TPMS

Are you reprogramming the new sensor with the original frequency info/ sensor ID? Do me a favor. Here are the basic diagnostics, which it sounds like you've already done. Just take a look through them and see if possibly you missed something. Pic 1 correlates with the directions.

I'm not sure how you are programming things. I have a scan/TPMS tool that I have the option to re-enter the original sensor ID information. When I do it that way, I have no trouble. When I program them with a random ID, I always run into trouble.

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2012 Honda Accord L4-2.4L
TPMS Control Unit
Vehicle ALL Diagnostic Trouble Codes ( DTC ) Testing and Inspection Manufacturer Code Charts 38 TPMS Control Unit
TPMS CONTROL UNIT
TPMS DTC Troubleshooting: 32, 34, 36, 38

DTC 32, 34, 36, 38:

Tire Pressure Sensor Signal Failure

NOTE:

- Inspect for an aftermarket electrical device(s) (such as an inverter, battery charger, CB radio, etc) interfering with the RF signal from the tire pressure sensors when driving the vehicle.
- If DTC 41 is also set, troubleshoot the DTC first See: A L L Diagnostic Trouble Codes ( DTC ) > Manufacturer Code Charts > TPMS Control Unit.

1. Turn the ignition switch to LOCK (0).

2. Make sure all four wheels are TPMS type wheels with mounted tire pressure sensor.

Are TPMS type wheels with a tire pressure sensor mounted on the vehicle?

YES -

Go to step 3.

NO -

Install a TPMS type wheel, and memorize the tire pressure sensor ID with the HDS See: Tire Pressure Sensor > Programming and Relearning > Memorizing The Tire Pressure Sensor ID.

3. Turn the ignition switch to ON (II).

4. Check for DTCs with the HDS.

5. Note the tire pressure sensor(s) number by the indicated DTC.

Pic 1

6. Do the tire pressure sensor location procedure to determine the affected tire location and relate it to the tire pressure sensor number See: Tire Pressure Sensor > Programming and Relearning > Tire Pressure Sensor Location.

Did each tire pressure sensor respond to the TPMS tool?

YES -

Go to step 7.

NO -

Check for an aftermarket electrical device interfering with the RF signals from the sensors. If there are no electrical devices causing interference, replace the appropriate tire pressure sensor See: Tire Pressure Sensor > Removal and Replacement > Tire Pressure Sensor Replacement.

7. Turn the ignition switch to LOCK (0), and wait 5 minutes or more.

8. Test-drive the vehicle at 28 mph (45 km/h) or more for at least 1 minute.

9. Check if the value of the AIR PRESSURE and AIR TEMPERATURE of the affected sensor changes from DEFAULT to the correct tire pressure on the TPMS DATA LIST with the HDS.

Does the value of the AIR PRESSURE and AIR TEMPERATURE change from DEFAULT to the correct tire pressure?

YES -

Intermittent failure, the system is OK at this time.

NO -

Replace the appropriate tire pressure sensor See: Tire Pressure Sensor > Removal and Replacement > Tire Pressure Sensor Replacement.

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Here are the relearn directions I have.

Tire Pressure Sensor Location

Special Tools Required

- TPMS Trigger Tool ATEQ VT55
- TPMS Trigger Tool Bartec Wheelrite Tech 300-J-48714
Available through the Honda Tool and Equipment Program 888-424-6857
*For Canada: Available through DES-Canada 866-868-3372

NOTE:

- Make sure the TPMS tool has the latest software. Check the official Honda service website for more service information about the TPMS tool.
- The TPMS tool is necessary to do this procedure.
- Let the vehicle sit for at least 5 minutes to allow the tire pressure sensors to switch to sleep mode.
- This procedure locates where the tire pressure sensors 1, 2, 3, 4 are mounted, when activated by the TPMS tool.
- Position the vehicle at least 10 ft (3 m) away from other vehicles that have tire pressure sensors.

1. With the ignition switch in LOCK (0), connect the HDS to the data link connector (DLC) (A) located under the driver's side of the dashboard.

Pic 2

2. Turn the ignition switch to ON (II).

3. Make sure the HDS communicates with the vehicle and the TPMS control unit. If it does not, troubleshoot the DLC circuit See: Data Link Connector > Component Tests and General Diagnostics > DLC Circuit Troubleshooting.

4. Using the HDS, bring up the TPMS DATA LIST, scroll down to the bottom, and locate the four tire pressure sensor ID numbers. These are the sensor ID numbers assigned to each tire location.

