Stoodo

Can the tire pressure monitoring system be retrofitted?

Jet Jockey/A4 Pilot

The question is, why would you want to?

DrGP

<ul><li><a href="http://www.tiresmonitor.com/en/tpms_uk.htm">Tire pressure monitor</a></li></ul>

DirkM

It looks like the instrument cluster has to support the TPMS and the B6 cluster doesn't do this. The B7 cluster does but it is uncertain if you can use a B7 cluster in a B6 (besides the fact that it is pretty expensive). Therefore, right now the answer is no.

Stoodo

I was playing with my VAG today and I did the Instrument Light cluster test that lights all the dash lights.

One of the lights that I couldn't find a reference to in the manual was a picture of Tire a with an Arrow pointing to the treads.

If I remember correctly it was to the left of the cruise control indicator.

EDIT Pic added: <img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/91150/picture116_11jun05.jpg">

Could that be the TPMS indicator?

ed4

I've got TPMS in my B7 S4 and the indicator (low pressure or system malfunction) is displayed in my center LCD display. My instrument cluster seems identical to the B6, as does 99.9999% of the other parts in the B7.

DirkM

First, how did you get all the symbols to light up? That's indeed the TPMS symbol but the B7 shows the warning in the DIS (as far as I know, might be incorrect though).

<a href="http://de.openobd.org/audi/a4_8e.htm#17">openodb.org</a> lists under STG 17 (instrument cluster) - Function 10 - Channel 62 the following values:

+00001 - ILM (Serie)
+00002 - ZKE (Serie)
+00064 - Anhänger (Mehrausstattung)
+00128 - Verdeck (Serie bei Cabrio)
+00256 - Kombigerät (Serie)
<B>+00512 - Reifendruckkontrolle (Mehrausstattung)</B>
+01024 - Lenksäulenmodul (Serie)
+02048 - Klima (Serie)
+32768 - Standheizung (Mehrausstattung)

+00512 is the TPMS and there is no reference to either B6 or B7. Therefore it should be valid for both. The TPMS is CAN based, if the cluster supports TPMS you should be able to add 512 to the current value and get an error saying that the device could not be found. If you can't add 512 then the cluster doesn't support this component. So, even if the DIS will not display a flat tire, there might be a symbol which lights up. That's the theory.

DirkM

I did some more research and there are several threads about retrofitting the TPMS in an A4/S4 B6/8E. They are all in German but it looks like it's possible, though expensive.

The color DIS (B6 and B7) seems to support TPMS. There is one guy who said in March 2003 he installed the A8 or Allroad TPMS components in his A4 B6/8E. No details about part numbers though.
<a href="http://www.audi4ever.at/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=6381">originale Reifendruckkontrolle im A4 8E</a>

Another discussion from March 2004 lists some part numbers:
Controller: 4D0 907 273C
Sensor: 4D0 907 275 4x
Antenna: 4D0 907 277 4x
Valve: 4D0 601 361
Harness: 4B9 972 220D
Switch: 8E0 919 721
Costs: about 1200 Euro
<a href="http://7797.rapidforum.com/topic=101082433675">Wer hatt das schon nachgerĂĽstet im 8E</a>

Since the components are more common these days, the costs may actually be less. There might even be B7 specific parts which are easier to get and install. But it looks like quike a lot more research is required.

Waggin

IS this a system that uses pressure sensors in each tire, to report the actual inflaction pressures, or does it use the ABS sensors to detect a change in speed of the low tire relative to the others?
(The problem with the speed sensing systems is that they can't detect if all 4 tires are low.)

Stoodo

I recoded that item. (Channel 61 not 62) and here is what I got:

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/91150/picture117_12jun05.jpg">

I would say this looks promising.