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I'm going to be picking up a seperate set of wheels this season for my '08 Si Sedan and noticed that the Tire Rack mentions the following about not installing $279 tire pressure monitoring devices in the race wheels:

"Important Notes:
Unless a QUICKSET is purchased, new TPMS sensors must be initialized at the dealer. Dealership labor is not included in the cost of the sensors. If TPMS sensors are not installed in the wheels, the TPMS warning lights will stay permanently illuminated and an audible chime may also be heard at start-up. The vehicle's VSA (Vehicle Stability Assistance) will not be able to be turned off. In certain winter conditions it is useful to have the VSA turned off."

I really don't care to have TPMS on my race wheels as I'll be monitoring the pressures each run. So, doesn't it seem counter intuitive to say that the VSA can't be defeated without the sensors even though the car really has no idea which wheel(s) to brake using the VSA if the sensors are never added?

Does anyone have any feedback on the validity of this?

thanks,

Matt

For most of the newer cars, the lack of tire pressure sensors tend not to cause a problem unless the car is driven a fair amount of distance without them. For the Corvette, it's 50 miles and the RX-8 was about 75 miles.

What it's saying seems strange. I'd call the Tire Rack and ask for Trent (Chris Harvey). Tell him that you plan to autocross the car and don't want to install TPMS. He likely will know if it will be a problem or not. Chris has been autocrossing with the SCCA for a lot of years and should be able to give you good information. You can tell him I referred you. Good luck. - AB

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Thanks Aaron, I'll be sure to buzz him this week.

It just seems weird that they'd say the VSA can't be turned off and that would be like doing my runs with the traction control on in essence.

http://www.honda-tech.com/showthread.php?t=2373433

Sorry, it's not looking positive .

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2013/2014.5 President
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2015 Fit

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If it is the same system that is on the S2000 it won't be a problem. I have never had an issue with getting the traction control to turn off even though my race wheels don't have TMPS sensors in them.

I was told the same thing when I first bought the car and I was not happy about it. My first event with the car I drove from my house to Sanford (35 miles) with no pressure sensors in them. The TPMS light came on after about 20 miles of driving. I ran the event with the VSA turned off and looped the car once.

Now that I am changing tires at the event the TPMS light never even comes on as it needs to be driven about 15-20 miles before the system even triggers the light.

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2010 Honda Fit Sport
Couple of bicycles

Just ignore hooptie-tech. See my post above. I was told the same thing Matt is going through when I bought my car.

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2010 Honda Fit Sport
Couple of bicycles

Part of the reason I posted this is b/c I didn't know if you and Karl had this in your AP2's. I was hoping one of you guys would say that.

James, thanks for the find. I didn't event think to check H-T.

So, one technician says no way it's defeated and another posted a bulletin that's promising:

HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CIVIC!

I have rsx type s wheels on my 08 Si and my "tpms" light is on and my vsa isn't always on and neither is my other friends 08 si. You can spin the tires and launch you car all day long with no cut out of power.

I say do as Keith does: drive to the event on your stockers with the TPMS working and put your race wheels/tires on there so you don't even cross the mileage requirement where the TPMS light can come on. You can fit 4 wheels/tires in the trunk and backseat of the Civic no? It'd be a shame to waste a whole event with the castration button on .

_________________
2011/2012 Autox VP
2013/2014.5 President
2013 Top Gun

2015 Fit

22R-EC => 4G63 => D16Y7 + D16Y8 => EJ255 + K24Z2 => K20Z3 + K24Z2 => K24Z2 + M54 => L15B

That's probably what I'm going to do... With my luck the sensor light will come on as soon as I pull up to the grid and the VSA will be on.

Worst case scenario, I can just find some sensors for the next event.

Really don't even worry about it. I drove from my house to Sanford without sensors and was able to turn off my VSA. I launched the car with wheels spinning and then promptly spun it on my first run so I am 100% sure you can turn it off even once the TPMS light comes on after about 20 miles of driving.

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2010 Honda Fit Sport
Couple of bicycles

If it does turn out to be true that the TPMS and VSA are linked in your car, you could always hook up four of these in your trunk with fake "ok" signals. http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/produc ... ts_id=8945

I've been riding around with the tire light on, and now I wonder if the Mini is programmed to interfere...

Whoa! How does that work? Basically you use a 315mhz to match the frequency of the TPMS?

I have a feeling that doesn't hardwire in as easily as say, a radar detector.

Whoa! How does that work? Basically you use a 315mhz transmitter to match the frequency of the TPMS?

I have a feeling that doesn't hardwire in as easily as say, a radar detector.

Well, mostly I was being ridiculous, but yes. Of course, you'd have to reverse engineer the secret code somehow, then build a custom circuit board...

The mustang guys would go nutz for this. They all hate the TPMS.

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2003 BMW 330i