Suspected Bad TPMS Sensor

[elvisimprsntr]

BACKGROUND

Received a RF leak detected message when the pressure was reading 28 PSI. I checked the tires visually, by touch, and with a magnet and did not find a nail/screw.

I don't have a digital pressure gauge yet (plan to get one that attaches to my pancake comprerssor tomorrow), so I used the readout on the cluster to fill all the tires to exactly 33 PSI, which I confirmed after driving the vehicle a short distance. Now the RF is reading 37 PSI. It seems to be intermittent. When I drive the vehicle the pressure is all over the place.

QUESTIONS

Seems like a bad sensor. I am close to needing an oil change under my service agreement.

1. The question is will they replace the sensor under warranty at QuickLane?
2. Or will I have to schedule an appointment with the dealership?
3. Will they replace it based on my diagnosis if I provide proof?
4. What proof would I need to provide? Pictures, Forscan or other ODB-II scanner data?

 

[Jmuns]

Were all the tires cold when you adjusted them all to 33? I had a sensor go bad but it just died and was replaced.

 

[elvisimprsntr]

Were all the tires cold when you adjusted them all to 33? I had a sensor go bad but it just died and was replaced.

Cold as it gets in South Florida

 

[Cobrablues]

If it is defective, they will replace it under warranty. If it is damaged, they will not. They will replace it for a nominal fee of $197.00. Probably more now. However, if that is the problem, go to Discount tire and they will replace it for about $68.00. This is my experience from a couple of years ago. Prices could be higher.
When I first went to Ford, they didn't even inspect it, they just tried to extort the fee from me. I wouldn't do it and got another service writer to look at it and it was replaced. I never returned to that dealership.

 

[Dadio]

Hi the dealer can do a TPMS reset with a tool they have at Ford , if the sensor is bad they should replace it under warranty. At least they did in my case …

 

[elvisimprsntr]

Before I picked up the tire inflater, the false low reading on the cluster caused me to over inflate the tire to 38 psi.

Confirmed bad. What other evidence does the dealer need?



Left Front

Right Front

 

[elvisimprsntr]

Hi the dealer can do a TPMS reset with a tool they have at Ford , if the sensor is bad they should replace it under warranty. At least they did in my case …

Will they do it at Quicklane or do I have to take it to the strealership service center?

UPDATE: I called Quicklane. They can replace the TPMS sensor under warranty.

 

[RSH]

Like most manufacturers Ford is not in the business of giving out free parts.
For warranty work Ford has procedures they must perform to diagnose if a part is defective and warrants replacement under warranty.
Typically there is a diagnostic fee involved, if the part is found to be defective, the diagnostic fee will be refunded or waived.

Maybe you'll get lucky and just roll up and say my right front TPMS sensor is bad and needs to be replaced and Quick Lane replaces it under warranty no questions asked and without having to jump through any hoops.

 

[elvisimprsntr]

For warranty work Ford has procedures they must perform to diagnose if a part is defective and warrants replacement under warranty.

I'm guessing it will not help if I tell them I troubleshoot avionics and jet engine electronics for a living.

 

[RSH]

I'm guessing it will not help if I tell them I troubleshoot avionics and jet engine electronics for a living.

Your diagnosis is likely correct.

Unless Quick Lane and Ford feel generous there are boxes that need to be checked that show procedures were followed that prove the TPMS sensor has a defect and requires replacement on Fords dime.

As said, you could get lucky.
You won't know until you buzz on over to Quick Lane.

 

[elvisimprsntr]

UPDATE

Took my 2025 BSBB for its 10K service. I showed them the pictures of the bad TPMS sensor reading vs the tire gauge. The service rep indicated they will perform a recalibration. My response was the sensor is reading all over the place, not just a static offset and I would like the sensor replaced under warranty.

They initially said they can't replace it under warranty because there were no codes and no flashing lights on the dash. They monkeyed around with it for 30 minutes, came back saying they were going to try some sort of module factory reset. They monkeyed around with it for another 40 minutes and said their tools were giving them trouble and were going to replace the sensor no charge.

Would have saved both of us time and their labor if they had simply listened to me in the first place.

 

[RSH]

I hope they didn't charge you for their monkeying around, and as you said they could have saved time just replacing the sensor from the get go. Unfortunately they have to jump through their own hoops and check all the boxes.
Now that it's fixed, what's next.

 

[elvisimprsntr]

I hope they didn't charge you for their monkeying around, and as you said they could have saved time just replacing the sensor from the get go. Unfortunately they have to jump through their own hoops and check all the boxes.
Now that it's fixed, what's next.

They did not charge me for monkeying around.

Now I keep praying that my early ‘25 does not get included in any major drivetrain issues/recalls.

Other than the blank cluster and TPMS issue, I’ve been lucky. I turned off ASS via FORScan to save wear and tear on the battery, starter, etc.

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