entire "system" being different.

Does anyone know if what the dealer has told me is accurate? That there is no way to install the OEM TPMS in US spec'd RX-8's onto a Canadian RX-8.

From what I have searched, it seems like Canadian RX-8 is missing the TPMS module entirely.

It would really suck if I had to sell my RX-8 and I'd very much like to keep it.

Thanks.

 

It's true that no Canadian rx8's came equipped with TPMS.
And AFAIK, it's a very difficult, if not impossible, process to install. I do recall someone inquiring a few years ago. I don't think they were successful.

I think you may need to sell, unfortunately...

 

Well this sucks. Do you know if the series 2 RX-8's have it factory installed? I might considering swapping up to a series 2 if this is the case.

 

Do you really need to import it? If you don't plan to sell it in the US, can it stay as is?

 

You are only allowed to drive a Canadian plated car in the US for up to 1 year, before you're legally required to import it. However, most Canadian insurance companies will only allow you to drive 6 out of 12 months in a year in the US.

You can't get US insurance on a Canadian plated car...therefore you must import it.

 

Does it have to have OEM TPMS or just a TPMS system? If just a TPMS system, go aftermarket to get your inspection, then you can keep it or remove it.
Looks like they start at about $99 on Amazon.
I doubt the regulations require that it is the OEM system, just like you can install aftermarket DRL systems on a car imported to Canada from the US.

 

AFAIK...there is an option to turn it on in the ECU. You would need to buy 4 sensors

Not sure if you need a receiver module or not to pickup the signal

 

Unfortunately...

"Any such vehicle that was not originally manufactured with an FMVSS No. 138-compliant TPMS cannot be imported under vehicle eligibility numbers VSA-80 or VSA-81 unless the vehicle has been retrofitted, prior to entry into the United States, with a TPMS identical to, and with the same part number as, the TPMS installed on vehicles manufactured for sale in the United States by the original manufacturer (OEM)."

It has to be OEM one, and has to be a done a Mazda dealer. You need to show the invoice of work to the CBP as proof.

 

Do you know how to activate this option?

From what I've searched, the receiver module inside the US spec'd RX-8 isn't even installed in the Canadian one.