Tire Pressure Monotor System is unavailable
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 80
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From: Alaska
2010 C300 4MATIC Sport
Tire Pressure Monotor System is unavailable
The dash would display which sensor is inop. (front passenger, sometimes front driver, and now both simultaneously) and get the orange idiot light to illuminate. I have factory wheels; the only change is the tires. I swap summer/winter tires through the dealership. I started to have this problem about two months ago. Had the technicians at Mercedes check it out, twice now. They are telling me the computer fault code is saying "interference with an outside source". This problem intermits and pretty much works when it wants to. I have an aftermarket stereo system installed (two amplifiers and a processer) and they are putting the blame on that. Those do not transmit any RF whatsoever let alone any sort of signal to interfere. The second visit the technician updated my module but that did not fix the problem. I keep telling them the sensors are bad but the dealership won’t replace them. I'm clueless on what to do. This is sooo annoying!
If you have any knowledge on this system your comments are greatly appreciated! Thanks!
If you have any knowledge on this system your comments are greatly appreciated! Thanks!
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Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Westmont, IL
2014 C63 Sedan
The dash would display which sensor is inop. (front passenger, sometimes front driver, and now both simultaneously) and get the orange idiot light to illuminate. I have factory wheels; the only change is the tires. I swap summer/winter tires through the dealership. I started to have this problem about two months ago. Had the technicians at Mercedes check it out, twice now. They are telling me the computer fault code is saying "interference with an outside source". This problem intermits and pretty much works when it wants to. I have an aftermarket stereo system installed (two amplifiers and a processer) and they are putting the blame on that. Those do not transmit any RF whatsoever let alone any sort of signal to interfere. The second visit the technician updated my module but that did not fix the problem. I keep telling them the sensors are bad but the dealership won’t replace them. I'm clueless on what to do. This is sooo annoying!
If you have any knowledge on this system your comments are greatly appreciated! Thanks!
If you have any knowledge on this system your comments are greatly appreciated! Thanks!
!
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 80
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From: Alaska
2010 C300 4MATIC Sport
I dont understand it. Only thing I can think of is the sensors are bad. If I never had a problem with the rear sensors then I can rule out the module. Its annoying because its an intermittent issue. Have you had services check out your car? I go in this tuesday, again, so I'm going to tell these guys replace the damn sensors! Really want to know the cause of this problem though!
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Alaska
2010 C300 4MATIC Sport
I found out the problem after talking with the tech and him showing me the wiring diagrams as well system knowledge. I bought an LED package for the tail lights from Mike (Azn_C300) from his company Azn Optics (great LEDs btw!). The module or antenna for the TPMS shares the same ground as the right tail lights (pointed that out to the tech). Since the computers are logic circuits (AND, OR, etc. gates) and runs millivolts its very sensitive. Pretty much if I want to have my TPMS system working properly AND have LEDs in the tail lights I will need to run separate grounds for each. I'm going to run the ground from the module to the bottom of the trunk, under the spare since it's located there (only for 2010). You dont want to have both grounding points near each other or it will defeat the purpose of separating it. I'm going to do Ohm checks and should call it good!
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 642
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From: Natick, MA
2010 C350 Sport
I found out the problem after talking with the tech and him showing me the wiring diagrams as well system knowledge. I bought an LED package for the tail lights from Mike (Azn_C300) from his company Azn Optics (great LEDs btw!). The module or antenna for the TPMS shares the same ground as the right tail lights (pointed that out to the tech). Since the computers are logic circuits (AND, OR, etc. gates) and runs millivolts its very sensitive. Pretty much if I want to have my TPMS system working properly AND have LEDs in the tail lights I will need to run separate grounds for each. I'm going to run the ground from the module to the bottom of the trunk, under the spare since it's located there (only for 2010). You dont want to have both grounding points near each other or it will defeat the purpose of separating it. I'm going to do Ohm checks and should call it good!
Thread Starter
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Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Alaska
2010 C300 4MATIC Sport
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Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Monterey Bay
2011 C300 Sport, 2007 Nissan Titan Crew Cab
This sounds kinda weird to me. There seems to be lots of people using Mike's LEDs here without having issues with their TPMS. I have aftermarket LED tails but I am using AZNoptics LED reverse light and my TPMS is fine. I was getting error messages due to the tail lights, but have since remedied that issue. Did you get in contact with Mike to see if he has heard of this issue with other cars?
