TPMS: Test Before You Touch

TPMS: Test Before You Touch

When it comes to TPMS service, there are several best practices shops should follow as standard protocol. One of the most important of these practices is “Test Before You Touch.”

When it comes to TPMS service, there are several best practices shops should follow as standard protocol. One of the most important of these practices is “Test Before You Touch.”

Test Before You Touch is almost a direct result of the “make inoperative” provision in the Motor Vehicle Safety Act as it applies to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 138, Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems. In layman’s terms, the provision states that if a vehicle comes into a facility with working TPMS, it must leave the facility with working TPMS. A shop cannot knowingly disable TPMS in the vehicles that it services. 

Test Before You Touch was developed as a best practice to help shops prove they are following this provision. However, there are other benefits to testing TPMS-equipped vehicles before they enter your shop’s bays. Test Before You Touch can also be a valuable tool to help shops educate customers. 

Test Before You Touch is a best practice suggested by almost all TPMS manufacturers and tool providers, as well as the Tire Industry Association (TIA).

Protecting the Shop

While some may find Test Before You Touch as time consuming, it’s a step that shops would be remiss to skip. If a shop fails to check a customer’s vehicle for a TPMS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL), the shop could be on the hook for fixing any problems with the TPMS.

“Test Before You Touch is about knowing if there are any issues with the TPMS before you pull it in the shop,” said Kevin Rohlwing, senior vice president of training for TIA. “Consumers will claim that the light wasn’t on before you touched it. The system was operational before you worked on it. So, the initial ‘check TPMS lights on the dashboard before you pull it in the bay,’ is probably the most important. If there is a malfunction indicator lamp, you can advise the consumer that the TPMS is inoperable before you work on it.”

If an MIL is found before service, the shop will have the opportunity to discuss TPMS options with the customer. 

Fixing the TPMS system should always be suggested and the benefits of properly working TPMS shared with the customer. Properly inflated tires grip the road better, providing better handling and shorter stopping distances. Additionally, properly inflated tires will also wear better than if they are underinflated, extending the life of the tire. 

However, if the customer denies TPMS service, the shop will have documentation that the vehicle came in with its TPMS system not performing properly. In which case, depending on the scenario, a shop may still be able to work on the vehicle’s tires and wheels. 

While the “make inoperative” provision can be a little confusing, a letter to the NHTSA from TIA sought to clarify different scenarios shops may encounter (see TechShop December 2018, January and February 2019). 

Educating Consumers

While TPMS has been mandatory on vehicles for 10 years, not all consumers understand the system. Practicing Test Before You Touch gives shops the opportunity to “talk TPMS” with consumers and educate them on the system. Any education you can provide will serve to better equip the customer to make informed decisions. 

After you perform your initial testing of the TPMS, share the pre-repair audit information with the customer. Let them know if the battery life of their TPMS is about to end. They may opt for a new battery or sensors now, so they don’t have to return later when the TPMS fails. 

Explain why a rubber valve cap is better at preventing corrosion than their metal valve cap. And, if it looks like their valve stem is experiencing corrosion and may break off with service, let them know this upfront. 

Even if nothing is wrong with the TPMS, showing the customer this pre-repair audit will demonstrate your concern for them and their vehicle. At that time, you can further explain the TPMS sensor service kit and how every time a tire is removed it must be replaced. This discussion can help them understand why they’re being charged for a sensor service kit, so they’ll see the value rather than the extra “fee.”

Testing with Every Tire & Wheel Service

Test Before You Touch should be practiced with every vehicle that comes into the shop for wheel or tire service. 

There are four basic steps to the Test Before You Touch procedure:

Step 1: The shop should check for a TPMS warning symbol on the dashboard of the car. 

Step 2: Examine the valve caps. Replace all metal caps with rubber caps. Look for corrosion and how easily the cap can be removed. If you find defects, make notes to share with the customer. 

Step 3: Check the TPMS sensors with a diagnostic scan tool. Check for battery life and sensor functionality. 

Step 4: Print a pre-repair audit for shop documentation and to share with the customer. 

Test Before You Touch takes time to perform, but, in the end, it is a value to both the shop and the customer.

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