While at the dealer picking up my Patriot for the system lockout issue, I overheard one of the mechanics attempting to get a replacement tire pressure sensor. I looked at it and it looked corroded. I ask what had happened and he told me some lady got a flat and used Fix-A-Flat on it. That crap basicly demolished the sensor. I think it was going to cost something like $60 to replace the thing. BTW - It works wirelessly just like your keyless-entry.

How is it powered? Not another damn battery.

LOL!

It's a lithiom-Ion battery with an expected service life of 5 years. If the sensor dies, your interior warning chime will surely let you know. :)

Hey I wonder if I can get the tire pressure on my phone perhaps as a text message:D :D :D

I see another note in the owners manual -- do not stick your cell phones on the tires.

why would you put your cell phone on the tires???

There was an email that everyone seems to have gotten that instructs people if they forgot their door remote , lost the keys plus they know someone that has another remote coded for the car; To place the cellphone next to the door and have the person on the other end of the phone punch the remote. Never heard of anyone who got it to work.

Well the tire pressure gauges are on the same frequency as the door remote. It seems reasonable that they could broadcast to your cell :icon_rolleyes:

While this is not the case we are looking at a small leap of technology. I look forward to that day when my car calls me to let me know it is losing air.

I thought the remote which operates the door locks was infrared. It's radio frequency? Wow, that's old school!

If the phone idea doesn't work, try grabbing the nearest dog and giving it a brisk shake near your Patriot's driver's door. Hey, the jingling tags used to change the channels on our Zenith Space Command TV in 1967....

It's better than General Motor's remote unlocking system.... Only in a Patriot will you hear "Your door is now unlocked, Mr. Barker. Thank you for using PoochStar."

I thought the remote which operates the door locks was infrared. It's radio frequency? Wow, that's old school!

If the phone idea doesn't work, try grabbing the nearest dog and giving it a brisk shake near your Patriot's driver's door. Hey, the jingling tags used to change the channels on our Zenith Space Command TV in 1967....

It's better than General Motor's remote unlocking system.... Only in a Patriot will you hear "Your door is now unlocked, Mr. Barker. Thank you for using PoochStar."

It is my understanding the remotes are infrared. That was why the email was so funny to me. For the next few weeks you could see people holding their cell phones next to their car doors.

Another reason not to use Fix-A-Flat on your tires is that you won't be able to get it repaired afterwards. It may help you to get home, but that's what a spare is for!

I added the tire sensors to my Liberty. They replace the valve stems and mechanics with heavy hands break them quite often.

Have two cans of that in my garage. Thanks for the heads up.Be sure not to use them on my Patriot.

Another reason not to use Fix-A-Flat on your tires is that you won't be able to get it repaired afterwards.

Why not? I've repaired tires w/ fix-a-flat in them. It isn't pretty, nor does it smell nice, but it works.

It is very difficult to patch the tire after using fix-a-flat.

I always thought that a 'fix a flat' filled tire would be impossible to balance once repaired.

Fix-A-Flat is just liquid inside the tire. Pop tire off rim, get covered in nasty goop, cover nose in disgust, soak up liquid, continue to repair tire as normal. Unless theres a fix-a-flat-like substance out there that isn't liquid, that I'm not familiar with, thats pretty much how it goes.

Unless your leaving the liquid/fix a flat in the tire, there should be no problem balancing it.

That being said, fix-a-flat is a PITA to deal with, so after having to repair tires myself with it, I'd never do that to some poor tire jockey. That's what spare tires are for arent they?

Fix-A-Flat is just liquid inside the tire. Pop tire off rim, get covered in nasty goop, cover nose in disgust, soak up liquid, continue to repair tire as normal. Unless theres a fix-a-flat-like substance out there that isn't liquid, that I'm not familiar with, thats pretty much how it goes.

Unless your leaving the liquid/fix a flat in the tire, there should be no problem balancing it.

That being said, fix-a-flat is a PITA to deal with, so after having to repair tires myself with it, I'd never do that to some poor tire jockey. That's what spare tires are for arent they?

Ain't that the truth. When someone comes into our shop asking about flat repairs I always make sure to ask about that stuff. I've always loved it when it spills out all over my boot :doh:

Jimmy TJ, Does it make the patch have trouble adhering to the tire? I was told that by the shop. Was that them just trying to prevent dealing with the goop? Now there is no question, however, that it will ruin the tire pressure sensors. All new cars beginning in Sept. need to be equipped with these.

