That is correct - the TPMS only beeps once when it first detects a problem, it does not keep nagging at you.

 

I've had mine go off once after work on a cold day. It beeped and the light came on. It only beeped once, and the light was steady, not flashing. It's really not all that annoying.

 

Hello All,

I have my stock tires/wheels on and have not experienced the TPMS buzzer or light (pressure has been maintained around 32 psi). But I've been curious about what happens if wheels with no sensors were installed. Based on what you folks have said and what the manual says, I hope the following clarifies some questions.

Selectively quoting from my RX-8 owner's manual TPMS section:
"Tire Pressure Monitoring
System":

"TPMS does not alleviate your need to
check the pressure and condition of all
four tires before you drive each day."

"To avoid false readings, the system
samples for a little while before
indicating a problem. As a result it
will not instantaneously register a
rapid tire deflation or blow out."

"Tire Pressure Monitoring System
Warning Light":

"This warning light illuminates for a few
seconds when the ignition switch is turned to the ON position."

"Thereafter, the warning light illuminates
when tire pressure is too low or too high
in one or more tires, and flashes when
there is a system malfunction."

"Warning light illuminates/Warning
beep sounds":

"When the warning light illuminates, and
the warning beep sounds (about 3
seconds), tire pressure is too low or too
high in one or more tires."

-- end quoting from manual --

People without the wheel units (sensors) have posted that the TPMS warning light flashes - probably because that's considered to be a TPMS malfunction.

People with the wheel units have posted that (when their tire pressure is not between 27 and 48 psi I presume) the TPMS buzzer sounds briefly (does not stay on) and the warning light comes on and stay on (does not flash continuously) - again - consistent with what the manual says.

I guess if ones TPMS light came on and buzzer sounded while driving, then went off after a while - tire pressure may have been below the 27psi threshold and increased above the threshold as driving warmed up the tire ?

So, if you plan on installing wheels with no sensors, then based on what others have posted and what the manual says the TPMS warning light will ** continuously flash ** and TPMS buzzer will not sound.

I'm not sure I could deal with the **constant flashing**, especially at night.

For me it's going to be one of the following:
buy wheels with sensors, tape over the light, tear into the dashboard to pull the TPMS light bulb or disconnect something (I think not), or ????????

Hope this clarifies some TPMS light/buzzer questions ,

rx8cited

PS: Sorry this got so long.

Please note: There are other reasons why the TPMS light will flash - see
"System Error Activation" in the TPMS section of the "Mazda RX- 8 Owner's Manual".

 

I considered buying the sensors for the winter tires -- until they told me the price! It came out to about $100 EACH for the "custom" sensors needed for the RX-8. This was at TireRack, BTW.

I don't think so!

 

jonalan, is that the pirce ($100) for each wheel? Meaning $400 for the entire package? Also, is that TPMS from Mazda or from the Tire Rack? And if from the Tire Rack, will it work with Mazda's unit (I doubt it)? Although I could be wrong.

Has anyone looked into purchasing sensors (4) from Mazda? {Maybe I will and post}.

What do you guys think, one set of winter wheels/tires with Mazda sensors, and one set of summer wheels/tires with another set of Mazda sensors?

Al

 

No offense, but if your having that much problem with the TPMS then your one of the average idots that doesn't check tire pressure regularly.

Mine went off twice - both time the tires were down 4 psi from a bad overnight cold snap.

 

the Tire Pressure Monitoring System is a FLAWED system... it needs to be eliminated or fixed.

 

Just catching up on this thread and I got to thinking (uh oh). Since the TPMS uses RF signals from the tire sensors, is it conceivable that someone could purchase one of these sensors, then possibly reverse-engineer it so that it sends whatever signal you want to the CCU? Just carefully take the thing apart and hardware the pressure and speed sensors so it's sending the "ok" signal constantly.

