Flat Tire Monitor - it works.
#1
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Couple of days ago, while driving on the highway, I got a FTM alarm. My initial thought was: "There we go, the software screws up !"
Got out of the car, could see nothing. Reset the FTM.
Car started pulling slightly to the right, so I took it to the garage. There was indeed a pressure loss in the right front tire. They inspected the tire, and put it in a bath to check for bubbles, but nothing.
They re-infalted it and sent me on my way. The car didn't pull to the right anymore.
Next day, it pulls to the right again. I go BACK to the garage, and they check more thoroughly. Seems there is a hole not in the tire, but in the WHEEL ! You couldn't even get a needle into the hole, it's that small, but enough for a slow air leak.
Seems they've seen the problem before, and it's a casting problem with the wheels. They gave me a new wheel free of charge and sent me on my way.
Lesson learned ? If the FTM says you have a leak, you probably do.
Got out of the car, could see nothing. Reset the FTM.
Car started pulling slightly to the right, so I took it to the garage. There was indeed a pressure loss in the right front tire. They inspected the tire, and put it in a bath to check for bubbles, but nothing.
They re-infalted it and sent me on my way. The car didn't pull to the right anymore.
Next day, it pulls to the right again. I go BACK to the garage, and they check more thoroughly. Seems there is a hole not in the tire, but in the WHEEL ! You couldn't even get a needle into the hole, it's that small, but enough for a slow air leak.
Seems they've seen the problem before, and it's a casting problem with the wheels. They gave me a new wheel free of charge and sent me on my way.
Lesson learned ? If the FTM says you have a leak, you probably do.
#2
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Originally Posted by 04r1belgium' date='Feb 17 2005, 01:18 AM
Couple of days ago, while driving on the highway, I got a FTM alarm.? My initial thought was: "There we go, the software screws up !"
Got out of the car, could see nothing.? Reset the FTM.
Car started pulling slightly to the right, so I took it to the garage.? There was indeed a pressure loss in the right front tire.? They inspected the tire, and put it in a bath to check for bubbles, but nothing.
They re-infalted it and sent me on my way.? The car didn't pull to the right anymore.
Next day, it pulls to the right again.? I go BACK to the garage, and they check more thoroughly.? Seems there is a hole not in the tire, but in the WHEEL !? You couldn't even get a needle into the hole, it's that small, but enough for a slow air leak.
Seems they've seen the problem before, and it's a casting problem with the wheels.? They gave me a new wheel free of charge and sent me on my way.
Lesson learned ?? If the FTM says you have a leak, you probably do.
Got out of the car, could see nothing.? Reset the FTM.
Car started pulling slightly to the right, so I took it to the garage.? There was indeed a pressure loss in the right front tire.? They inspected the tire, and put it in a bath to check for bubbles, but nothing.
They re-infalted it and sent me on my way.? The car didn't pull to the right anymore.
Next day, it pulls to the right again.? I go BACK to the garage, and they check more thoroughly.? Seems there is a hole not in the tire, but in the WHEEL !? You couldn't even get a needle into the hole, it's that small, but enough for a slow air leak.
Seems they've seen the problem before, and it's a casting problem with the wheels.? They gave me a new wheel free of charge and sent me on my way.
Lesson learned ?? If the FTM says you have a leak, you probably do.
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#3
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Yes, the system does work. But it is pretty poor that the display does not tell you which wheel has the problem. The system uses the ABS sensor I believe to monitor the rotational speed of each wheel. Wheen one changes speed vs the other it indicates a loss of pressure so the system alerts you to the flat. As the sensor must know which wheel is affected why doesn;t the display show this? It is infuriating when coupled to the run flats as there is no obvious sign of a puncture and you have to inspect all 4 wheels to find which one as the problem. The system can also be a pain to reset. When I had a puncture and had to have a new tyre fitted I hhad to reset the system at least 6 times before it accepted that the new tyre was ok.
Thumbs down to the BMW IT boys on this issue.
Thumbs down to the BMW IT boys on this issue.
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Originally Posted by 04r1belgium' date='Feb 17 2005, 08:18 AM
Lesson learned ?? If the FTM says you have a leak, you probably do.
[snapback]91191[/snapback]
#6
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I got a FTM alarm a month ago, I immediately stopped and checked pressure on all tires, rear passenger tire was a little low (Not noticeable). I took it to dealership and they found a nail on it, they repaired it in a little over half an hour and off I go.
Nice feature, I agree, it would be much nicer if it will tell you what tire is it. Also, it takes a while to reset itself and the car needs to be standing still, not moving for it to reset properly.
Nice feature, I agree, it would be much nicer if it will tell you what tire is it. Also, it takes a while to reset itself and the car needs to be standing still, not moving for it to reset properly.
#7
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I thought it only needed to be standing still with engine running when starting the reset, but that it took about 10 minutes of driving for the FTM to become active.
#9
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I don't know how it works but few days on the snow with summer tyres (lot of wheel spinning) did not gave any alarms. Today I changed winter tyres and got alarm. Conclusion... I don't know.
Skaffa
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