Resetting TPMS

[pkh540]

I swapped tires and wheels from another F-150 that included TPMS. After installing I got an error message saying I needed to reset the TPMS. Read the manual and gotta ask… Why? On my other car I swapped wheels, added after market TPMs, drove a couple of miles and the TPMS reset itself. Did anyone else who did a tire/wheel swap need to go through this procedure or was it just “plug and play” like most other cars?

Here’s what it says in the manual:
Drive the vehicle above 20 mph
(32 km/h) for at least two minutes,
then park in a safe location where you
can easily get to all four tires and have
access to an air pump.
2. Switch the power off.
3. Switch the power on but do not start
the engine.
4. Switch the hazard flashers on then off
three times.

Note: You must accomplish this within 10
seconds. If you successfully enter the reset
mode, the horn sounds once, the system
indicator flashes and a message shows in
the information display.

Note: If the system does not enter reset
mode, try again starting at Step 2. If after
repeated attempts to enter the reset mode,
the horn does not sound, the system
indicator does not flash and no message
shows in the information display, contact
your authorized dealer.

5. Remove the valve cap from the valve
stem on the left front tire. Decrease the
air pressure until the horn sounds.

Note: The single horn tone confirms that
the sensor identification code has been
learned by the module for this position. If
the horn sounds twice, the reset procedure
was unsuccessful, and you must repeat it.

6. Remove the valve cap from the valve
stem on the right front tire. Decrease
the air pressure until the horn sounds.

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[Heliian]

Interesting. Looks like you swapped to/from lightning wheels that may have different pressure ranges.

My Lariat picked up the sensors in my aftermarket winter rims with no problem.

 

[Calvin H-C]

When you change which TPMS sensor is on each wheel, the Lightning needs to know which tire is reporting individually because the system reports tire pressure for each tire. My FFE only tells me that a tire is low - no actual pressure reading and no indication about which tire is the problem. So, there is no need to do a "learning" process with the FFE when you change tires on rims with their own sensors.

The procedure described above has one letting out air so the sensor reporting the change will be known to the vehicle - front left, front right, rear right, and rear left in that order. Trouble is, you need an air supply to refill your tires.

You can get a sensor tool (transmitter), about the size of a key fob that you activate neat the valve stem of each tire instead of letting out air. I believe they sell for about $40.

When we bought winter tires and rims for the Lightning, we also got the TPMS sensors as well. There is a kit with sensors and the tool from Ford Performance that actually costs less than the TPMS sensors on their own. The dealership I was buying from could order in the kit, but it would take a week, so the parts manager adjusted the price of the sensors and tool to almost match the kit price. It still cost less than the sensors on their own and I ended up paying with FordPass points. Shout out the Yonge-Steeles Ford North of Toronto.

 

[Heliian]

the Lightning needs to know which tire is reporting individually because the system reports tire pressure for each tire.

It doesn't need to know where the tire is, it knows already. It needs to learn the pressure from the sensor if not already calibrated. Rotating tires doesn't require tpms relearning, I swap and rotate my tires twice a year winter/all seasons and the truck has no problem figuring it out.

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