I wish I knew how to tell what signal it was sending to the CCU, then possibly you could put something together with Radio Shack parts and throw it in your trunk to take care of that pesky light/beep.

 

The problem with this is the sensor needs to be moving in order to turn on. It has a centrifugal switch in it.

 

Er, right, I know that. What I'm saying is what if someone was able to take it apart and solder the switch in place so it didn't need the cetrifugal motion to turn it on? Although it's possible that the centrifugal force is what powers it and not a battery.

I'm just wondering how possible it would be to get the correct frequency that these transmit at, then build a device that sends that signal to the CCU in the dash.

 

$100 per wheel! $400 for the package!!! This was quoted from TireRack and it was a custom sensor specifically designed for the RX-8.

 

This is my first post. I've monitored the Forum for a while. It's about time I join in. I thought the experience I had concerning the TPMS might be of interest.

I live in Western NY state where winters can certainly be severe at times. My RX-8 will be driven through the winter. I bought a winter tire package from The Tire Rack and had them shipped to my dealer. I left the car there for a day to have the tires installed.

Seems the master technician questioned whether they should put wheels on without the sensors. This is the first 8 they've put winter tires on. So they called Mazda, the Tech Line I believe they said, who told the dealer that it's not recommended to run wheels without the sensors because the sensors affect not only the TPMS but also ABS and DSC (!). This was a surprise to me. I've never heard, read, nor reasoned anything of the sort.

The service manager called to to tell me the bad news. Well, it didn't sound right to me. BS alarm. After talking about it a bit, I told him to install the winter tires and if a serious problem developed, I'd come back in for whatever resolution possible. They cited Tech Assistance Reference 322819. I didn't see that message or document, but on my bill is written that Mazda does not endorse installing wheels without the sensors because of the wider affect.

I called Tire Rack in case they might have heard of this. The sales rep I dealt with said that all the information they have indicates that what Mazda told my dealer is incorrect.

I fully expected to have only the flashing warning light, and that's all I've seen so far (not all the time, either).

This does not foster confidence in my dealer or Mazda technical support to the dealers.

Is Mazda trying to shake owners down for sensor sales?

Is anyone familiar with Tech Assistance References?

Has anyone heard about the TPS affecting more than the TPMS? I may be wrong in thinking that it's not true.

Has anyone else heard such a message from their dealer or Mazda ?

 

This is my first post. I've monitored the Forum for a while. It's about time I join in. I thought the experience I had concerning the TPMS might be of interest.

I live in Western NY state where winters can certainly be severe at times. My RX-8 will be driven through the winter. I bought a winter tire package from The Tire Rack and had them shipped to my dealer. I left the car there for a day to have the tires installed.

Seems the master technician questioned whether they should put wheels on without the sensors. This is the first 8 they've put winter tires on. So they called Mazda, the Tech Line I believe they said, who told the dealer that it's not recommended to run wheels without the sensors because the sensors affect not only the TPMS but also ABS and DSC (!). This was a surprise to me. I've never heard, read, nor reasoned anything of the sort.

The service manager called to to tell me the bad news. Well, it didn't sound right to me. BS alarm. After talking about it a bit, I told him to install the winter tires and if a serious problem developed, I'd come back in for whatever resolution possible. They cited Tech Assistance Reference 322819. I didn't see that message or document, but on my bill is written that Mazda does not endorse installing wheels without the sensors because of the wider affect.

I called Tire Rack in case they might have heard of this. The sales rep I dealt with said that all the information they have indicates that what Mazda told my dealer is incorrect.

I fully expected to have only the flashing warning light, and that's all I've seen so far (not all the time, either).

This does not foster confidence in my dealer or Mazda technical support to the dealers.

Is Mazda trying to shake owners down for sensor sales?

Is anyone familiar with Tech Assistance References?

Has anyone heard about the TPS affecting more than the TPMS? I may be wrong in thinking that it's not true.

Has anyone else heard such a message from their dealer or Mazda ?