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TPMS simulator v1.2 for Ford vehicles, from IRON GATES

The TPMS simulator replaces one, two, three or four tire pressure sensors that equip Ford vehicles, models mentioned on the website produced mainly for Europe and North America. Further down below are the unit’s operating modes. Going from one mode to the other is done sequentially as the arrows depict and it is accomplished by pressing the small black button. Do allow at least 4 seconds between presses of the button:

Setup instructions

It is best to set up the simulator in a quiet place, radio-wise. This means away from remote operated garage doors, a bunch of wireless thermometers in one small area, etc. Avoid the mall parking lot or gas stations. If your device is battery powered there is a big on / off red button; use it to turn on the device. If it is cable powered plug it in to a 12V socket.

Note there are 5 different preset pressure values; each time the device is turned on the next pressure preset value is used. The led will indicate which pressure preset value is being used by blinking once – five times upon powering the device on; this is a transitory “visual check of pressure preset value” mode, not depicted above, which immediately ceases and leaves the device in normal mode from the state diagram above. This transitory mode only happens at device power-on and no button presses are necessary to advance into next mode.

The fifth off/on cycle puts the device back to the current pressure value. In the advent you will see a “low tire pressure”, “check tire pressure” or similar message turn the device off and on and reattempt. One, or likely more than one of the values will work with your vehicle. Once a good preset value has been found mark down the number of blinks seen on power-on. See troubleshooting for the reason.

Vehicles With Standard Ignition

  • Turn ignition to the OFF position, press and release brake pedal

  • Quickly turn the ignition from OFF to RUN (engine OFF) three times, stop in RUN position

  • Press and release brake pedal, turn ignition OFF

  • Quickly turn the ignition from OFF to RUN (engine OFF) three times, stop in RUN position

  • A single horn chirp will indicate the relearn mode is active, and the dashboard message center, if equipped, will display “Train left front tire”

Vehicles With Start Push-Button

Important: some models require the start button pressed twice (without pressing the brake) to enter RUN mode (Ignition ON / Engine OFF). If this is the case, modify steps 3 and 5 as noted.

  • With the vehicle OFF, push and release the brake pedal

  • Push START button 5 times (NOTE: 8 times if 2x-to-RUN)

  • Press and release the brake pedal

  • Push START button 6 times (NOTE: 9 times if 2x-to-RUN)

  • A single horn chirp will indicate the relearn mode is active and the dashboard message center will display “Train left front tire”

Common steps:

  • Press the button on the simulator unit

  • A single horn sounds to indicate sensor learning successful

  • Repeat for right front, right rear and left rear tires, leaving at least a 4 seconds gap between presses of the button of the simulator unit

  • After training Left Rear tire the message center will display TRAINING MODE COMPLETE. If the vehicle is not equipped with message center display, successful completion can be verified by turning the ignition to the OFF position and not hearing the horn sound. If the horn sounds, the training procedure must be repeated.

Troubleshooting and returning the device

  • If you only wanted to simulate one, two or three sensors and the remaining real sensors are already paired to the vehicle then please make sure there is enough air in the tires, and instead of pressing the button on the simulator unit, for the wheels you have good sensors and want to keep them functional, uncap the valves and use a thin blunt object to quickly let air out of the tire until the horn chirps. For wheels with damaged / missing TPMS sensors just press the simulator button as described above;

  • If you only wanted to simulate one, two or three sensors and the remaining sensors are not already paired to the vehicle then you will need to pay a visit to the tire shop for them to pair the sensors to the vehicle first. Or, if you have a friend with a TPMS activator tool, use it on the TPMS sensors (against the tire sidewall) to activate them;

  • When alternating between different ID sets (i.e. real sensors and simulator) the vehicle will likely forget the simulated IDs, making a relearning necessary. In most cases this will happen when switching from summer tires (real sensors) to winter tires (simulator) or vice-versa.

  • It so happens now and then that the device gets reset due to road bumps / kids / etc and some “check tire pressure” message emerge. Especially if the device is battery powered. If it happens you only need to cycle power until the known to work PSI value preset has been reached (which you have hopefully marked down) and nothing else but drive as usual. The message will go away.

When you are alternating between the simulator and real pressure sensors it is recommended to open the simulator device and take out the batteries . Their life may be extended.

In the event of not being able to make it work please visit the website https://spooftpms.com – “Contact” section for assistance. I’ll be answering in English and Romanian.

Returns are accepted within 60 days of receiving the device. The device must be in operational condition and physically not damaged. It should be noted that the return fees are at customer’s expense. Also, there is 1 year of warranty for the units.