Had my first flat on my '05 Frontier the other day. After changing the tire the low pressure warning light remained on. I finally figured out that the spare - full sized with new rim - does NOT include the sensor.
Bottom line: move the patched tire to the spare rim, or have Nissan install another sensor! What a scam.
I never had to change to put on my spare (knock on wood), but that is a really stupid thing. Since its a full size, its not like if you get a flat and put it on, you need to get the other fixed right away, you can drive a while on it. You would think since of this, they would have the sensor on the spare.
__________________ 2005 Radiant Silver Crew Cab LE 4x4 Frontier Mods : (visual) Manik Brush/Grill guard, Manik tail light guards, weathertech window vents, Tweety and Scooby Doo window decals, Pathfinder window switch covers, (audio) new 6disk in dash cd changer, (performance) Extang Blackmax cover Car Domain : http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2183325 Website : http://www.moonsofneptune.com
the sensor is the valve stem - not easily changed and you need to take the tire off to do it - also, it is known that there is not sensor int he spare...
I think the system only supports 4 sensors anyways...
Also, why not drive on the patched tire??? not really seeing how it is a scam...
Had my first flat on my '05 Frontier the other day. After changing the tire the low pressure warning light remained on. I finally figured out that the spare - full sized with new rim - does NOT include the sensor.
Bottom line: move the patched tire to the spare rim, or have Nissan install another sensor! What a scam.
I wonder which wheels you have. I recall reading in the manual that Nissan does not recommend a 5-wheel rotation; I had no idea why. But I got a flat also and noticed that while the 5th wheel is the same size, it does not match the other 4 (it's steel). I figured that might be why.
Sensor or not, the wheel doesn't match anyway - unless yours do.
Is there any problem with driving on the patched tire? I suppose it could be compromised because of the patch...
__________________ My 2005 Frontier Crew Cab
God bless us fools / screwing up all your rules / hanging onto our bar stools
Sensor or not, the wheel doesn't match anyway - unless yours do.
Sounds like you got the steel spare? Nissan switched to a matching spare midway through the 2005 model year. Probably around when they aluminum driveshaft and chrome accents came out.
Not sure if my matching alloy spare has a sensor in it though.
Oh great. I have the full-size spare w/'matching alloy and I was looking forward to a 5-tire rotation. I guess I won't be doing that, but I don't know why it can't read the sensor in the spare's cradle (put there after the rotation of course given that we have only a total of 4 sensors).
Well it's not like the truck wont drive without four operating sensors. You could do a 5 wheel rotation and just ignore or defeat the TPMS. Although, if you have 4x4 the electronic disengagement might complain on you.
Oh great. I have the full-size spare w/'matching alloy and I was looking forward to a 5-tire rotation. I guess I won't be doing that, but I don't know why it can't read the sensor in the spare's cradle (put there after the rotation of course given that we have only a total of 4 sensors).
I think it would be great idea to monitor the pressure in the spare as well. Hmmm... modification?
I used to be a tow truck driver and you would not believe how many of my calls could have been eliminated if the spare wasn't flat!
Lots of bad info around this. A couple trueisms before I drop it.
1. The sensor is not in the valve stem or cap. There are color caps systems but they are junk. Might as well stick a mood ring on there.
2. On the '05 Frontier the sensor is mounted in the wheel and is (believe it or not) based on the rate of rotation of the tire. As a tire deflates, its diameter decreases and affects the rate of rotation the sensor "counts" this and sends it to the computer. This sensor assembly must be mounted into spare CHA-CHING. And the spare tire/rim/wheel must match exactly CHA-CHING if you want to have a 5-tire rotation. Toyotas have a simple pressure-based system that you can reset when you change tires.
3. And for the guy who doesn't mind driving around on a patched tire when he could be using a perfectly good full-sized spare, what can I say?
"2. On the '05 Frontier the sensor is mounted in the wheel and is (believe it or not) based on the rate of rotation of the tire. As a tire deflates, its diameter decreases and affects the rate of rotation the sensor "counts" this and sends it to the computer. This sensor assembly must be mounted into spare CHA-CHING. And the spare tire/rim/wheel must match exactly CHA-CHING if you want to have a 5-tire rotation. Toyotas have a simple pressure-based system that you can reset when you change tires."
I'm doubtful as to whether the sensor is actually mounted in the wheel. My knowledge of these systems indicates that the sensor is the same sensor as that used for the ABS system. Since both systems (ABS and low pressure) are measuring wheel rotation it seems logical that the same sensor is used for both. The sensor is probably part of the braking system components. There's been some debate that this is not a "true" low pressure system, but, since it uses existing hardware and only requires computer programming it's a cheaper approach. The use of pressure transducers for each wheel, while a technically better approach, is more expensive. I'd be curious, whether owners who have replaced all four wheels with aftermarket parts have experienced any similar problems.
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