5. Follow the HDS screen prompts under tire pressure sensor ID learn, to turn on the TPMS tool.

6. Hold the TPMS tool (A) near the valve stem of one wheel, and activate the tire pressure sensor.

Pic 3

7. The TPMS tool will display the sensor data including the tire pressure sensor ID number.

8. Locate the tire pressure sensor ID number in the TPMS DATA LIST with the HDS, and match it to the sensor ID on the TPMS tool. Note the sensor location.

9. Turn the ignition switch to LOCK (0).

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Let me know if this helps.

Joe

Hello, I'm Danny.

So what exactly is the question you are asking? Get back to us and we'll go from there. Thanks for using 2CarPros.

Hello again.

Sorry for the delay I've been busy at work due to our local wildfires and the holidays. When you say after driving 35 miles the light comes on and off what is the actual code number that shows? Get back to us and we'll go from there. Hope this helps and thanks again for using 2CarPros.

Danny-

Hello again.

I was just in contact with a friend of mine who works at a tire store. He said you should also check the pressure in the spare tire. 60 PSI. Can you believe that! It will trip the code as well. Get back to us and we'll go from there if it doesn't work. Thanks again for using 2CarPros.

Danny-

Just to jump in, if your code is always on the number 4 sensor then I suspect you have a signal strength issue.

The way this system works is it needs to see a specific signal strength to register the ID. So I suspect you have some sort of interference that is interrupting the signal.

This system is not constantly looking for the IDs. It only checks for a signal every couple of minutes otherwise the battery in the sensor would be drained in about a week. So the sensor responds to the modules request for the pressure only when the vehicle is moving. If the sensor does not get a request in 5 minutes, then it goes to sleep. I suspect your sensor is going to sleep because it is either not getting the request from the module or it is getting the request and the module is not getting the response so it sets the light.

This is like if you have ever had a weak signal on your cell phone and did not get a text message until you got better service. You have service but the data cannot be transferred because the signal strength is not good enough.

So if the sensor that always fails is number 4 then that would be the one furthest away from the module and I am pretty sure you have a interference.

Do you have anything on the vehicle that is giving off its own RF signal? I am attaching the testing for this code. Let's run through this and report back. Thanks

Hello again.

Just curious if you had any new news to report back from testing on this TPMS issue. Keep us updated. Thanks again for using 2CarPros and Happy Holidays.

Danny-

Hi. Thanks for jumping in on this. If you are getting code 38 each time, then we have an issue with number 4 sensor getting reported in.

This normally means the sensor is the issue but if you replaced the sensor and this is intermittent then we do need to suspect interference.

The way this works is each sensor gives off a signal and the module determine which sensor is reporting in based on the signal strength. So, it knows that the weakest signal is sensor number 4 however, if there is interference then that signal may not register.

So, the module that gets this signal is in the driver side front of the vehicle and it picks up all the sensors and then will miss the passenger side rear tire.

Please see the info attached on this code. What I would suggest is if you have this camera plugged in, let's unplug it or disconnect it and see if this issue continues.

If not, we are going to have to run through the testing and see if the sensor fails.

Hi. Thanks for responding here. I see you started a new post as well. I deleted that post just to keep everything together on this issue as this is the same issue so we can continue it here on this post.

It is possible that the antenna is the issue without the code. Normally you will get the antenna code if the circuit inside of it is broken.

However, we are most likely dealing with a signal strength issue so the antenna could be the issue. This is not definitive because if you noticed this when you changed the tires and sensors then we need to investigate that more.

Did you change the sensors because you were changing the tires and they were just there, and you figured it was best to do it while they were exposed? Or was there an issue with them and you changed them after the issue started?

Okay. Thanks for that info. I agree that it is unlikely that the wheels are the issue, but you said they are aftermarket wheels.

Something we cannot discount is I think we are making an assumption that the OEM sensors are "better" than the ones you had.

Just because they are OEM does not mean they are going to work better in all cases. Those sensors were designed and built to work with the wheels and other components that came on the vehicle originally.

If you had aftermarket sensors with your aftermarket wheels and there was no issue and now you put the OEM sensor in with the aftermarket wheels, then that may be the issue.

You were not wrong that the OEM sensor are the best to use but we can't rule out an issue with the sensor and the wheels.

However, if you added the camera at the same time then we have a couple variables that we need to start eliminating one at a time.

Since the camera is the easiest, let's start with that but if this is hardwired then it is unlikely causing the issue, but I think we can't make assumptions at this point.