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From: Natick, MA
2010 C350 Sport
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From: California
MB W204/W212, BMW E66, Porsche 958, VW MK6 TDI, Maserati Ghibli SQ4
Just wanted to chime in, not doubting AK's assessment for his application, but just wanted to say that he's the first and only one who has had reported TPMS issues tied to my LED tails and I've sold hundreds. Of course, he's my only customer in Alaska so not sure if the climate has anything to do with it, but I doubt it as it shouldn't be that cold right now. Let me know if I can be of any assistance.
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Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Monterey Bay
2011 C300 Sport, 2007 Nissan Titan Crew Cab
Did you try contacting the seller yet? I had the same problem when I installed my new wheels, getting an error message stating "TPMS inoperative no sensors installed." I emailed the seller through eBay, got a phone number and contacted the company. For some reason those sensors were not working on my car either, but they resolved the problem. In my case it had nothing to do with the LEDs.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 80
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From: Alaska
2010 C300 4MATIC Sport
Just wanted to chime in, not doubting AK's assessment for his application, but just wanted to say that he's the first and only one who has had reported TPMS issues tied to my LED tails and I've sold hundreds. Of course, he's my only customer in Alaska so not sure if the climate has anything to do with it, but I doubt it as it shouldn't be that cold right now. Let me know if I can be of any assistance.
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 291
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From: Monterey Bay
2011 C300 Sport, 2007 Nissan Titan Crew Cab
The weather does not have any correlation with the LEDs and sensors. I have LEDs all around (interior and exterior). Like we discussed via PMs Mike it has to do with the right tail light sharing a common ground wire with the TPMS module. To back up my theory I swap only the right tail light with OEM bulbs, leaving the left tail light with LEDs. It fails every time (when lights are on) and its always the front right TPMS sensors and seldomly both front TPMS sensors. Just to clear things up, AZN Optics is outstanding and it's not due to faulty LED bulbs. Its the computers and modules that are extremely sensitive to any voltage change. I've been so busy I haven't found the time to take readings and separating the two wires for different grounding points. Doing this will void ALL electrical warranty.
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Joined: Dec 2008
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From: San Diego
Hyperion's Candy-Coated 4 x 4
The dash would display which sensor is inop. (front passenger, sometimes front driver, and now both simultaneously) and get the orange idiot light to illuminate. I have factory wheels; the only change is the tires. I swap summer/winter tires through the dealership. I started to have this problem about two months ago. Had the technicians at Mercedes check it out, twice now. They are telling me the computer fault code is saying "interference with an outside source". This problem intermits and pretty much works when it wants to. I have an aftermarket stereo system installed (two amplifiers and a processer) and they are putting the blame on that. Those do not transmit any RF whatsoever let alone any sort of signal to interfere. The second visit the technician updated my module but that did not fix the problem. I keep telling them the sensors are bad but the dealership won’t replace them. I'm clueless on what to do. This is sooo annoying!
If you have any knowledge on this system your comments are greatly appreciated! Thanks!
If you have any knowledge on this system your comments are greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
C300
Has anyone been able to resolve this issue 100%. I've been having the same problem for over a year, and I don't have any aftermarket lights or stereo...etc. It's spuratic to say the least. It typically comes on after 40 or 50 miles of driving on the highway. It flashes a bunch of times then goes steady. I acknowledge the fault on by hitting OK on the steering wheel, then resetting the tire pressure values in the service settings. But the fault comes back after a while...again no exact time period.
I've taken it to the dealer (LOKEY Mercedes) and they can't figure it out. Being that its spuratic and the stupid fault codes doesn't specify which wheel its coming from.
About the only thing that has changed since new are the tires, which are filled with Nitrogen. But I was getting the same fault before the new tires...just not as often.
Any suggestions?
Regards,
Kabala
2009 C300
I've taken it to the dealer (LOKEY Mercedes) and they can't figure it out. Being that its spuratic and the stupid fault codes doesn't specify which wheel its coming from.
About the only thing that has changed since new are the tires, which are filled with Nitrogen. But I was getting the same fault before the new tires...just not as often.
Any suggestions?
Regards,
Kabala
2009 C300
Thread Starter
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 80
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From: Alaska
2010 C300 4MATIC Sport
Digging up an old topic. Maybe someone can shed some light on the subject.
Kabala, I haven't discovered a solution but I have a theory. I have to find the wiring diagram but I do recall the TPMS module (located under the spare wheel) and the right tail light sharing the same ground point. I never got around to separating them so they have their own grounds, but Im not getting the errors anymore *knock on wood*.
Kabala, I haven't discovered a solution but I have a theory. I have to find the wiring diagram but I do recall the TPMS module (located under the spare wheel) and the right tail light sharing the same ground point. I never got around to separating them so they have their own grounds, but Im not getting the errors anymore *knock on wood*.
