Tire Deflation System

[filmAlive]

Hi all

I recently purchase a Ford Fiesta Titanium X. 14 plate, but I believe '13 model. I asked the salesman at the time of purchase whether this came with tire deflation monitoring, to which he confirmed yet.

However yesterday I got my first puncture, but no warning in the cabin, no information on the display or lit up symbol on the dashboard.

Is there a way to check if it has these? and should these be as standard on this model?

I have looked on the Ford brochure which says they are but that is the 2014 catalog as Ford don't have the older one on the site anymore.

Alas I think I am stuck anyway as it was a verbal confirmation rather than written.

Any help anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

[alexp999]

Try putting your registration in Ford ETIS:

www.etis.ford.com

Then see if you can find anything like DDS, Deflation Detection, Tyre Pressure Monitor, etc.

[MattDRX]

If the brochure you had at the time said it then it should have it regardless if it does or not, a 14 plate bought in 14 should be 14 spec imo.

[Phil 87]

I think when you turn on the ignition you should see the light on the dash, I forget what it looks like but I think it's on the rev counter. The manual will tell you what the symbol is.

[StumpyBloke]

I found its availability very hit and miss on the 14 plate cars when I was looking into it.

Sent from my iPhone using Ford OC

[troy45]

There's a bit in the small print on brochures to cover changes in specifications, prices, colours, plus using computer generated pictures and the like.

Manufacturers model years don't match the calendar years, and there's always going to be a mixture of current and previous MY cars in dealer stock. Easy to spot when they've done a facelift but lot harder with intermediate MY updates.

[Gary.J]

If you go into the system settings, there is an option to turn the deflation system on and off, if it's installed.

[Bilbo Baggins]

Thought it used the ABS to detect a differential in wheel slippage when braking applied if there is a difference in tyre pressures between wheels. Wouldn't necessarily detect a catastrophic puncture, or flat spotted on returning to car etc

[Gary.J]

It works by using the difference in wheel circumference between a fully charged tyre and a deflated one. You set the parameter in the on screen menu when you know the tyres are inflated to the correct pressure, and the reduction should set off the warning once you get a puncture. Obviously the low profile tyres on the ST mean a much smaller reduction between fully inflated and deflated, so may not be as effective at this if the system isn't precise enough.

[gillyallan]

Mine is a 14 plate april 14 and doesn't have it. I believe there was a transition from the abs type to the new type around this time and cars around then didn't get any.

[TomsFocus]

Might be there just not activated?

I bought a 2008 Focus and had a major puncture within a week! Didn't even know as the tyre didn't look flat, just thought the steering had got unusually heavy until I went to top up the tyres and found one with 12PSI.

Anyway, turned out the system was there, just not activated for some reason...though I can't see why. I just activated it with ELMConfig and it seems to work well for me now.

[gillyallan]

So do you think that's possible I could get ford to activate the tyre sensors through abs on my 14 plate titanium ?

Likely to be expensive or a simple thing they'd do while in for a service ?

[TomsFocus]

It's only deflation detection via ABS, rather than pressure sensing, but yeah, if it uses the same ABS module as the older cars it could probably be activated.

It was as simple as ticking a box for me on the Focus with ELMConfig. If its possible, should be that easy for Ford to do.

[alexp999]

You won't find a Ford dealer who will do this.

You'll need someone with the kit to do it manually.

[gillyallan]

Presume so you can't blame them for something going wrong with it ? Who would likely have a machine ? A local small garage ?

[TomsFocus]

I hadn't thought about that, but I don't see why they would deny making your car safer?

Unfortunately ELMConfig doesn't work on Fiestas. But there must be some other free software you can use with a modified ELM cable for them? It won't be something a normal independent garage could do, but a Ford specialist might.

[gillyallan]

Just find it annoying that I could have something useful only held back by not having a tick Mark on the configuration settings.

[MarksST]

Your not really missing out, they were a bit hit and miss in operation, possibly why it was changed to tyre pressure monitoring sensors.

If you have TPMS you will have metal tyre valve, if you have DDS you will have normal rubber valves but the option will be in the car settings menu.

Can't see it being just ticking a box in the configuration as the option was £75, there must be something else involved as it wasn't an option on all models either.

[troy45]

Generally DDS systems are cheaper to implement as they use existing hardware - ABS sensors & brake module then the work is done in software. Not even sure if they'll test the system in the factory as it would be quite time consuming lowering a tyre pressure for example, trying to get the system to trigger then re-inflatingthe tyre again.

On the other hand TPMS requires the sensors in each wheel, receivers at each corner of the car plus associated wiring, perhaps also a TPMS module (not sure about that) then loads of faffing reading TPMS codes from the wheels, programming them to the car and running the system through some learning cycles during rolling road tests. So more parts and labour involved for TPMS.