Tire Pressure Monitor Malfunction - Urgent Problem?

[calmil]

I have an '07 1200RT w/ 12000 miles. Dealer service was done 2 weeks ago. No problems. In the past week, the Tire Pressure Monitor has begun functioning erratically, sometimes registering both front and rear tire pressures, sometimes registering only the rear pressure and on one occasion registering neither pressure. This occurs while at "normal" riding speed, and the reading flips off/on in a seemingly random fashion. When both the front and rear monitors ceased functioning simultaneously, the yellow warning triangle and the flat tire icon appeared on the computer screen.

Let me hasten to add that the monitor registers accurately when it registers, and manual pressure readings, which I do at least twice weekly, always register the readings I aim to maintain. The valve stem covers are tight and the stems appear OK.

With a 1500 mile ride coming up in 2 weeks, and my BMW dealer a 3 hour ride away, he assures me that there will be no harm to the bike to continue riding "as is" and have it tended to at the next service.

Ideas about the cause and the dealer advice would be appreciated.:dunno

Cal Miller:help

[Motorwerk]

There should be no problem with it not functioning correctly as it's just a passive device. Nothing should turn off or become disabled. Obviously, check pressures more often as you would on a bike without TPM.

The receiver unit sits behind the passenger seat. May want to take a look back there. Unplug the cable, remove a couple screws and unit comes right out. There are a couple of coin-cell batteries in there although, if the batteries get low you will get an icon as such on the display. If you have the alarm system it's part of the same unit.

[gulfcoastbeemer]

To err is human; to really mess things up requires a computer.

I have an '07 R1200RT with the TPM and over 26K miles.

This rig is basically a radio receiver and a pair radio transmitters -- one in each wheel.

While the problem could be with one or both of the sending units found within each rim, I think this is highly unlikely. The batteries within the sending units (which I understand are not replaceable -- they are part of the sending unit) are supposed to last for several years at a minimum -- although battery life would seem to be a function of mileage as much as age given the senders are "turned-on" by centrifugal force.

I would bet the problem is with the receiver portion of the device itself. Just a wild guess: did you mount any new piece of electronics about the time the TPM went haywire? Just possibly, there could be some screwy interference as a result.

It might be annoying as all heck to watch the flashing triangle, but I can't conceive how a TPM malfunction could otherwise adversely effect your bike.

Totally unscientific suggestion based on computer voodoo: If this problem were to occur on my bike, the first thing I would do is attempt a "reboot" -- disconnect the battery for a few hours, reconnect it, and then see if the problem persists. While this will probably do absolutely nothing -- you feel much better afterward.

[calmil]

Just a wild guess: did you mount any new piece of electronics about the time the TPM went haywire? Just possibly, there could be some screwy interference as a result

You know, the dealer installed motolights at the 12K service and this problem started shortly thereafter. But I doubt he would have been behind/under the pillion seat for that. I will check wiring in the AM.

Thanks for the help and reassurance.
Calmil

[HOKIE]

I am having the exact same problem. My bike only has 4400 miles on it.

[ssls6]

You do realize that the system only activates after you reach a certain speed. A centrifugal force sensor built into the wheel sensor turns it on (battery saving feature). You should be good over 30mph or so. Sometimes my bike can get to 50 and they won't turn on until I hit a bump. If your bike never turns on, then the centrifugal sensor or battery may be bad.

[HOKIE]

Mine almost always reads the rear tire pressure. It reads the front about half the time. This is at highway speeds. Once it didn't read either.

I will have this checked at my 6000 mile service.

[gened12]

I started to have the exact same problem 2 days ago on my 07 RT with less than 10,000 miles on it. I have a radar detector and XM radio on the bike could that cause the problem?

Cheers

Denis R1200Rt

[sfarson]

Well, I've had this problem on the '07 RT since taking delivery.

- The rear always reads correctly.

- The front loses the signal at highway speeds after maybe 5-10 minutes. Sometimes it will acquire it... especially when slowing down for a town. After the signal is lost, and then another 5-15 minutes goes by without acquiring the signal, it will show BOTH wheels as not reading, and turned on is the yellow warning light.

- I had a 2000 mile window once where the front wheel pressure wasn't being read, as noted above, but the system at least was not turning on the warning light. It was a software update the bike received when fixing the radio antenna that didn't turn on the warning light. Hmmmm.

- At the 6K service another software update turned the warning light back on :( when the TPM couldn't read the front tire pressure at speed.

- Dealer placed a new sensor in the front wheel. No change in behavior.

- Dealer emailed tech at BMW NA. Recommendation was to yank out the sensors in both wheels and disable the system. Many are having a problem, and not just on the RT. Great.

- Dealer had an extra and new sensor on hand when I went in for the ring antenna recall two weeks ago. Before disabling the TPM system I suggested we try one more time placing a new sensor in the front wheel. Perhaps the one that came with the bike, and the replacement we tried, were faulty. Well, well, for two weeks now, the front wheel TPM is working properly!

- I have a GPS and XM radio sometimes connected, sometimes not. No change in TPM behavior.

So... it doesn't hurt the bike to ride with TPM malfunctioning. I've taken long multi-state trips seeing that warning light. I'm just too anal to see it all the time and would prefer to have the system disabled.

- It only takes one wheel for the yellow light to come on, and it then shows the other wheel malfunctioning as well, when it really is working.

- Software updates can change the behavior.

- Replacement of the sensor in the wheel, appears to have solved the problem here.

[gened12]

Today I rode all day 1250 kms without connecting the XM. I had no malfunctions. It seems some XM radios are not FCC compliant as they interfere with other electronic devices. that may be the case here.:nono

cheers

Denis

[JRussell]

Your XM may very well be the problem. I received the following from XM:



Dear XM Subscriber,

The FCC has notified XM that some of our older receiver models
(generally, those purchased before August, 2006) may not operate in the
manner required by the FCC and may cause interference to nearby FM radio
users depending on how the XM radio is installed or used.

The receiver models include the Roady2®, SKYFi2®, MyFi®, Airware®, Tao,
RoadyXT®, Xpress™, Sportscaster, XR9-XCX9, Jensen JXR9, inno®,
Helix™, and Nexus®. Please note this notice does not apply to
youif your new car came installed with an XM receiver.

If you do have one or more of the receivers mentioned above and use it
with the wireless FM option or you have had the receiver professionally
installed, then we have several options available at no cost to you to
alleviate this possible interference.

Please visit our website at www.xmradio.com/fmmodinfo or call us toll-free at
866-410-0096 to choose one of the following three options:

Option A:
We will send you ferrite beads to attach to your XM antenna and power
adaptor cables. (Ferrite beads are typically placed on the end of data
cables to reduce interference.)

Option B:
We will send you a replacement cassette adapter to use with your XM
radio. Only choose this option if your car radio has a cassette player.

Option C:
If your car does not have a cassette player, we will provide you with
ferrite beads and an installation kit, with hardware, to use in
connection with a professional installation of your radio along with a
coupon redeemable at no charge for professional installation.

Please visit the following website, www.xmradio.com/fmmodinfo for more information and
to select your option. If
you do not have access to the Internet, you may call 866-410-0096 for
information on how to alleviate this possible interference. To help
expedite your order, please have your 8-digit Radio ID (found on Channel
0 of your XM radio) and your FCC ID (found on the back, the bottom, or
under the battery of your XM radio), available when you start this
process.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

[aaaaaa]

sounds like a fun issue. makes me long for the ABS faults on my 0ld '00RT