Autel ts501 tpms tool

 Some point at the end of last year my car tpms light started to blink at me, this was new and i had no idea why it was blinking, I checked the tyres and it was still flashing.

Usually if I get low pressure the light stays illuminated, so good old google told me the car had lost signal to one of the sensors in the car, which one?? Over time, I got to suspect the rear left was faulty. it needed testing. 

To replace a tpms valve the cost was anything from 100 pounds up, some would only install the maker only part and the sensor alone was a very silly price, so I started to google my issue to see if I could repair it cheaper, the short answer was I couldn't do it cheaper as replace one but in total both cars I have 9 sensors that would cost at least £900 as they fail

I looked into the issue and I found a company that provides many types of diagnostic tools, including tpms diagnostics, I purchased the autel ts501, it can read the sensor information amongst other things, there are 5 hand held units in the ts range and all do different things 

Testing P0113 error

 

I found this video on testing both functions of the MAF sensor (we are testing the seciond part, the IAT part.

You will need the correct tool to remove the sensor, in my case it was a Philips screwdriver and a multimeter to test the function of the temperature side of the sensor, you will also need to understand how to use and understand readings from your multimeter 

1. remover the plug for the sensor.
2. Remove the screws 
3. gently wiggle the sensor and it will come out 
4. lay the sensor on a clean surface 
5. get the multimeter and set it up to read K ohms

information on testing from the above has been snipped out 

On measuring the sensor with the ambient temp that the sensor is in is at 17 degrees, I got 1.92k ohm (this is working fine at this temperature), it doesn't mean the sensor isn't failing at higher temps.

I cleared the error code and switched the ignition off and started the car, it hasn't come back yet, I will take the car for a drive and see if it comes back 

ELM327

 Earlier this year, I purchased a very cheap fault code reader named the ELM327 blue tooth for around £5.00p 

This is the 1st time I have used it on my car, it allows you to connect to an app on your phone via Bluetooth. 

Setting up the Elm327 Bluetooth 

1. plug the unit into the Obd2 port in your car and see if it lights up, (sometimes you will need to switch the ignition on before it will light up) 
2. with your phone, search for Bluetooth device OBDII
3. Connect to OBDII it will ask for a pass code (it is usually 1234 or 0000 if there is no info with the plug) 
4. I have an android phone and searched in google play for ELM327 and found an app called clear and go (picture below) many other apps available that I haven't tried.

1. Then you open the app and press connect, and it will ask you how you wish to connect, select Bluetooth, and it will give you a bunch of options (select ODBII) and it will go back to the main screen
2. press scan (if it is and engine fault, it will show up in the top of the main screen. )
3. select the error code, and it will give you more information about the fault and help in trying to fix it.
4. Press clear, and it will delete the error code, if you have fixed the fault the engine warning light will clear (sometimes you need to turn the car off and then start the car up to see if it has fixed the fault, sometimes it's an intermittent fault that may return over time)