Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM) System

The Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM) system warns the driver when a significant loss of tire pressure occurs in any of the 4 tires, and allows the driver to display the individual tire pressures and their locations on the Driver Information Center (DIC) while the vehicle is being driven.

The TPM system uses the Body Control Module (BCM), Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC), Driver Information Center (DIC), remote control door lock receiver (RCDLR), a Radio Frequency (RF) transmitting pressure sensor in each wheel/tire assembly, and the serial data circuit to preform the system functions.

The tire pressure sensors go into stationary mode, when the vehicle is stationary. The tire pressure sensors measure the tire pressure once every 30 seconds, and only transmit if the tire pressures change. When the vehicle speed increases, the tire pressure sensor go into rolling mode. In this mode, the tire pressure sensors sample tire pressure once every 30 seconds and transmits once every 60 minutes.

The tire pressure sensors transmit their measurements as a radio frequency (RF) signal to the RCDLR. The RDFLR receives and translates the data into sensor presence, sensor mode, and tire pressure. The RCDLR then sends the tire pressure and tire location data to the DIC via the serial data circuit. The DIC displays the tire position and its value.

The tire pressure sensors continuously compare their current pressure sample with their last pressure sample and will transmit in re-measure mode whenever a 1.2 psi (8.3 kPa) change in tire pressure has occurred. The re-measure mode transmissions occur in stationary mode and rolling mode.