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Tire Pressure Monitor - Catch-22?

I ran into this problem and wondered if anyone else has hit it too:

Had 4 new tires put on my 2005 Outback wagon, LLBean model so it has the tire pressure monitors on each wheel. Tire dealer was very specific about having appropriate equipment and training to deal with the TPMs so it seemed like it would be easy. Picked up the car and drove for 1/2 hour - TPM light came on. Took it back to tire dealer - no light, no problem. Finally took it back with the light on and they called me in to the owner's office to explain the problem.

Seems that their equipment for TPM (Schraeder) was sold as being able to deal with any cars with TPM. However, they've just found out that Subaru (and Nisson, maybe Toyota) use proprietary equipment, not available outside the dealership. So I now have to go to the Subaru dealer to get the TPM system set correctly - at a cost of $18. Subaru delaer confirmed it and provided the price.

So - despite buying tires at a place that provides free rotations for life, I have to take the car to the dealer following each rotation to get the TPMs reset. An interesting situation, since it's technically illegal for the tire dealer to release the car with the system malfunctioning. The only way to avoid this is to have all tire work done at a Subaru dealer!

Starting in 2007, all cars must have TPMs and at least in NY, a functioning TPM system becomes part of the inspection. It seems like something is wrong here, but the only person to suffer is the consumer.

Are there any other options to get around this?

Reply to
bcx
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I would expect Schrader, and others will alter their equipment soon. When the auto companies tried to hold their customers hostage from indie mechs by withholding CEL codes, the g'mint made them share. Quite likely something similar would happen with the TPM equipment - not sure though.

interesting issue

Carl

Reply to
Carl 1 Lucky Texan

"bcx" wrote: ...snipped...

An interesting situation, since it's technically

Where did you get this info from? I read all the car magazines and have never heard anything about this mandate of all new vehicles requiring a TPM.

~~Phil~~

Reply to
Phil Marshall

Long ruling by the NHTSA due to blowouts on Explorers to protect us from under inflated tires in the United States.

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Reply to
Blair Baucom

It's also technically illegal for someone to confiscate my property against my will.

Reply to
Jim Stewart

That is true, and it is more than technical. The service agency has no power to enforce anything - it can only report the condition to DOT (or the local police/sheriff in case the condition is truly critical, like inoperative brakes or an intoxicated driver). This was a common situation I faced when I was service manager in an avionics shop, ca 1980. Planes that were destined to be grounded rolled out of our hanger with no more than a call to the local GADO inspector.

Mike

Reply to
Michael Pardee

One woud think it would depend on the local laws/reg's ? It's illegal for a bar to "release" more alcoholol to you if you are drunk, no matter if you've paid for it in advance or not.

Reply to
Gerald Simonowits

The alcohol belongs to the bar. If a patron brings in alcohol (which

*really* ticks off bar owners) the tavernkeeper may not confiscate it. If a patron has paid in advance the tavernkeeper has the responsibility to refund the amount overpaid.

The stickiest implementation of the policy is when a customer tries to take merchandise from the store. Here in Arizona (still the Wild West, where a law had to be passed recently to forbid people bringing guns into banks and bars) a store owner may not legally detain a shoplifter or even stop them from taking the merchandise out the door, but hired guards from licensed security companies can.

Mike (Arizona state motto: "Yeehaw!")

Reply to
Michael Pardee

I actully didn't intend to start a political debate with this comment.

consumer to fight this: the threat of taking the Tire dealer to court. I keep hoping (stupidly, it seems) to arrive at a reasonable financial agreement over the value of free tire rotations for the next couple of years. So far, the tire dealer hasn't offered anything other than to pay for the first "reprogramming" of the TPM - a whopping $18.

And of course, it's not illegal to conficate your property against your will. Happens all the time. And is getting worse.

Reply to
bcx

Thanks for pulling that reference out - I would have looked forever.

bc

Reply to
bcx

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