Way back in 2009, I purchased the Orange Electronic TPMS on the GroupBuy.
Batteries in the sensors have since died. I don't remember now if I needed to
drill out the wheels to accept the sensors or if Orange supplied special valve stems.
Anyone replace these sensors? I'm willing to completely replace the sensors and display but need to know what other sensor will now fit on my stock hollow spoke wheels.
Help.

 

I had to use bands to get my Orange TPMS into my HRE wheels. I never tried to get them into the stock wheels. Also, I was never able to get the TPMS to work - I tried two different versions - no go. I think my radio was putting out a signal that interfered with the TPMS receiver. If you were able to get the sensors to fit by replacing the valve stems, you would just need to order new sensors. Also, they changed versions a year or two ago, so you need to know which version you have (or just replace everything).

 

Any update on this thread? My batteries went 2914, I bought "new" sensors from the supplier they told me to, which was on eBay, and I already have another dead sensor.

Obviously not buying any more sensors for this kit, which sucks because I integrated it into the back of my center cubby... unless I find one with a screen of similar dimensions, I'll have to start all over with a new cubby or something creative.

Anyone replaced theirs and have a good recommendation?

 

Who needs TPMS?

 

TPMS is nice to have to alert you if your tires are low. There was talk of the TSA making it mandatory for all new vehicles at one time. I don't know if that one went through or not.

It's great if your batteries last 900 years too...

But I never found a decent aftermarket TPMS system other than the Orange - and it didn't work on my car. Weird that the industry hasn't taken this one on. I'm betting it is a chicken and egg thing - there is no market, mostly because nobody makes a decent one, so there is no market.

 

Maybe there was something wrong with yours. Mine worked on the original wheels with the adapter and then on the next set of wheels without it. Getting new sensors after the original ones dies wasn't difficult and shop put them in no problem and helped me link them to the control unit. But, since they don't make new sensors for that unit, the only ones you can buy are ones that have been sitting around since they made them.

Dumb that they don't make new sensors as the company is still around and making new units, but the guy at the company that hand;ed our group buy isn't there anymore.

It was nice to have a working system. It even saved a tire one morning when I had a flay and of course had no reason to walk around my car every morning before taking off. Tire was able to be fixed because I hadn't driven on it and the tire alarm went off.

 

Compliance Date:� Consistent with the phase-in commencing October 5, 2005, all new light vehicles must be equipped with a TPMS that meets the requirements of the standard by September 1, 2007, with the following exceptions. Vehicle manufacturers need not meet the standard's requirements for the TPMS malfunction indicator and related owner's manual language until September 1, 2007 (i.e., at the end of the phase-in), and vehicles produced by final-stage manufacturers and alterers must be equipped with a compliant TPMS (including a malfunction indicator) by September 1, 2008. However, manufacturers may voluntarily certify vehicles to FMVSS No. 138 and earn carry-forward credits for compliant vehicles, produced in excess of the phase-in requirements, that are manufactured between April 8, 2005, and the conclusion of the phase-in.

That being said, there are different ways to run tpms type monitoring. My VW uses speed of each wheel as a indicator of tire pressure so if one tire is not calibrating with the other three the dash lights up. I think this is cheaper than in wheel sensors as they leak over time or not compatible between one wheel mfg and another.