TS-58R TPMS Diagnostic Tool
5900313 - Rev. A - March 2023
6
Frequently Asked Questions
Question
: How does the TPMS work?
Answer
: Each tire in a TPMS contains a pressure/temperature sensor and transceiver.
These sensors monitor the tire air pressure and temperature then sends this data to the
vehicle’s Electronic Control Unit (ECU) along with the sensor ID number. When the tire
pressure falls below factory specifications, the ECU triggers an alert to notify the vehicle
operator of a low tire pressure condition.
Question
: What is a TPMS Diagnostic Tool used for?
Answer
: The service, diagnosis, and programming of Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems
and components.
Q
: What is the most likely source of a TPMS error?
A
: If a TPMS is creating a false alert, the most likely problem is one of the Tire Pressure
Sensors. These sensors are exposed to harsh conditions such as water, salt,
vibration and temperature extremes. In addition, the sensors all use batteries with a
service life of between five to seven years depending on the environmental conditions
they have been exposed to.
Q
: How does the TPMS know what tire has low pressure?
A
: Each pressure sensor has a unique hexadecimal identifier (ID) that is transmitted
to the ECU along with the tire pressure and temperature. If a replacement sensor
is installed, the ECU must be reprogrammed to allow it to communicate with the new
sensor.
Q
: Does the TS58R need to be plugged in to the Vehicle?
A
: The TS58R can interrogate tire pressure sensors with or without connecting to the
vehicle’s On-Board Diagnostic System (OBD) system. The TS58R must be
connected to the OBD to allow reprogramming of the ECU when replacing pressure
sensors.
Abbreviations
1.
OBD
On-Board Self-Diagnostic
2.
ECU
Electronic Control Unit
3.
DLC
Data Link Connector
4.
DTC
Diagnostic Trouble Codes
5.
ID
Identification number. Tire pressure sensors transmit a unique hexadecimal
identification number.
6.
S/N
Serial number
7.
TPMS
Tire Pressure Management System
