tyre pressure sensors on a vauxhall

[clueless77]

Hello knowledgeable ones, the wife has a 2014 Vauxhall corsa with these tyre pressure sensors on, the car didn't come with a spare wheel so she has been mythering me to get one from the scrappies. What I need to know is if I buy a second hand wheel and tyre, does the car need programming to recognise the spare? and if so is it a dealer only thing? Trading it in for a proper car is not an option.

 

[AndyStobbs]

Does it really matter. If you have had to fit the spare you already have a warning light for a flat tyre.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

FWIW if you didn't already know tyre pressure monitoring systems fitted to vehicles first registered after 1 January 2012 must be working correctly and not indicating a malfunction otherwise it's an MOT fail !

 

[pondy]

Not sure about other manufacturers but Ford system only work on 4 sensors, the spare is not fitted with one (if you opted for a spare or its a transit connect). As it's a spare it should be fitted temporary so the light wouldnt really matter? System would be reset when puncture etc fixed?

 

[AndyStobbs]

The usual plan is to de activate the TPMS system if it becomes an issue.

 

[AndyStobbs]

2014 car isn't going to be a corsa C. Think they are already on a face-lift D now.

 

[RonA]

Hello knowledgeable ones, the wife has a 2014 Vauxhall corsa with these tyre pressure sensors on, the car didn't come with a spare wheel so she has been mythering me to get one from the scrappies. What I need to know is if I buy a second hand wheel and tyre, does the car need programming to recognise the spare? and if so is it a dealer only thing? Trading it in for a proper car is not an option.

I've just been through this scenario with the son in laws insignia (thread on here some where about it). I'd avoid fitting a sensor to your spare, you'll have enough trouble with the ones fitted from new. With the son in laws car the problem arose when he had to replace the front tyres. The tyre fitter was unable to get the tyre inflated because the valve cartridge in the sensor wouldn't reseal. Simple problem you might think, just replace the tyre valve. That's when you find you can't get the valve out. In their wisdom Vauxhall (or more correctly schrader) have had the sensor body made from aluminium alloy which when mixed with a few years road salt make it impossible to remove the valve. Good move for the manufacturer, replacement sensor approx £70 a corner, as opposed to valve replacement cost of probably less than a pound. Take my advise leave the spare as it is, if your car is new you may save yourself a fortune by occasionally removing the valves in the existing sensors, cleaning & lubricating them whilst doing so.
RonA

 

[colnerov]

And I have friends and relations who wonder why I don't want a Proper (modern) car.

 

[dunk]

i`ve got my own tpms, its called a tyre pressure gauge, i keep it in the car and takes as much space as a pencil, cost me £3

 

[colnerov]

Dont miss old cars - rot off the forecourt, often praying to whatever gods that it will start in the morning, oil leaks as a matter of course, crash safety ratings worse than a nail filled coffin....

personally quite like getting in, turn key, go -no rot even at 11 years old, 5 star crash safety rating - walk away with minor bruising from even a serious smash, no oil leaks...however I do the maintenance to keep everything working, sensors get cleaned periodically, threads get greased, stuff gets torqued not just nipped up FT....

horses for courses..

Hi, I take your points, But there is no reason why older cars can't be reliable starters with proper maintenance similar to your sensor checks. Cars used to get scrapped because of rust which can be slowed down with care, now they get scrapped because of failed electronics which cost an arm and a leg to replace. Taking the tpms as an example it doesn't stop the car working but can't get through an MOT. Cars with ABS and 5 star crash rating I think is partly down to why there is a deterioration in driving standards nowadays because drivers rely on the ABS to stop them skidding instead of leaving room to brake in an emergency and knowing they won't come to any harm if it all goes wrong.

Colin

 

[Bill Edwards]

Perhaps it has something to do with what you call old - is 15/16 years 'old'?

'Cause mine isn't rusty, always starts, doesn't drop and fluids and gives good crash protection.
Though it still has enough electronics to be capable of irritation should things go wrong, but it'll probably still be going in a few years time.

 

[clueless77]

Thank you for all the replies, never occurred to me the warning light would be on any way if she got a puncture. I'll get her a spare from the bay or the scrappers to shut her up.
FWIW I like the convenience of modern cars but not the silly stuff that comes with them. I have an old t4 which is reliable and a grotty old series 3 109 that rusts faster than I can weld.

 

[colnerov]

Hi, the definition of a vintage car is one built between 1919 and 1930.

Colin

 

[owas]

Perhaps it has something to do with what you call old - is 15/16 years 'old'?

'Cause mine isn't rusty, always starts, doesn't drop and fluids and gives good crash protection.
Though it still has enough electronics to be capable of irritation should things go wrong, but it'll probably still be going in a few years time.

Complete opposite of mine then

 

[Bill Edwards]

Complete opposite of mine then

Yep, it's German, not a few bits of box section welded together, a bit of tin and glass to keep 30% of the elements out and loosely based on an unchanged design from 60+ years ago.