FCAR Series Product
Operation Manual Instruction
4
Chapter 1 Introduction
General Information
1.1
TPMS System Review
The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is a kind of electric systems and designed for the
use of monitoring the air pressure in the pneumatic tyres of various kinds of vehicle models.
TPMS reports the real-time tyre pressure information to the driver through the instrument,
pictogram display or simple low-pressure warning lamp. TPMS can be classified into two
different categories – direct (dTPMS) and indirect (iTPMS). TPMS is available in OEM (factory)
and aftermarket solutions
1.2
TPMS Legislation
In America, the U.S. Department of Transportation
（
NHTSA
）
released No. 138 FMVSS, which
requires to install the tire pressure monitoring system with the weight rating
（
GVWR
）
below
4,536 kg (10,000 lb) for all new cars, multipurpose passenger cars, trucks and general
vehicles except for two-wheeled vehicles until 2007. In the European Union, since November
1, 2012, all new passenger cars must be equipped with TPMS which has a more stringent
specification as defined by the UNECE Vehicle Rules (No. 64 regulations). Since November 1,
2014, all new passenger cars sold in the EU must be equipped with TPMS. On July 13, 2010,
South Korea's maritime bureau of the ministry of land and transportation announced part of
the amendment on the Korean motor vehicle safety standard (KMVSS), which stipulates that
"the TPMS should be installed in the passenger car and the vehicle GVW 3.5 tons or less, ...
[effective] cars that are produced after January 1, 2013 are considered as new models".
Japan is expected to legislate through the EU after the implementation in the EU about a
year or so. Other countries that have developed TPMS include Russia, Indonesia, the
Philippines, Israel, Malaysia and Turkey.
1.3
TPMS Indicator
You should learn the meaning of the TPMS indicator while diagnosing the TPMS system.
When the ignition switch is off, the TPMS indicator lights up and then goes off to indicate
that the system is working properly. If the indicator lights up, there will be pressure problems.
