I have a 2009 Honda Fit (base) that was purchased about a week ago. The TPMS light is on, previous owner said one tire had slow leak, which it did. However, on setting all tires to 32psi, the light remained on. A few days later I replaced the wheels and tires with a set from an '07 Fit Sport. I didn't expect the TPMS light to go out after swapping the wheels, but now I can't find a way to turn the light off. Manual is zero help. Any thoughts other than disconnecting the dashboard light? Thanks.

 

You need to have the new sensors programed to the car. Any chain tire place should be able to do that for you. Sometimes, they'll even do it for free.

 

The batteries are likely dead in the '07 and maybe the '09 sensors. Batteries are integral and not replaceable.

I purchased 4 new Denso sensors from RockAuto, had a tire shop install, and then had the dealership program. Our tire place can't do Honda's, but some can.

There is not a way to turn off the light without "repair" as it's a government mandated safety feature.

 

Not sure what year, exactly, the Sport wheels were made. Got them from a salvage yard in Kansas! But I didn't figure them to have any kind of a sensor since they arrived pretty bare, no valve stems, no lug nuts, ,etc. So it seems to me that the system is looking for a signal and it surely won't find one. The default then is that the light stays on. Then again, I just don't know enough about these cars or TPM systems to diagnose the problem.

 

Yes, the TPMS light tells you that the there is a TPMS fault. Any one sensor not communicating (or missing in this case) will trigger the TPMS light. There is a different light for low tire pressure warning.

The TPMS sensor is part of the valve stem. If you have the sensors in place, you will see a large diameter metal cover over the valve stem. Since you bought the wheels bare, they are missing. Only buying, installing, and programming sensors will get rid of the light (if you care).

 

A piece of black electrical tape over the light makes it go away, although you might not pass a state inspection if your mechanic is a stickler for detail.

 

You used to be an extreme stickler for safety saying that aftermarket performance parts aren't safe. Now you recommend ignoring federally mandated safety items?

 

I didn't make any generalization that aftermarket parts aren't safe. Perhaps you have me confused with someone else. But in general I think it's a bad idea to bypass safety items.

Re the electrical tape- if someone's going to drive without TPMS they're better off not being distracted by the warning light. That said, obviously it's better to have TPMS installed (and also to manually check tire pressure frequently).

 

Perhaps I do! Apologies that I appear to have been mistaken.

There were certainly billions of miles driven long before TPMS existed. I see it as one of the better safety inventions, but I can't say that I've added it to any vehicle that didn't have it originally.

 

Just glad I don't have this on my 14 canadian Fit!

 

I have a 2012 Honda Fit, and the TPMS malfunction light has turned on. I have read probably too much about TPMS sensors and systems already. Anyway, I suspect the problem is a dead battery in at least one of the sensors. I asked the dealer what it would cost to replace the sensors, and they told me 150 dollars plus parts to replace 1 or all 4 (no difference in labor price for 1 or 4). That is a lot, but I thought, why not do all 4, and $150 dollars in labor is not terrible price I think for all 4? When I got there, I learned there was an additional 150 dollar charge to 'diagnose', before replacement. So that makes the cost at 300 dollars plus parts. I am a little confused by this. While the problem could be with the receiver, it is very likely just a dead battery. Scanning the TPMS sensors would probably take less than 10 minutes, maybe even 5 minutes. I almost purchased my own scanner, but they are kind of pricey for what is likely only a one time thing for several years. This has been a bit frustrating to me.

 

been to dealers before that stated inspection (and associated fee) is mandatory for even the most trivial stuff. Makes sense that they'd want to verify being that dealers are supposed to be the last stop for OE problems, but still not cool.
I'm pretty sure another tire shop will price that service better, and you should totally find one that allows you to provide sensors. It's a little annoying. easier when changing tires/wheels. For a shop it works like this: remove valve cores to deflate tires, remove wheel assy., take to tire changer machine and break bead, mount on machine, spin, then pry the tire into the drop center of the wheel using spoons. remove old sensor and install new one (super annoying on low-profile tires 45 sidewall or smaller cuz you have to pry to keep the tire in the drop-center while changing).
It takes about.... uhh.. I want to say 10-15 minutes for all 4. reinflate, balance, mount and torque. The balancing is free at some shops if you bought your tires there.

Possession of equipment is what make it so fast. Tire shops are gonna have the most duplicates of said equipment, so it'd make sense for them to be the fastest and thusly cheapest for this kinda job.. still, always nervous about going to one and getting a wheel stud cross-threaded, bad balance, broken tpms sensor (replaced with non-matching generic). if you go that route, bring an extra $10 cash to give to the tech. It's good insurance.

 

It I stick with a sensor valve stem TPMS, I may order a set of cloneable sensors. And program them to match the IDs in the car already. That way when I swap back, the car won't know or care, as long as the sensors still function. Maybe order a couple spare sensors? Gotta be programmable sensors for me next time for the 2012 Fit.

These:

Autel MX-Sensor 2 in 1 (315MHz + 433MHz): Same as OE Sensors for All Cars, 100% Cloneable TPMS Programmable Sensors for Tire Pressure Monitoring System (Rubber Valves, Screw-in, Set of 4 Pieces)

require use of a $150 read and program tool ( TS408 https://autel.com/us/product/maxitpms-ts408/ )

That said I wonder about replacing my Fit with a newer one (third gen) with the indirect (no sensors in the wheel) TPMS that just counts tire rotations and lets you know when a tire seems to be rotating a bit faster than normal and no pressure sensors in the wheels.

Erbid

 

Isn't that how the third gen Fit does TPMS? I don't actually know for a fact, never worked with one.

 

I had TPMS sensor(s) go bad on my 2010 base. I bought new OEM sensors (4) and had the local tire shop install them for me. The programmed then too. Been fine ever since. They take a good beating what with the spinning and bumps and weather and all but they last a good long time so kudos to the engineers who designed them.

FYI: My local "Discount Tire" store did the installation and programming.

 

Yep. 3rd gen measures wheel rotations, likely using the anti-lock brake sensors. I wonder if they switched back to in-the-tire sensors later.