G B L Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 Here is the procedure from the owners manual . If you have access to a TPMS tool The job is easier. Hope this helps. Carrying Out the System Reset Procedure Read the entire procedure before carrying out a system reset. 1. Drive your vehicle above 20 mph (32 km/h) for at least two minutes and then park in a safe location where you can easily get to all four tires and have access to a tire inflation pump. 2. Switch the ignition off. 3. Switch the ignition on with the engine off. 4. Turn the hazard flashers on then off three times, this must be completed within 10 seconds. If the reset mode has been entered successfully, the horn will chirp once and the system indicator will flash. If this does not occur, repeat the procedure from step 2. If after repeated attempts to enter the reset mode, the horn does not chirp and the system indicator does not flash, have your vehicle checked by an authorized dealer as soon as possible. 5. Train the system sensors in the tires using the following reset sequence starting with the left front tire and following a clockwise order: Left front, right front, right rear, left rear. 6. Remove the valve cap from the valve stem on the left front tire. Decrease the air pressure until the horn chirps. Note: The single horn chirp confirms that the sensor identification code has been learned by your vehicle for this position. If a double horn chirp is heard, the reset procedure was unsuccessful and must be repeated. 7. Remove the valve cap from the valve stem on the right front tire. Decrease the air pressure until the horn chirps. 8. Remove the valve cap from the valve stem on the right rear tire. Decrease the air pressure until the horn chirps. 9. Remove the valve cap from the valve stem on the left rear tire. Decrease the air pressure until the horn chirps. Training is complete when the horn chirps after the last system sensor (left rear) has been trained and the system indicator stops flashing. 10. Switch the ignition off. If two short horn chirps are heard, the reset procedure was unsuccessful and must be repeated. Note: If after repeating the procedure two short horn chirps are heard again, have your vehicle checked by an authorized dealer as soon as possible. 11. Set all four tires to the correct pressure See Maintenance (page 177). or the tire inflation pressure label (located on the edge of driver door or Beta Don 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boomerweps Posted April 21, 2017 Share Posted April 21, 2017 I've had several Explorers, still have a 2008. The Firestone problem was NOT a problem. It was a Ford and owner failure to emphasize the correct tire pressure. At the time, the national speed limit was 55mph. So, IMO, Ford thought they could lower the tire pressure for an easier ride. Unfortunately, even though Ford stated in the owner's manual to increase air pressure by (IIRC) 5 PSI per 5mph above the legal speed limit, no one paid attention. Especially those soccer moms that wanted the safety of an SUV, driving 70-75mph on CA freeways and elsewhere. So rather than call it's customers idiots, Ford passed the blame onto Firestone. I really liked those tires. I was on my third set when the recall was issued and I got a free set of Michelins. For heavy loads, towing, OR high speed driving, I always bump the tire pressure up to its maker's max pressure, then lower it down to the vehicle recommended pressure for normal driving. Never a problem with my tires. My 92 Explorer with those Firestone tires at 35psi all around traveled for an hour at 95mph on I-95 in 1990. No prob. The other aspect to the Explorer/Firestone problem was that most drivers are IDIOTS when it comes to a tire blowout. They either want to brake immediately or pull over immediately, or BOTH. The BOTH is a recipe for a flip over, which is what occurred for several people, prompting the huge recall. Many years ago, before the Explorer prob, Motor Trend had a blowout on a new Corvette going 140-150mph. Driver held the wheel straight and let it slow down on its own. No further problems. It's panic that causes death. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrtn Posted April 21, 2017 Share Posted April 21, 2017 The other problem was people driving an SUV with the stability of a phone booth and 70-profile tires past 70 mph. I leased the Explorer briefly in the 90's, it was nothing to write home about. My full size '93 transit was better on the highway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beta Don Posted April 21, 2017 Share Posted April 21, 2017 Ford ordered a lowering of the tire pressure to 26 psi before the Explorer was even introduced . . . . after they had already determined they had a rollover problem! "Emerging Information shows that both Ford and Firestone had early knowledge of tread separation in Firestone Tires fitted to Ford Explorer vehicles but at no point informed the NHTSA of their findings" The Ford Explorer was first offered for sale in March 1990. Ford