C5 X7 TPMS accumulation of knowledge and working out what to do with mine!

[MattBLancs]

Hi all,

2009 Citroen C5 X7 Tourer. Various shenanigans in terms of getting it running as per viewtopic.php?t=71261

So, it's now in Preston and will be in for an MOT.

I was delighted to find a nail in the front left tyre, but have a plan partly in hand:

I didn't like the steel spare, which I think despite being a pretty much full size thing does still carry the 50 mph restriction. Tyre in steel spare is also rather old - original I think, so 12 years! So I've bought:

Matching alloy

Which would replace the spare (or more accurately would demote one wheel to the boot when this has a new tyre fitted)

Wheel is coming for a ride to work with me in the 206 and on way home a tyre place / Asda tyres will get it a nice new black rubbery bit round the outside (Goodyear Efficient Grip Performance 2, £129 each. Good wet weather, rolling resistance EU ratings and about same as everything else noise. Would have gone for usual Uniroyal choice, but was suggested to avoid here:
viewtopic.php?t=54841

Now the complexity creeps in!


Car currently has functioning TPMS and seemed to give sensible values. "New" wheel has standard valve fitted at present. No chance of securing a sensor before 16:30 today, so plan to leave it as standard valve.

Have read up on here about the TPMS system including here viewtopic.php?t=60582

Seems I could have 5 sensors programmed in. Also seems that I'm in to diagnostic territory even just swapping tyres around, (rear tyres quite old: 2017, once this is on the road again, they'll be swapped to front to use them up). New wheel+new tyre, plus (currently with nail tyre) replaced other tyre ( = new, Goodyear to match) would go on the back. Hopefully the other tyre (matching the one with a nail) will enjoy semi retirement in the boot as the spare. Think is 2019 vintage, so not very old, about half way worn.


I think conclusion is basically that I'll end up switching system off, but what an added layer of complication this adds to tyre replacement!

[GiveMeABreak]

The system is designed to allow 2 sets of wheels to be programmed in, as in some countries you are required to change to winter tyres. This allows the wheels to be swapped over without issue with the TOMS as the other set will already be programmed.

The system s NOT designed to have a sensor on the spare wheel Matt, so don't even attempt fitting the spare with a sensor. It will cause problems when the vehicle is running as each wheel’s positioned is programmed in and there is no position for a spare as these were never intended to be used in a spare.

[MattBLancs]

Thanks Marc, good to know.

To be clear as waffled on a bit - planning that one of the current wheels (with TPMS) will end up in the boot and the "new" wheel (without TPMS) will be in use - on long term basis (assuming I don't pick up another nail any time soon!)

I guess I'll get whatever message you would see when using the spare ( "wheel not monitored" ??) Permanently.

[GiveMeABreak]

Yes you'll get an issue with 1) any more than 4 sensors on the vehicle at a time and 2) if there is a wheel not in the correct position i.e. in the boot. It will be annoying as the message will keep appearing and in doing so will block other potential messages from being displayed.

The system is generally very good and has saved my bacon a few times when I thought it must be in error having checked tyre pressures recently, but when checking at the nearest garage found there was indeed a puncture (hedge cutting!). If possible I would personally recommend using the system. Sensors can be got a lot cheaper than the dealers, but if you do replace them they will need 1) activating using an exciter tool, and 2) programming to the correct position on the vehicle. Battery life for the sensors is circa 10 years, before they may start losing ability to transmit to the TPMS ECU.

[MattBLancs]

Agree, I can see the benefits of the system and would rather not switch it off if possible.

If I could muddle my way through the procedure on diagbox and get my hands on one of these "exciter" gizmos then it would likely remain operational.

EBay suggests the GM version is easily overcome:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255854585723

£2.99!! Obviously a cheap knock off but nevertheless a very acceptable price for something that would get used very infrequently!

But can't find a PSA equivalent - does the tool have a part / model number or other reference that'd help locate / price one up?

[Paul-R]

I have one of those exciters which I bought some time ago at a similar low price. I reasoned that an exciter is an exciter (two frequencies are covered) and, reading the advert, the reason that it specifies GM/Opel is because these vehicles have a learning procedure built in and don't require another device such as Diagbox or other high end code reader.

Having said I've not even put a battery into the exciter, let alone used it!

[MattBLancs]

Ah, see I read that and came to the opposite conclusion - i.e. that unless forced not to by legislation (e.g. OBD-II) manufacturers seem to have a habit of inventing a multitude of similar but not identical variants of basically the same thing!

Ah, this is GM exciter, it does 315 and 433 MHz.
You'll need a PSA exciter, than runs on 314 or 434.5MHz
But don't get a Ford unit as that does the right frequencies but it's a square wave and you need a sine wave unit.
Etc, etc!

[Paul-R]

... this is GM exciter, it does 315 and 433 MHz.
You'll need a PSA exciter, than runs on 314 or 434.5MHz...

I do wonder how reliable the specific frequencies being quoted are. Looking at other more expensive multi vehicle exciters that claim to support Citroen and Peugeot, they only specify 315MHz and 433MHz.

[MattBLancs]

Slight update on this:

Replacement alloy has no TPMS. New tyre in this wheel.
Swapped for front left (which had a nail in it)

Not instantly and weirdly not consistent as to when pops up but :

SERVICE light on and "front LH tyre not monitored" on screen.

New tyre to replace the nailed one. Over Christmas break swapped over as follows:

Remaining front wheel, 3/4 worn, 2017 date code tyre an ideal spare, so in the boot (so front right, with TPMS now in boot)
Rear right (2019 date code) moved to front right. With TPMS but new position.
Rear left, matching 2019, to front left. (Again with TPMS but moved)
New TPMS-less wheel and new tyre to rear left.

Flipping heck, that was harder to (remember what moved where and) type out than to actually do it!

Result of "musical tyres" as follows:

Again varies when it notices, but now states "front RH tyre not monitored"

Seems to have forgotten about front left and no news on the rear ones.

The beep and service light are getting on my nerves, so may be looking to switch it off in Diagbox at the weekend.

[H4wkeye]

I have that as well, with the front LH tyre sensor. It will every now and then beep and show as not monitored. Other times it shows ok. Found a tyre shop that can fit a new one and code it for about 40 euros.

[MattBLancs]

Just a bit of "cross pollination" TPMS reciever location confirmed:

viewtopic.php?p=751611#p751611

[vallium]

System should be either SMSP by Schrader (one antenna) or TPMS by Continental/VDO

https://www.hella.com/techworld/us/Tech ... stem-3370/

And here's a guy who did it successfully on his Laguna III

https://www.renaultforums.co.uk/threads ... am.594866/

[MattBLancs]

System should be either SMSP by Schrader (one antenna) or TPMS by Continental/VDO

https://www.hella.com/techworld/us/Tech ... stem-3370/

And here's a guy who did it successfully on his Laguna III

https://www.renaultforums.co.uk/threads ... am.594866/

Interesting reads, thank you!

(Had a quick Google, CanClip appears to be the Renault DiagBox equivalent)

I'm still ignoring mine! Still annoys me (especially at night with the "dark mode" button pressed - and a huge orange SERVICE beacon right in my eye line!)

[MattBLancs]

Hi all,

I've had a question through on PM:

Hello MattBLancs

Can you help and send for me a link with a correct TPMS Exciter tool for Citroen ( C4 B7 2014)

Thanks

Regards

I couldn't help, but wondered if anyone else had succeeded? / Has good information to share

[MattBLancs]

This information, from my "blog" should have been here by rights:

viewtopic.php?p=801107&hilit=Tpms#p801107