| ng a congressional mandate requiring them on all | | | | a small radio transmitter powered by a long life lithium |
| vehicles weighing less than 10,000 pounds by the | | | | ion battery, which transmits information to a micro |
| 2008 model year. Most manufacturers installed tire | | | | processor that in turn signals when a tire is under |
| pressure monitor systems well ahead of the | | | | inflated. |
| September 7, 2007 deadline. The regulation that | | | | The system is designed to warn the driver, by |
| requires a dashboard tire pressure monitor system in | | | | buzzer or flashing light, when a tire has deflated to |
| passenger cars, light trucks and vans appears to be | | | | 25% less than recommended inflation pressure. When |
| one government mandate that offers benefits to | | | | it comes to handling an assembly with a valve stem |
| drivers without significant increases to manufacturing | | | | mounted sensor, speed is the last thing on the list. |
| costs. | | | | The plastic tire pressure sensor is very easy to |
| However the same cannot be said for independent | | | | break. |
| tire dealers who will feel the pinch from cost | | | | The process of mounting any tire on a wheel with a |
| increases due to automotive technology training, | | | | valve stem mounted sensor is slow and cautious or |
| diagnostic tools and time involved in performing tire | | | | breakage of the sensor is likely. It should be the tire |
| replacement on vehicles that have the tire pressure | | | | dealers responsibility to repair any damage caused by |
| monitor systems. | | | | their technicians. The individual tire presure sensors |
| The tire pressure monitor system components are | | | | are around eighty dollars a piece. If the tire dealer |
| vulnerable to breakage if handled incorrectly or too | | | | breaks all 4 he is out $320.00. If the tire shop breaks |
| quickly. For example a particularly breakage prone | | | | your sensors you will know it because you will be |
| area is the air pressure sensor mounted on the inside | | | | blinded by the red light on the dash that say's tire |
| base of the valve stem. The sensor is connected to | | | | pressure warning! |