Yes I know this is a cheesy DIY, but it’s not as cheesy as the one to open your trunk :D

Put on my winter tires two weeks ago and if you did not get TPMS sensors (like me) the TPMS warning light will begin to flash after about 15 minutes of driving (1st pic). If that annoys you it can be covered with a label that will not leave any adhesive residue and hardly be noticeable during the day, and not at all at night.

Pic 2: Parts used for this “MOD”. I couldn’t find black dots at the store so used a permanent marker to make my own.

Pic 3: Colored some dots with three coats of black permanent marker.

Pic 4: Placed the dot in the center of the fuel gauge cluster. You want just a small amount of space showing in-between the edges of the dot and the edges of the fuel and temp gauge edges. The reason the dot is so visible in this pic is that I am shining a flashlight on the dial. Under normal light the dot is not noticeable and it does come off clean.

 

Nice effort but there has to be a better way, i think. I don't have the TMPS in Canada so didn't think about this. I'm sure I have seen black dots which I think would have worked beter.

 

without a flashlight & a flash photo you can only see the dot during the day and only with the sun behind you. Had this for about a week and works out fine. But yes you Canucks don't have this issue (TPMS), there must be something in the water that makes you people check your tire pressure more than American's do.

 

Get some fuel soon!!

 

That's about how far the needle goes down after I do 260 miles. I have about a gallon left :D . I get gas twice a week so I am very good at reading my gauge

 

There is a phrase for this but can't use it here. Did you know BTW that your door is open and you are almost out of gas? Probably couldn't see that in pic #1 because you were too busy looking at the TPMS indicator light.

 

I was parked :D In order to take the photo with the light on I had to leave the car running after a 15-minute drive. FYI. It took 13.9 gallons to fill me back up with the needle at that low of a level.

 

hey man...you are almost out of gas.

:p

:D

 

IS there an alternative? Like disabling the light?

 

nevermind...
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-do-yourself-forum-73/diy-disabling-tpms-35708/

 

If you're wanting just to switch it off for driving on winter tires, you could easily cut the TPMS hot wire (as shown above) and wire a switch in-line with the wire. Flip the switch off for the winter tires, then flip back on when summer comes. Easy, clean, and simple. You could even have the switch hidden somewhere - no need for it to be out on the console or something.

Dale

 

I read the above thread and in order to get at that wire requires the removal of the front upper center console (shifter section), ashtray, radio and center HVAC bezel. While I consider myself a handy person taking about that plastic dash is not something I would like to do, much more work involved than my black dot system. That thread has 24 replies and not one of them reads ‘ Tried that, it works great” In fact I did a search for TPMS+Disable and other than the creator of this thread (https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...t=tpms+disable) I did not see any success stories. So one could say that going into the second winter with RX-8 there still is not an “easy” way to disable the TPMS system. Maybe I should start a poll??

 

May I suggest using a small piece of black plastic electricians tape to cover the warning light

 

exactly what i was thinking i did it once on a old car i had it had a constant CEL
that drove me nuts.
how do u reset the tpms ?
i just threw my stock wheels on and its still lit.

 

Try disconnecting the battery ground cable for a couple of minutes, pump the break pedal while it's disconnected to discharge any stray capacitance, then reconnect the battery. This should force the PCM to reinitialize and examine or poll all it's systems, and hopefully, will clear the TPMS light.

One thing of note: After disconnecting the battery, the next time you start the car you'll get both TCS and DSC lights on. To clear the DSC light, with the car running, turn the steering wheel all the way left then right. The TCS light will clear on it's own next time you start the car.

Hope this helps.

 

From Page 5-27 of the manual
When changing tires yourself
If you or someone else changes tires, you
or someone else can also undertake the
steps for the TPMS to complete the ID
signal code registration.
1. After tires have been changed, turn the
ignition switch to the ON position, then
turn it back to the ACC or LOCK
position.
2. Wait for about 15 minutes.
3. After about 15 minutes, drive the
vehicle at a speed of at least 20 km/h
(12 mph) for several minutes and the
tire pressure sensor ID signal code will
be registered automatically.
Be sure to have the tire pressure sensors
installed whenever tires or wheels are
replaced.

NOTE
If the vehicle is driven within about 15
minutes of changing tires, the tire
pressure monitoring system warning
light will flash because the sensor ID
signal code would not have been
registered. If this happens, park the
vehicle for about 15 minutes, after
which the sensor ID signal code will
register upon driving the vehicle for
several minutes.

 

My 1987 RX7 had a "shift light" in about the same place that went on at 2,800 rpms. I hid it with a sticker from Hallmark's. Mazda added the light hoping to get better MPG test reports.

 

this thread was actuallyvery useful. I didnt know TPMS came on so often if you have a set of wheels without the sensor.

I was debating on whether i should leave TPMS in my stock rims or have them put on to the new ones... now i know.

THANKS!

 

I performed this 30 second mod about two months ago and I'm very happy with the results.

I used black electrician's tape.

Every now and then I get three beeps to warn me about the TPMS, not a big deal.

 

Ughhhh... I think I need to do this mod. My TPMS comes on 9 days out of 10!! It gave me a break yesterday and I even drove long distances all day, but it was back on today.

 

You guys are awsome. I didn't even have enough time to go through all of them at work.

I expected 1 or 2 repleys.

Thanks!

Doug.

 

Someone in that thread also suggested that if you disable the TPMS and you get in an accident you could face a lawsuit. I would feel better doing more cosmetic and caused less of a liability, not to mention crazy easier to do.

 

Funny DIY. Dude, I listen to Stern every morning, how did you get beetlejuice to do that pic?

 

These days they can sue you for anything, so I wouldn't loose sleep over it. I have not however heard of someone getting sued for low tire pressure yet.

You pay him $20.00

 

also didn't have his seatbelt on, hahaa