internal documents show the company engineers recommended changes to the vehicle design after it rolled over in company tests prior to introduction, but other than a few minor changes, the suspension and track width were not changed. Instead, Ford, which sets the specifications for the manufacture of its tires, decided to remove air from the tires, lowering the recommended pressure to 26 psi. Low air pressure leads to increased heat; heat can damage the tire. Sure sounds like a 'problem' to me! Some outside observers have speculated about the blame worthiness of both parties; Firestone's tires being prone to tread separation and failure, and the SUVs being especially prone to rolling over if a tire fails at speed compared to other vehicles. Ford directed Firestone to build a tire for a top heavy, overweight vehicle which they could use with only 26 psi of air pressure . . . . and for some reason, Firestone complied. This debacle ended a partnership between Ford and Firestone which had existed for almost 100 years. Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone were personal friends and Ford had used Firestone tires almost exclusively up until then Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G B L Posted April 23, 2017 Share Posted April 23, 2017 Good info Don. I think that if the tire had been designed to Run at 26PSi it would have been ok, but the tire was not a full redesign but a relabeled 35PSi tire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loafer Posted May 27, 2017 Share Posted May 27, 2017 On 4/19/2017 at 4:41 PM, G B L said: GBL, thanks for the info but WTF ! LOL Here is the procedure from the owners manual . If you have access to a TPMS tool The job is easier. Hope this helps. Carrying Out the System Reset Procedure Read the entire procedure before carrying out a system reset. 1. Drive your vehicle above 20 mph (32 km/h) for at least two minutes and then park in a safe location where you can easily get to all four tires and have access to a tire inflation pump. 2. Switch the ignition off. 3. Switch the ignition on with the engine off. 4. Turn the hazard flashers on then off three times, this must be completed within 10 seconds. If the reset mode has been entered successfully, the horn will chirp once and the system indicator will flash. If this does not occur, repeat the procedure from step 2. If after repeated attempts to enter the reset mode, the horn does not chirp and the system indicator does not flash, have your vehicle checked by an authorized dealer as soon as possible. 5. Train the system sensors in the tires using the following reset sequence starting with the left front tire and following a clockwise order: Left front, right front, right rear, left rear. 6. Remove the valve cap from the valve stem on the left front tire. Decrease the air pressure until the horn chirps. Note: The single horn chirp confirms that the sensor identification code has been learned by your vehicle for this position. If a double horn chirp is heard, the reset procedure was unsuccessful and must be repeated. 7. Remove the valve cap from the valve stem on the right front tire. Decrease the air pressure until the horn chirps. 8. Remove the valve cap from the valve stem on the right rear tire. Decrease the air pressure until the horn chirps. 9. Remove the valve cap from the valve stem on the left rear tire. Decrease the air pressure until the horn chirps. Training is complete when the horn chirps after the last system sensor (left rear) has been trained and the system indicator stops flashing. 10. Switch the ignition off. If two short horn chirps are heard, the reset procedure was unsuccessful and must be repeated. Note: If after repeating the procedure two short horn chirps are heard again, have your vehicle checked by an authorized dealer as soon as possible. 11. Set all four tires to the correct pressure See Maintenance (page 177). or the tire inflation pressure label (located on the edge of driver door or Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G B L Posted May 27, 2017 Share Posted May 27, 2017 I have a TPMS tool and it makes the Job a snap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loafer Posted May 28, 2017 Share Posted May 28, 2017 On 5/27/2017 at 4:31 PM, G B L said: I have a TPMS tool and it makes the Job a snap. I don't have a PMS tool, can you advise? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G B L Posted May 29, 2017 Share Posted May 29, 2017 It will pass give it time!! Loafer 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifty150 Posted August 4, 2018 Share Posted August 4, 2018 I'll drag this thread out of the grave. Does the spare tire have a TPMS unit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Chell Posted August 4, 2018 Share Posted August 4, 2018 My Freestar did ... actually gave me the low pressure alarm, too. I don't know if my Transit does ... but the Spare IS a full size tire, so I am assuming it does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G B L Posted August 4, 2018 Share Posted August 4, 2018 The full size spare tire on mine does not have a Tpms unit . