C6 TPMS woes

[2ndShot]

Anyone know more about this issue?

http://www.z06vette.com/forums/f64/did-you-use-race-tires-yet-90267/

Chuck, do you have sensors installed in your race set? May not be a problem for autox, but I was thinking of using my Kumhos for the next track day. To be safe, I guess I should order sensors and a programmer.

[shaunmark]

Got a spare? Throw it on and after it recognizes a TPMS sensor is gone see what happens, I can't imagine it would be intrusive or people would have rightly made a big deal out of this..

[2ndShot]

Got a spare? Throw it on and after it recognizes a TPMS sensor is gone see what happens, I can't imagine it would be intrusive or people would have rightly made a big deal out of this..

Unlike the C5, this system is very intrusive. High pressure readings will just prompt a message, but low pressure or missing sensors apparently trigger limp mode.

[shaunmark]

=(

[Curmudgeon]

When the '09 Civic Si senses low pressure on any tire below 26 or 27 psi the TMPS light comes on and the VSA can not be turned off causing a power cut and brakes application. (AKA limp mode) Very dangerous at speed even autocrossing. I forgot to turn the VSA off at one autocross last year and thought there was somethig very wrong with the car. Couldn't accelerate in a straight line and spun twice in turns. I have sensors in all sets of wheels for the Civic which have to be reprogramed anytime there is a tire/wheel change. I would like to be able to lower the pressurs to 25-26 psi under certain conditions.
I've heard that if you remove the sensors, put them in a sealed pressurized pvc pipe add 30 + psi of air and secure it in the trunk the brain will read them and all is well.
I haven't tried it though.
This has to be a big problem for Showroom Stock cars.. I'm sure there is an expensive fix for those racing.

[2ndShot]

... I've heard that if you remove the sensors, put them in a sealed pressurized pvc pipe add 30 + psi of air and secure it in the trunk the brain will read them and all is well....

That may work, but some forum posts I've found suggest that the sensors are spin-activated.

When we autocrossed in Cumberland last month, I ran stickies without the sensors. The display retained the pressures from my street tires and did not change all day??? Some have posted that it takes up to 15 minutes of driving above 20 mph for limp mode to engage (seems inefficient tho). Others have experienced limp mode engaging at high speeds, which I would imagine is not much fun.

Jim, I'll probably end up buying a programmer. If so, and if it works for other car makes, we should be able to lower the psi range for your sensors.

[SentraWV]

Hmm, I've never heard about TPMS triggering limp modes. On both my MS3 and my WRX I routinely drove around on wheels without TPMS installed. Aside from an ever vigilant idiot light, nothing else ever happened.

NP: The Tangent, COMM

[Curmudgeon]

Our '10 Forester has no problem with it either. When I put the Winter Dunlops on I just have the red light to put up with. Last spring I put the OEM's back on and the light went off. Same with the Mazda 5, just the lite.
The Honda forums re the Civic are full of questions and opinions re defeating the VSA problem. Seems it started on the Civic with the '08 model year. Some say replace brain with an '08, others say that messes up other stuff.
...There has to be away for racers changing to rain tires, slow leaks, hot cold temp changes. The four sensors have serial numbers which the brain has to memorize and reprogramingis time consuming....The only plus to this is when autocrossing with the VSA on might make us smoother drivers.

[HiHoSilver]

I have heard of this but have never had a problem
I do not have the sensors on the autcross wheels.
when the warning comes up, i simply hit reset and turn off all the electronic controls. Car does not go into limp mode. This holds true for the 07 coupe and the 09 Z06.
I can also leave all of the electroncs on, once again, does not go into limp mode and I can drive the car at speed.
I drove the 07 with the autocross set of wheels installed a couple of times from my house to the the event, (50 min. drive) no issues, no limp mode, etc.....
Every once in a while with the 07 Vette during an autocross, I would get a message about the ABS recalibrating, I think this was more due to trying to shove the brake pedal thru the floor then not having pressure sensors.
Install the kumhos, take "Sunday Drive" see what happens.(when there is not much traffic or very cold, better hurry, you are running out of time on the last one :)