twobeemers

Good Morning,

My car is throwing a TPM Malfunfunction every day, most times right at startup. I pulled the codes and it's telling me the left front sensor isn't sending a signal. I have a replacement sensor but I can't for the life of me find the location on the car!! I have pulled back most of the wheel well lining, followed wires around and checked all over the place and still haven't found it.

Can someone tell me where to find that sensor so I don't get BONG'ed every time I start it up any longer?

Thanks!

jtbgonesailing

There is one central receiver for all 4 wheels. The individual wheel transmitters are inside the wheel/rim, attached/integrated into the valve stem. Usually the battery that powers them gives out after 10 years. Most tire shops have a tester that can confirm if the unit in each wheel is functioning properly. If one has gone out, replace all 4, as the remainder aren't far behind.

twobeemers

Thanks for the reply. But... I'm confused. According to this diagram from RealOEM,

RealOEM.com - Online BMW Parts Catalog

part #4 is the Trigger transmitter RDC of which there are 4, and part #1 is the Control unit RDC. As you can see from the diagram, absolutely no help as to where these things reside in the car.

The codes I pulled are as follows:

System: Tire Pressure Monitor (RDC)
604E RDC: System Error
604F RDC: Transmitter - Front Left

I figured if the transmitter couldn't "see" the wheel sensor, the error would be along those lines. But this tells me the RDC isn't getting a signal from the transmitter. To add to that, when the symptom started it had rained like crazy around here and I drove in it a LOT. then it dried out and went away, then it came back to stay the next rain.

I bought at new transmitter figuring it was connector or unit but I wanted the unit on hand in case it wasn't obviously the connector. I just can't find it!!!

audiophool

Following with interest.


When I switched from my winter wheels to my summer wheels, my TPM crapped out. Local tire shop says all my sensors are transmitting.


In my case, I've not pulled codes as yet. And I'm surprised about the coincidental issue as TPM was working fine with the winter (OE) wheels - summer wheels are BBS and have aftermarket sensors. I could put my winter wheels back on and see if the issue persists, but that seems like a lot of work.

twobeemers

Does anyone have a Bentley or other service manual that might help point to where this thing lives? No one has had one of these go bad before?

twobeemers

Found it!!

Rear side of the wheel well behind the liner. Took a dog's age to find the little bugger, though.

audiophool

Did replacing fix your problem?

twobeemers

Yes. The service tech said there was some coding involved, but I think they just had to clear the codes.