RIP LTPWS sensor; all removed - no error light

[ram_g]

Some days ago my Service LTPWS error light came on with the error code for the right rear tire; at about the same time I began to feel a strong vibration at any speed above 60 mph. There was no unusual noise.

I took it in to the local Discount Tire and had them unmount the right rear tire. The ziploc bag in the picture contains the remnants of the sensor as found. I had them dismount all the other tires and remove the other three sensors as well. All of those look to be in good shape.



When the LTPWS light came on and the vibration started, it had been about a week since I had had new Nittos installed at the same tire store. Given the proximity of events my guess is that they damaged the sensor when replacing the tire. But it didn't show up for a week, during which time I had made several highway-speed runs. I'm just happy that I caught it before it did any worse damage.

With all sensors removed, there is no LTPWS warning light any more (my car is a 1991). I'm happy about that too.

[Ccmano]

Good call. As far as I'm concerned those things are useless ancient technology that becomes dangerous when they eventually come apart. Anytime you change tires you have to coach the installers any pray they don't damage the sensors. Unless your into NCRS they have little value. I've taken them out both of the cars I've owned.
H

[G8nightman]

Yea on the earlier car once sensors are removed the light stays off


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[GOLDCYLON]

Originally Posted by G8nightman

Yea on the earlier car once sensors are removed the light stays off


Sent from my iPhone using ZR-1 Net Registry

ONLY the MY 90 and 91s

[Prez1967]

What happens to later cars? I have a '94. No light on dash but dont "need" them as I check tire pressures pretty regularly.

[Subfixer]

I had to remove the bulb on my 92 without TPWS sensors.

[BigJohn]

I have removed the light bulbs in my 95 and 96 after removal of tire pressure sensors

[GOLDCYLON]

Originally Posted by ram_g

Some days ago my Service LTPWS error light came on with the error code for the right rear tire; at about the same time I began to feel a strong vibration at any speed above 60 mph. There was no unusual noise.

I took it in to the local Discount Tire and had them unmount the right rear tire. The ziploc bag in the picture contains the remnants of the sensor as found. I had them dismount all the other tires and remove the other three sensors as well. All of those look to be in good shape.



When the LTPWS light came on and the vibration started, it had been about a week since I had had new Nittos installed at the same tire store. Given the proximity of events my guess is that they damaged the sensor when replacing the tire. But it didn't show up for a week, during which time I had made several highway-speed runs. I'm just happy that I caught it before it did any worse damage.

With all sensors removed, there is no LTPWS warning light any more (my car is a 1991). I'm happy about that too.

That looks too clean for a sensor that broke away. Its more likely Discount Tire broke it when they broke the bead on the tire and rim with the breakdown machine. If it had separated and broke away with would have been destroyed with the rotation. There is NONE of that damage pictured.

[ram_g]

Originally Posted by GOLDCYLON

That looks too clean for a sensor that broke away. Its more likely Discount Tire broke it when they broke the bead on the tire and rim with the breakdown machine. If it had separated and broke away with would have been destroyed with the rotation. There is NON of that damage pictured.

Who knows.

Facts/sequence:
- Discount Tire broke the bead on the original (29 year old) tires and mounted new Nittos in their place. I had instructed them to be careful with where they broke the bead and AFAIK they did take care.
- For several days afterwards there was no problem and no LTPWS light.
- Then the Service LTPWS light came on and vibrations started. The code indicated the right rear.
- Discount Tire broke all the beads again to remove the sensors.
- 3 of the 4 sensors were fine, the right rear looked like this.

So could they have damaged the right rear sensor in such a way that there was a delayed action problem? Sure, I guess. But being p.o.'d with them is hardly any point because there's nothing they can do about it and I feel like I'm better off without the sensors anyway.

[GOLDCYLON]

Originally Posted by ram_g

Who knows.

Facts/sequence:
- Discount Tire broke the bead on the original (29 year old) tires and mounted new Nittos in their place. I had instructed them to be careful with where they broke the bead and AFAIK they did take care.
- For several days afterwards there was no problem and no LTPWS light.
- Then the Service LTPWS light came on and vibrations started. The code indicated the right rear.
- Discount Tire broke all the beads again to remove the sensors.
- 3 of the 4 sensors were fine, the right rear looked like this.

So could they have damaged the right rear sensor in such a way that there was a delayed action problem? Sure, I guess. But being p.o.'d with them is hardly any point because there's nothing they can do about it and I feel like I'm better off without the sensors anyway.

Welcome to the FORUM. I'm just telling you what happened. These are charged by a Piezo battery its possible one simply died. Usually when these go out its a violent affair and you will notice the carnage inside the tire. I go to Discount all the time but I bring in a demonstration sensor with the band when its time to change the tires. Normally the head is mounted in the center 180 degrees from the valve stem. I dont tell you this to piss you off but to simply tell the story is not at all accurate. Its entirely possible the sensor was partially coming off as the plastic can break but I doubt it looking at this picture. As to not having bands I disagree with your statement but it is hard finding replacement bands... So some folks pull em. GC