TST 507 Hiccup - going off/low pressure alarm

[RhumbleFish]

Hitched up the Roo and set up the TST 507 TPMS (with internal hub-mounted sensors) for a trip after a long hiatus (been a busy season for us, with family issues and college visits, we haven't camped near as much as we wanted to).

The TPMS fired up and immediately sounded its low pressure alarm, despite all tires being at acceptable levels. Our first stop is the nearest air pump (2 min from storage) where we always double check with a pressure guage and then top off every tire (if necessary), and use the potty one last time (if necessary), and maybe get a snack at McDonalds (if necessary) before jumping on the road.

Each tire was raised to proper inflation level (maybe 2 or 3 pounds apiece). The TST was seeing and reporting the proper pressures for each tire, but still going off. I ended up silencing the alarm and continuing, just keeping an eye on the display. No problems other than the seemingly erroneous alarm.

After a two hour tow and subsequently setting up camp, I took a look at the offending 507. It actually had a half charge on it when we set out, and the internal battery was full up by the time we had made camp.

Turns out, all the low pressure alarm levels had set/reset themselves to 100lbs (the Roo's Goodyear Endurance ask for an indicated 65lbs of pressure). So, the system was (improperly) seeing that I was 35 lbs low in each tire - and blowing its fool head off as a result.

I blame the long sit time - and potentially a low battery - for the hiccup, though every indication was that there was plenty of battery.

Reset levels (thanks to a little "how to" help from the internet), and we were back in business.

Anyway, hope this helps/Just thought I'd share. LOVE having tire pressure and temp aboard, really think it helps provide immediate indication and reduces a little load on the tow crew. I still do my manual checks, but this little safety piece is a nice bit of backup. If you don't have TPMS, you might consider it. Strong recco for the TST 507 system.

Safe travels.

 

[Bob K4TAX]

Aren't these electronic wonders wonderful?

I still resort to my old reliable tire pressure gauge. It works everytime, seems to always be correct, and never requires charging or performing a reset. There really is a few things in this world one can reliably count on to work.

Bob

 

[RhumbleFish]

Aren't these electronic wonders wonderful?

...He says, typing into his magical box attached to the imagination.

I feel you, Bob - like you, I keep ol' reliable close at hand, and still go through my manual checks like a good RV'er (even though I've had a few give up the ghost on me in the past - in particular the "premium" circular gauge type).

What TPMS provides - when working properly, which it has for a few years now - is advanced situational awareness that's available at any time. I can watch temps and pressures on each individual wheel/tire while underway and without having to wait for a gas break or rest stop.

And in the event of a blowout (!) or even a slow loss of pressure, I get immediate warning that I can pull over and do something about at my convenience.

Worth it, IMHO.

 

[Tex94]

Ours has set off a random unexplained pressure drop warning, three years ago, and just last trip randomly jumped to 468° in a tire and warning. Both prompting emergency stops—-and by the time I got back in the truck it was all back to normal.

Glitch? Bad reading?

These things are wonderful till the go rouge….

 

[5picker]

Yep, my TST will sometimes erroneously alarm one tire at 396°.
If I turn off the monitor and back on, allowing it to re-sync, all is well. This happens about once every 5-6 days of use.