| Cars today are advanced, their computers can tell us | | | | (Anti Lock Brake) wheel speed sensors to calculate |
| when the tire pressure is low, some give us the | | | | the speed of each tire. The idea is that equally |
| exact tire pressure reading. But what about when | | | | inflated tires will travel at the same speed. The |
| the low tire pressure warning light stays on after a | | | | computer detects the slight difference in speed of |
| tire has been repaired or replaced? Tire and auto | | | | the under inflated tire and turns the warning on. |
| repair shops today need to have the right auto | | | | OTC is the primary OE (original equipment) tool |
| specialty tool to deal with this. Choosing a TPMS (Tire | | | | manufacturer, therefore OTC makes most of the car |
| Pressure Monitoring System) tool that can reset the | | | | dealer manufacturer specific essential (required by |
| warning light on most makes of vehicles is needed, | | | | the manufacturer) TPM diagnostic/reset tools GM's |
| since most shops work on more than one type of | | | | OTC TPM reset tool number is J-46079 (Kent |
| car. | | | | Moore), Ford's auto specialty tool number for |
| Direct or Indirect TPM systems are used on cars | | | | resetting the TPM warning light is Rotunda 204-363 ( |
| today. Direct tire pressure monitoring systems have | | | | Rotunda TKIT-20006V4-FLM). OTC owns both Kent |
| sensors that can measure the exact tire pressure in | | | | Moore and Rotunda along with other manufacturer |
| each tire (including the spare on some models). The | | | | specific auto specialty tool manufactures. The |
| tire pressure sensors are either mounted by a steel | | | | problem for the average auto repair shop is that it is |
| band or built into the valve stem. These type sensors | | | | not feasible to own each of the manufacturer |
| have a battery that can fail over time like any other | | | | specific TPMS auto specialty tool for each vehicle |
| battery. The sensors are not serviceable, so when | | | | manufacturer. And, each manufacturer specific tool is |
| the battery fails the unit is replaced. Caution must be | | | | only capable of resetting their specific brand. For |
| taken when changing tires with the direct type TPM | | | | instance if you have the Ford Rotunda TPMS tool it |
| sensors, they can be damaged inadvertently when | | | | will work only on Ford and not Chevrolet, Nissan etc. |
| breaking the bead of the tire when using the tire | | | | The OTC 3833 Tire Pressure Monitoring Reset Tool is |
| machine. Consumers should also be aware that "fix a | | | | a very popular choice when it comes to TPMS auto |
| flat" or any similar tire sealer can damage the | | | | specialty tools. The reason is that it is made by OTC |
| sensors. | | | | and has software that allows it to have a wide range |
| Indirect TPM systems do not have tire pressure | | | | of coverage, not just one manufacturer. |
| sensors on each wheel, they use the vehicle's ABS | | | | |