I just put new winters, with steel ims on my 2010 F150 and I spent the extra cash to get the sensors (stem type) installed as well.

The guy at the shop told me he did not do anything to get the new sensors "talking" to the truck. I thought once I stored the original tires that for sure the low pressure light would come on since the original sensors are now out of range.

I have driven about 100km and the indicator light has not come up. Just wondering if you actually need to do something to get these sensors to work correctly or if it is all automatic.

 

It will come on unless you use the training/reset tool. If that 100km isn't all at one time, and you parked anywhere near the old tires, it will read the old sensors while parked and think all okay. It takes driving about 20 miles at a constant over 25mph before it would get the TPMS fault.

 

The training tool is ONLY required (and is provided by Ford) if your vehicle has different front and rear tire pressures. If the new sensors are the right frequency, you do not have to do anything.

 

It is required if you have 2 sets of tires with different sensors. Like me and the op.

 

I'm probably wrong, but that doesn't make sense.

If I have two sets of Ford TPMS sensors and I have two sets of tires and rims, why would the TPMS system care if I had 2 tires/sensors from one 'set' and 2 tires/sensors from another 'set'.

In fact, the OP even says that his light has not come on.

 

It takes time for the system to show a problem. With my 07, even though I had 2 sets of tires and only one set of sensors, it would take at last 20 miles before the light would go off. Then it would show a system failure rather than low pressure. If your vehicle was reading every sensor on the road, you would get all kinds of false readings. Each sensor to my knowledge has it's own internal "serial number". When you retrain it tells what sensor is on your vehicle.

Even the owners manual states:

PS. These systems have 2 modes. Parked and over 25mph. Over 25mph it sends a signal more frequently, approx every minute. When parked, about every hour. If your vehicle read any Ford sensor, then if you park next to another Ford with low pressure, your light would come on. That's why they are matched to your vehicle. Even when I set up my extra tires, the dealer stated let them know if any problem resetting. It is very easy and takes all of about 2 minutes.

 

DUH! The light just came on. The unique ID finally brought me to my senses! thnaks for the explanation.

 

Thanks for the reply guys.

I have driven approx 60k and the light has not come on. I guess I will wait a little longer. I know the light works because I see the indicator light up when I start up the truck.

2 more questions, if you don't mind.

How long should I wait for this light to come on before I take it to the dealer to see if there is a problem? (If I understood your answers correctly it should come on eventually.)

and

Is the reset procedure something I can do? I remember reading something in the manual. I think it was in the section about different tire pressures (front vs. back) Is that the same procedure I would use for my scenario?

 

In my opinion, if it doesn't come on, don't worry about it. Just do the normal check of your tires. As far as the reset procedure, it requires the tool, about $20, and is listed in the owners manual. In the 09 manual, it was listed page 238. As I stated, takes all of 2 minutes.