Inawise TPMS installation
I have my Inawise 6 TPMS system up and running. I haven't permanently plumbed in the connection yet, but I've fixed the head unit, using double sided tape but not the stand provided, on the little ledge below the instrument binacle in front of the tacho. It doesn't obscure it at all from my (or my wife's) angle of view, can be seen through the steering wheel and fits in very neatly - the angle of the base of the unit is just about spot on for that location. Running the wiring is made potentially a little bit tricky as you can't unplug the power and antenna wires from the back of the unit, but I found I could run them down to the left of the steering column tucked behind the shroud that allows for the column adjustment without fouling anything.
I then removed the plastic cover above the pedals (just two phillips screws, and you have to unplug the connection to the footwell light) and pushed the power lead under the bottom edge of the centre console's plastic where it meets the carpet at the left of the footwell, so only the last few inches is exposed where it is brought up to the r/h power socket on the console. I then took off the plastic cover on the right of the footwell (you have to pop up the front edge of the plastic strip which secures the carpet alongside the driver's door and then ease the trim piece towards the rear of the car to slide the plastic clips out of the button connectors that fix the panel to the body, and also out of the felt strip along the bottom front edge of the door frame - it sounds tricky but is actually pretty easy as it's all flexible) and then ran one of the antenna wires down the right hand side of the car by pushing it under the plastic trim, which I eased up with a wide screwdriver blade, which secures the carpet across both side doors and behind the B pillar, and the last bit up under the edge of the plastic round the rear wheelarch, which was as far as it went.
I then switched it on and found after the requisite wait that all the wheels were being picked up - including my second spare which was about 10 metres away in the garage! - so no need to repeat the excercise of running the second antenna wire down the left hand side, which would have meant a lot more pulling apart of dash trim to feed the wire across, so I just loosely coiled the second wire and tucked it as far as I could over the transmission tunnel behind the dash before reassembling all the trim bits I'd removed. Took about half an hour all up.
If the location proves successful after a few week's use, then I'll hard-wire the connection so I don't have to use up a 12v dash socket full time.
Gavin
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TPMS Tyre Pressure Monitoring – Schrader system?
I have been following this thread with some interest as I have been considering installing internal sensors when I purchase new 19” tyres.
The Inawise is not readily available over here so I seem to be favoring the Schrader AirAware 20257 hard wired kit as I like the design of the internal pressure sensor.
The display is no heck to look at but is small and I guess does the job. Orange makes a similar system with a very nice looking display but the internal pressure sensors are what I consider a less desirable design. Yes they are very similar to the factory OEM sensors with metal valve stems and what Inawise is using as well but with the stems being metal, there is no "give" in them.
The Schrader units have valve stems that look like normal rubber non TPMS valve stems and are now here pretty much OEM standard on GM, Ford, and Dodge pickups.
From what I can tell, the Schrader rubber valve set up fits all rims, and just sucks in like a normal rubber tyre valve; also there are no corrosion concerns related to dissimilar metals, cap, valve core or anything else such as O rings and the like.
Also over here, the metal stems have difficulty with the cold weather. The big fuss this year at the local LR/Jag Dealer was that the Jag stems were cracking due to “road hazard” and hence many annoyed new Jag owners as “so sorry, not covered”.
My primary concern with the Schrader, or any other system, is loss of signal. That is can the RF signal from the individual wheels make it for the most part, into the cab and be picked up by the receiver/display? That is I think the primary problem of any of the retro fit systems - signal strength, and hence why the LR factory system has antennas near each wheel. It seems that Inawise has solved that problem with their antenna extension wires – a good idea.
I wondered if anyone on the forum had any experience with the Schrader system? It is also available in Australia. O'Neills Tyres Pty ltd