Last updated on April 4th, 2024 at 11:38 pm
The tire pressure monitoring system is used for tracking the air pressure of individual tires. They are widely used with most cars driven on the road, and they provide a safety feature to the car. With TPMS, you can quickly analyze the air pressure and inflate the air if needed to be.
In this article, we will talk about how to install TPMS at home, without taking assistance from anyone. To do that you should at least have basic knowledge of tire mounting; otherwise, it will be tricky for you. So without further ado, let’s see, how you can install a tire pressure monitoring system on your own.
Table of Contents
Tools Required
There are two different types of TPMS available in the market. One that looks like a valve cap and can be installed without removing a tire. For that, you will only need a wrench for a screw that tightens the tire pressure sensor.
The other type of TPMS required removing a tire from the wheels. For that, you will require a wrench, valve remover tools, and a tire remover machine if you can’t dismount the tire by hand. The air compressor and gauge for deflating and floating the tire will also be needed to fil up the air.
External TPMS installation
The installation of external TPMS is very simple. You just have to set up the monitor system inside your car to see the air pressure. And the sensor will fit in the place of valve caps. The external sensors are quick setup however, the life of these sensors is lower than the internal sensors. The process includes:
- Remove the valve cap of your tires
- 2. Put screws and then sensors on each tire and tighten them with the wrench
- Setup the monitoring device inside your car
- Inflate the tire to reset the TPMS.
That’s all you have to do to equip the external sensor. It will take hardly five minutes to operate these sensors and saves you a lot of time and money compared to internal sensors.
Internal TPMS installation
Installing an internal sensor is relatively harder than an external sensor. The internal sensor, just like its name, is installed inside the tire. So you have to remove the tire from the rim and then put the TPMS and reinstall the tire in your car. It is recommended that if you don’t know how to mount a tire, you should take the assistance of any professional with the right information and tools to install the TPMS. the process of installing Internal TPMS includes:
- Deflate the air from tires
- Remove the valve stems from the valve remover tool
- Break the bed and separate the tire from the rims/wheels
- Remove the older TPMS if it was installed in your tires
- Put new TPMS and tighten them up
- Mount back the tire, and inflate the tire
- Check valve stems and alignment of the tire
- Setup the monitoring device in the car
- Reset the system and check the air pressure
That is it, if you have done it properly you will not have to change the sensor for many years. There are different ways to set up monitors, and different brands have different methods of doing that. So read the manual to set up your monitor, and reset sensors accordingly.
Which sensor is better
If you want a quick installation, then external sensors are great. They are less expensive and save time a lot. However the durability and chance of damage are higher with external TPMS. Another con of the external sensor is that it can get rusted and stuck with the valve, which sometimes causes the breakage of the sensor.
On the other hand, internal sensors are more durable, cost more, and also take longer to equip. The reason why most people and manufacturers use internal sensors is that they have fewer chances of damage and breakage, and also they have a stronger battery that lasts for decades.
Conclusion
Tire pressure monitoring sensors are one of the most important and safest tools that must have in your car. They look smaller in size yet do the biggest work when it comes to road safety. That is why everyone should know how to install the TPMS in their car, in case the previous one stops working.
Installing a tire pressure monitoring sensor can help you ensure that your tires are properly inflated and alert you to any potential problems with your tire pressure. The process of both internal and external sensors installation is simple. You just have to follow the steps given above and read carefully the manual that comes with the sensors. After installation, it’s recommended to test the tire pressure sensor to ensure that it’s working as intended. In this way, you will be able to install any sensor on your vehicle wheels and continue to enjoy your safe and sound ride for many coming years.