Unless they don't bother cleaning out the tire, which is part of the plug/patching process, it shouldn't effect it.

In fact the liquid used to soften the rubber when you scrape the inside surface smooth should remove any residue left from fix a flat.

Yup, as long as its cleaned out and buffed alittle, there shouldn't be any problems. I've done a bunch of repairs with tire-goo in there and never had one come back with any issues.

And yes, it very well could have been that shop trying to avoid dealing with the fix-o-flat.

It is my understanding the remotes are infrared. That was why the email was so funny to me. For the next few weeks you could see people holding their cell phones next to their car doors.

Hmm..I'm sure that my keys are definitely an RF and not IR. IR, like on most TV remotes has a little infra-red LED that has to be pointed at a sensor on the car. I rented a Mercedes once that had this - in fact there was no metallic key. There was a little window on the end of the key. When the key was inserted into a slot on the steering column the IR key gave an "enable" signal to the car that allowed you to start it. You could also see the little "windows" for the IR sensor on the door locks and above the trunk.

I'm opening my door from my backyard on the way to the car with my key in my pocket. It's RF for sure.

On the other hand I definitely don't think that many people buy the idea that a cell phone microphone or speaker for that matter could pick up the RF signal from a key and send it over the cell phone. Gee - and maybe two tin cans and a string will work too! :D

I always keep my cell phone on my tires. Even when I'm driving..LOL But for real can you put aftermarket rims on the Pat and still use the factory sensors?

I have heard similar complaints from tire technicians about Fix a Flat. I DO have a can in my trunk. Would use it only in an emergency. But If I get a flat somewhere at night and I am by myself, I am NOT going to try and change it myself (and risk getting attacked or worse) or wait an hour for AAA. I have heard stories of women getting attacked while sitting in a car waiting for the tow truck to arrive.

From the Service Manual, for your reading enjoyment:

"The Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPM) system monitors air pressure in the four road tires (excludes spare). Pressure in the spare tire is not monitored.

There are two tire pressure monitoring systems available, a base system and a premium system. The base system does not specify how many tires are low or where they are located. The premium system does so.

The Base TPM system consists of tire pressure monitoring sensors attached to each road wheel through the valve stem mounting hole, a central receiver module (WCM) and an indicator lamp.

The Premium TPM system consists of tire pressure monitoring sensors attached to each road wheel through the valve stem mounting hole, a wireless control module (WCM) three wheel sensor transponders located in three of the four wheel wells, an electronic display, and an indicator lamp.

On a Domestic vehicle, the TPM sensor operates on a 315 MHz radio frequency. Export vehicle sensors operate on a 433 MHz radio frequency.

Sensors may be identified by valve stem cap color. From the factory, 315 MHz sensors have a gray valve stem cap while 433 MHz sensors have a black valve stem cap. Otherwise, once mounted inside a tire and wheel assembly you are not able to visually tell the difference between a 315 MHz and 433 MHz sensor.

Each sensor has an internal battery that lasts up to 10 years."

I always keep my cell phone on my tires. Even when I'm driving..LOL But for real can you put aftermarket rims on the Pat and still use the factory sensors?

CAUTION: Do not attempt to install a tire pressure sensor in an aftermarket wheel. Use tire pressure sensors in original style factory wheels only. If aftermarket wheels are installed, and therefore do not contain tire pressure sensors, the system will not function properly and the driver will be continuously notified of a system malfunction.

CAUTION: Tire pressure sensor valve stem caps and cores are specially designed for the sensors. Due to risk of corrosion, do not use a standard valve stem cap or core in a tire pressure sensor in place of the original equipment style sensor cap and core.

CAUTION: The Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPM) system has been optimized for the original equipment tires and wheels. TPM system pressures have been established for the tire size equipped on the vehicle. Undesirable system operation or sensor damage may result when using replacement equipment that is not of the same size, type, or style. Aftermarket wheels can cause sensor damage. Do not use aftermarket tire sealants or balance beads if your vehicle is equipped with TPM, as damage to the sensors may result.

UPDATE:
Spoke to my local tire jockey today about the stock sensors in an aftermarket wheel. He says he does it all the time, moving the original sensors to the aftermarket wheels, but it does require a new valve-stem-to-wheel seal, new 1-use jamb nut, and a new valve stem cap. Sounds reasonable.