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifty150 Posted August 4, 2018 Share Posted August 4, 2018 11 hours ago, G B L said: The full size spare tire on mine does not have a Tpms unit . That is good to know. I recently rotated the spare to the passenger side front. Now I won't bother with trying to set the vehicle's system to read the TPMS in the spare.....since there isn't one. I'll just drive around with the low tire pressure warning on. Maybe a little tape over the light, if it becomes too annoying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OLDSCHOOLFOOL Posted August 5, 2018 Share Posted August 5, 2018 10 minutes ago, Fifty150 said: Now I won't bother with trying to set the vehicle's system to read the TPMS in the spare.....since there isn't one. I'll just drive around with the low tire pressure warning on. Maybe a little tape over the light, if it becomes too annoying. My light has been on for the last eight months or so ever since I took the factory tires off. It flashes for a bit, turns steady on. Couple of times it dinged at me. I refuse to pay any attention to it. Its just a nuisance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifty150 Posted August 5, 2018 Share Posted August 5, 2018 Spray paint over it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifty150 Posted August 10, 2018 Share Posted August 10, 2018 I have been driving with the spare tire on the passenger side front tire. The original tire and wheel are now tucked in the spare tire carrier. In the course of 2 weeks, the TPMS low tire indicator light came on twice. Last week, after the spare was on for 3 days, the light flashed for a while, then became solid. I thought that I actually had a flat or puncture. I pulled over, checked every tire's air pressure, and proceeded to remove and inspect each tire. All tires had a reasonable PSI, and I could not find a nail or screw. That was a lot of wasted time and effort. Boy, did I feel like a moron, on the side of the road, jacking up and removing all the tires, looking for a nonexistent road hazard. After a few hours, the light turned off. Today, the light flashed, then became solid, and stayed lit for about 10 minutes. This time, I did not take all the tires off on the side of the road. In theory, TPMS should have detected no air pressure the last 2 weeks, since the wheel, tire, & sensor have been in the spare tire carrier. I want to trust in the technology. But it is difficult at best, since I do not understand it. On my F-150, the dash light has only activated when I really did have low tire pressure. Which works great, because that alerted me to check the tires, add air, and then look for a puncture. All things that I should have been doing anyway, but was too lazy, until the dummy light came on. Right now, I have a slow leak on one of the tires, and I cannot find a hole to plug. But with 10 year old tires, it could be leaking from just the tires being old....bead seal, valve stem, et cetera. The F-150 sensors are mounted on the wheel. The Transit Connect is a part of the valve stem. I wonder if there is different technology, and if they work in a different way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Chell Posted August 10, 2018 Share Posted August 10, 2018 I am just mentioning this because I don't know what you actually have. Wife's car has pressure sensors, as my Freestar did. I could page through my menu and get a page with pressures on the tires. My vehicle before that one used wheel speed comparison to tell me a had a low pressure problem. I'd get low pressure warnings when the wheels were cold, and they'd go away after the tires warmed up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifty150 Posted August 10, 2018 Share Posted August 10, 2018 The obvious solution is to repair the damage and reinstall the tire into it's original position. Which I intend to do. I am just confused by how the system works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Ridley Posted August 10, 2018 Share Posted August 10, 2018 The TPMS sensors go into sleep mode when they tire does not rotate for 30 min. You need to put the normal tire back on the vehicle and perform a sensor calibration procedure. The sensors will wake up when you drive and transmit data to the BCM. You can read the tire pressure with most OBDII reader apps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifty150 Posted August 10, 2018 Share Posted August 10, 2018 Thanks Don Ridley! That is more information. Of course, the real problem is me. I need to repair my wheel and reinstall the tire back into position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G B L Posted August 15, 2018 Share Posted August 15, 2018 It is only cheapness that keeps the Tc from telling the driver the tire pressure. If the Bcm has the info then it could be displayed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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