TPMS System Failure?
 

I have had my 2012 370Z Roadster for just over 2 years. Unbelievably, it still has the factory warranty until April 2017 - The original owner bought it in April 2014, and I purchased it 6 months later.

Living in Michigan, the past two winters I put on a set of all season tires/wheels without TMPS sensors and the warning light would annoyingly flash. I just ignored it. This year, after doing that, the light isn't flashing, so I feared the system itself isn't working. At the same time, I decided to buy a new set (staggered 19") with TMPS, so I really would like to have the whole system working considering I paid for the TPMS sensors when I bought the wheels/tire online.

I went to the dealer, (while it is still under warranty) and they wanted to charge me just to look at the system because I didn't have the original wheels on. I said shouldn't the warning light be flashing that the TPMS sensors are not functioning? I gave up that line of argument and asked how much to program the new sensors to the car, figuring out that they would find the problem when they went to program it, but when they wanted $125 to program the TPMS, I drove away. Really? That seems outrageous!

I contacted Nissan Consumer Affairs (NCA) and was told that the dealership could charge me to look at it because I modified my vehicle. Again, even after explaining that the service guy originally told me that I didn't need to worry about TPMS, because the green caps on my new tires meant they were filled with nitrogen and everything will be OK. Seriously? That comment alone made me decide to find a new dealership. The fact that NCA wasn't surprised by that comment made it clear they really didn't understand my issue and they weren't willing to listen anymore.

Part of me wants it fixed (assuming I am right and it is broken) and the other part doesn't care. What you think? Any one else have a similar issue? Any suggestions?

Just pour a quart of this in it & it'll be fine.http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...96d70257d5.jpg


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What about putting on your stock wheels and going to another dealer? And having them check the system with stock wheels.

BTW mine charged me $50 to reprogram aftermarket wheels.

Could it be that the TPMS warning light is burnt out since it was illuminated for so long? Run a quick check. Turn on your ignition but don't start the car. When you first turn on the ignition all warning lights in the cluster should illuminate as a self check. Look for the TPMS light to illuminate. If it does then it must be something wrong with the system like you suggested. If it does not illuminate then the bulb or L.E.D. could be burnt out.

Good idea. I doubt if the LED is burnt out but it's possible. Cheap and easy to check, so why not?

this is a good suggestion since the car is still under warranty.

you can test the system by dropping one of the tires pressure to like 20 psi and if the light still doesn't come on then you can claim warranty for defect.

The original tires are summer tires and it is below freezing with snow and salt on the ground. I thought $125 seemed excessive (not that $50 is cheap for a few minutes work), so I will call another dealer and see what they charge.

Thanks.

I did check that - I should have mentioned. The warning light (wheel with the "!") comes on momentarily when I start the car. I was hoping it was that too, because I thought there was another waning light for the system, but after reviewing the manual, that light goes on if the sensors can't be found or the pressure is low.

A large tire shop like Discount Tires usually does not charge anything to reset/reprogram a TPMS. I'd give the technician a $5-10 tip for the trouble especially when the shop was very busy.

You could try and reset it yourself.

DIY Reset TPMS Warning By Yourself For FREE!!! - Page 13 - MyG37

:iagree: with the two posts above.

I've done the TPMS reset myself before. It's kind of a pain, but it's not difficult. Or even easier, Discount Tires will do it for free. I've had a Nissan dealer try to reprogram them for me also (unsuccessfully because wrong year TPMS modules); they didn't charge me because I was having other work done.

Thanks for the feedback!
 

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I did fail to mention that I won't be taking the Z to that dealer anymore - because the first response I got from the guy was that I didn't need to worry about the TPMS because the little green caps I had on my wheels meant I had nitrogen in my tires. - Really? So I don't need TPMS because of that? That makes them impenetrable? I did find another dealer that is about 15 - 20 miles further away. I will definitely make the trip there for regular service now.

So first I am going to try to reset it myself. Then, I may try to go to Discount tire (although they always seem to busy around my house). And lastly I will resort to the other dealer.

I probably appreciated the Blinker Fluid Comment the most! As it made me laugh and certainly helped to lower my blood pressure after dealing with the Nissan dealer and their consumer affairs department.

I just have to find some of that Blinker Fluid now!

Matt

i would never drive with a tpms light on

mine is always on but it's visibly off.

search how I did it.

the tpms light can be on for various reasons.

it is fine as long as you have proper air pressure for all the tires.