Ford's TPMS...The "belt" type

I just traded my P71 with its "belt" mounted TPM sensors, and thought I had seen the last of that type system.  Now, come to find out, the car I just bought (a 2013 Fusion) also has this type of sensor mount. 

Can these sensors be replaced (all 4, unfortunately) with the other/stem mount type sensors while still getting the system to recognize the new sensors?

I am asking because Tire Rack will not configure a Tire/Wheel package to include the new sensors as they don't sell the belt type. 

I bet you can.  There are two frequencies commonly used, 433 I think, and one in the 300s.  If you figure out what you have, I'm sure there will be an aftermarket one that will work, or can be cloned.

In reply to Streetwiseguy :

On Tire Rack's website they show stem type sensors when you look up " Products " available for a 2013 Fusion, yet when you try to bundle them with a tire and wheel purchase they claim they don't have sensors for this car so they won't add them to a bundle.

The " belt " mounted sensors are difficult to find, and cost about 3 times what the stem mount ones cost when you get all the necessary pieces.

Another better idea like that capless fuel filler. 

Try searching at Rock Auto or some place like that.  They should list a variety of sensors, and if they only list band type, you may be screwed.   I bet there is an option, though.

Tire Rack isn't super good at letting customers choose their own stuff.

13 Fusion should have valve stem mounted sensors. 2009 was the last year Ford used band style sensors in a Fusion. Someone changed yours. 
Also... capless filler is awesome. :p

Older Ford, I assume it's the old school tpms system that doesn't give pressure readouts, just a warning light if one of the tires is low? Imo that system is more effort than it's worth, save the hassle and a few bucks and just leave the sensors out. Shouldn't be too hard to disable the system totally if the warning light bothers you.

Delete TPMS using ForScan.

In reply to kevinatfms :

Thanks for that tech tidbit.   On my 09 Crown Victoria I wound up with 2 wheels that didn't have sensors when I swapped 2 wheels that were way out of balance.  The " new " wheels didn't have sensors.  Drove with a warning light for 3-4 years, would have been nice to have it fixed when I traded it recently. 

Carsandbikes said:

In reply to kevinatfms :

Thanks for that tech tidbit.   On my 09 Crown Victoria I wound up with 2 wheels that didn't have sensors when I swapped 2 wheels that were way out of balance.  The " new " wheels didn't have sensors.  Drove with a warning light for 3-4 years, would have been nice to have it fixed when I traded it recently. 

I cant remember if i had to buy the Forscan license for the TPMS delete or the key programming but it wasnt terribly expensive. The free Forscan version gets you a ton of features and works with alot of years.

The forums also have spreadsheets with the hex codes breakdown. So change a few 1's to 0's and you can delete/add anything you really want with the applicable hardware.

kevinatfms said:

Delete TPMS using ForScan.

Why would you want to do that?  TPMS is friggin' sweet.  Except for Hyundai, their implementation can DIAF.  (It works GREAT, as long as you don't use aftermarket sensors)

I know of a few rallycrossers that are installing it on pre-'08 cars.

Depends on the implementation. Actual pressure readouts? Sweet. An idiot light that you don't know if a tire is flat or it's just a little cold outside? Not worth the effort. The basic system in my fiesta has been disabled for years and I don't miss it, for a while I forgot it even ever had it. The readout system in my cayman is awesome and I usually look at it at least once or twice every time I drive the car and I've even thought about putting sensors in my competition wheels.

I could see even the simple system being useful for rallycross as a debead indicator. But I prefer to solve that problem by rallycrossing cars that don't debead tires :)

Pete. (l33t FS) said:

kevinatfms said:

Delete TPMS using ForScan.

Why would you want to do that?  TPMS is friggin' sweet.  Except for Hyundai, their implementation can DIAF.  (It works GREAT, as long as you don't use aftermarket sensors)

 

I know of a few rallycrossers that are installing it on pre-'08 cars.

I absolutely hate the nannies these days. TPMS is a stupid system that rarely works right, parts fail at a spectacular rate and arent cheap at all. To replace (4) sensors on a Fiesta ST it is nearly the price of a set of all season tires for the stock wheels.

In reply to kevinatfms :

I rarely replace sensors.  When TPMS was new, the estimated battery life was 4 years, the average max life of a tire.  Barring corrosion or physical damage, there are still cars out there on their original sensors.

I've put hundreds of thousands of miles on TPMS and replaced two sensors ever. Both due to battery, never a failure. They were each well under a hundred bucks installed.

Seems pretty good to me.

Pete. (l33t FS) said:

In reply to kevinatfms :

I rarely replace sensors.  When TPMS was new, the estimated battery life was 4 years, the average max life of a tire.  Barring corrosion or physical damage, there are still cars out there on their original sensors.

Ive destroyed 3 sets on my Fiesta at the track. They also fail regularly on the street due to the low profile tire package. Im sure some people have had them last the life of the vehicle but i certainly have not. Easier to just get rid of them than to deal with replacement.

In reply to Saron81 :

I looked on Rock Auto: they show the belt-mount type.  Going to Parts Geek shows an assortment of NON belt-type sensors.

The car right now appears to have near new tires mounted on plain steel wheels with wheel covers.  I guess I am getting a bit ahead of myself as it won't need tires for a few years, especially the way that I drive.