I've purchased a spare set of wheels and tires for occasional use on the beach or mountains. These were take-offs from another new Defender, but did not include the tire pressure sensors. My local tire shop can install new sensors, but I have a question about whether the new sensors will need to be activated or registered to the car. I'd like to have the sensors installed in the wheels now, and then take the wheels elsewhere to be repainted. I prefer to not mount the wheels on the car until later when needed for off roading.

Is it possible to install the sensors now, but wait to install the wheels on the car sometime later without creating issues with the TPS system ?

 

Yes, you can do that. As long as they are compatible, new sensors will automatically register with the TPMS module after mounting them in the driving wheels and driving around for a few minutes and miles. The one exception may be the spare wheel which remains stationary, but you can use the spare as a running wheel for a few miles until that sensor registers too, then move it back to its position on the tailgate.. Alternatively, you can manually register new sensors with the approved diagnostics interface, but as far as I know only a dealer can do that, and they'll need to enter the ID of each sensor (printed on the sensor's body), which means you would have to bring your sensors to the dealer before you can mount them on the new wheels. They would also charge you labor, so option 1 is definitely more appealing.

 

Hi,

I have not had this experience. I purchased a set of OEM TPMS sensors and even with a trip to the dealer, the sensors in my aftermarket wheels will not register. I have had the truck since December 2020 and have roughly 4k on it.

Maybe there is a trick to getting them registered, but my dealer programmed the sensor addresses into the car, and they have yet to work.

Rob

 

Perhaps the OEM sensors were purchased in "Ship" mode? That's a mode that preserves the battery life in new sensors that have yet to be installed, but the mode needs to be turned off with an electronic tool (available at most tire shops) for the sensor to start transmitting data to the control module in the car. Also, are you positive the frequency of the OEM sensors you purchased matches the car's? Should be 433 Mhz here in the US.

See enclosed, from the 2020 NAS Shop Manual. ROW specifications may be different.

 

Thank you! I will take a look and see if I can go buy a tool to wake them up.

Rob