Hey guys, I've searched through the tire pressure sensor threads on the forum and didn't find anything for what I'm currently experiencing. I bought my car in LA a week or 2 ago, and drove it back up to the SF bay area on the same day. The car was inspected by a local Ferrari dealer, and some campaigns were done along with the annual service. About 10 minutes into the trip back home a tire pressure warning icon popped up. I pulled over, checked the owners manual and verified it was a warning. I then checked all the tire pressures manually (this was before I knew I could cycle through the system to see them from inside the car. ) and they were fine. I figured maybe it was just a bad sensor or something, so I continued the drive home. I had the warning light the entire way, but my tire pressures are still fine. This weekend I had some free time so I cracked open the manuals again and read more about the tire pressure system. When cycling through the tire pressures using the Mode button, the front 2 register correctly, but the back 2 register -.-. I figured maybe it just needed to be calibrated (the dealer had put a new battery in, and exhaust manifolds, etc.. maybe it lost the settings?). So far I've been unable to calibrate it. If I get into the car, put the ignition key in the II position and hold the calibration button down I'll get a green CAL icon on the display. I then start the car and drive around.. but the CAL icon goes away when the car starts up (is it supposed to?). It's never given me any other notification that the calibration is doing anything... Is this operator error or should I just take down to my local dealer and ask them to check it out? (I'm more of a DIY'er) I bought the car used, so I wonder if the rear wheels don't even have the sensors installed (maybe they came off a non tire pressure system car?). I'd have thought the dealer would have mentioned it.... -mike
Mike- See if this helps. Extracted from the 456/550/575 Forum. The first thing you need to do is ensure all tire pressures are set correctly. After you are sure the tire pressures are correct, perform a tire calibration using the pushbutton on the lower left hand side of the instrument panel/dashboard. Turn the ignition to on, but do not start the engine. Depress the pushbutton for five seconds and a CAL light will come on. Once the engine is started, the light will go out. Drive the car for 20 minutes or so and the TPMS will calibrate itself. If this does not fix the problem, one of your options is to have a technician disable the system using an SD2/3. If this is done, the TPMS warning lamp will come on briefly after start and then go out. If you want to actually fix the system, read the bit below I excerpted from an extensive thread in the technical forum. Here is what I have learned about early Ferrari TPMS systems for 575M/SA and early f430 cars. First, US/Canadian TPMS sensors are 315 Mhz to avoid interfering with the 433 Mhz alarm remotes on US/Canadian cars. I made the $400 mistake of ordering orange 433 Mhz Beru RDE 001 sensors, which are for European cars. You actually need RDE 004 sensors, which are dark gray (Gen 1) or dark brown (G5n 1.5) and 315 Mhz. Summary: 433 Mhz (Euro), Beru Gen 1 RDE 001 Light Gray, Beru Gen 1.5 RDE 001 Orange 315 Mhz (US/Cdn), Beru Gen 1 RDE 004 Dark Gray, Beru Gen 1.5 RDE 004 Dark Brown The Gen 1 sensors seem to last about 5 years on Ferraris and the Gen 1.5 about 8 years. So if replacing sensors, try and find Gen 1.5s. Ferraris use 43 mm valve stems, the same size as most Mercedes cars. TPMS sensors can be set up one of two ways, 1) a technician can set them up using an SD-2/3, which does not require the car to be driven or 2) the tire pressure calibration button (or similar name) can be depressed in the "on" ignition position for five seconds before starting and the system will calibrate itself after a 20 minute or so drive. You will see a CAL or similar indication after depressing the button for five seconds. Note your Ferrari technician can tell how much battery life remains on each TPMS sensor using the SD2/3. He can also set the TPMS ECU to a different tire type if you change to a tire that requires different tire pressures than those originally fitted. If you are receiving a TPMS warning light and want to see if it is just TPMS sensors, try adding an additional 5 psi of tire pressure and do a calibration and see if the lights go out. If they do, all you need is TPMS sensors. If they do not, drive the car for 10-20 minutes to warm the tires and raise tire pressures further, stop and turn off the ignition and use your calibration switch one more time and see if the system will calibrate. If the lights go out with the higher tire pressures from heating, all you need are new TPMS sensors. You will lose this calibration once the car cools down, of course. The higher tire pressures make it easier for the TPMS sensors to read and transmit a pressure. If neither attempt results in a calibration, see your technician for further analysis. These sensors, which are inside the tires attached to the tire valve, are expensive from Ferrari, but less from vendors like TireRack (~$325/set when purchased with wheels) and internet sellers like DubZDirect, who advertise on E-Bay. Taz Terry phillips
Thanks Taz! I shouldn't have limited my search to the 360/430 forum. I tried the additional calibration tricks listed in that thread to try and detect some life from the rear sensors, but they still refused to pickup/transmit any pressure. I'm going to drop the car off at the local dealer this week and have them take a peak at it. -mike
Hey Taz, I just heard back from my local dealer. They said all 4 sensors were dead and needed to be replaced. They also said that they couldn't get the old type sensors anymore, so they'd have to order 4 of the newer version AND a new TPMS ECU ($2500 total, i told him no). Do the Gen 1.5 sensors you mentioned above work with the early system? Or are those for the later system? I'm going to look for a set on my own and just pull the wheels off and have a local tire shop install the sensors, then calibrate them at my house. This dealer was less than impressive. I dropped my car off monday morning, hadn't heard anything, and finally decided to give them a call this morning. The want $400 to fix a rattling cat bracket (broken i assume?) too, and I just had the header campaign performed on the car at Orange County Ferrari (not the dealer with it now) about 3 weeks ago. O well... you know what they say, if you want something done rite, do it yourself. -mike
Mike- James is 100% correct. Be advised Tire Rack sells a set of four for ~$325. You have to call them, though, because they do not show up on their web site unless you buy a set of wheels. They then ask if you want sensors, too, for $324, which they also sell separately. Taz Terry Phillips
Taz, My 2004 575M now appears to need sensors. RL comes on with no pressure showing. I also have the service light appearing which does not allow me to check the individual tires. Does my car take the RDE 001 or the RDE 004? Secondly is there a difference for valve stems on those with modular wheels? Where do I buy for the most competitive price? Are they 433 or 315 mhz? thanks in advance Gene
