Advanced Technical Information
Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems Operation

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Vehicle Type:

All with tire pressure monitoring system

Model Year:

2003 - present

Information:

This bulletin will outline the Tire Pressure Monitoring systems Porsche has used since their
introduction. There are four system hardware configurations that have been used since the introduction of tire pressure monitoring.
A simple block diagram will illustrate each hardware configuration. A vehicle application chart outlining
the versions for that hardware configuration will accompany the diagram.
The following note is applicable for the four system configurations.
NOTE: In the actual values of the tester, the battery life of the wheel electronics can be seen. Checking this information when a vehicle is being serviced can help you alert the customer when the batteries are low and avoid a return visit.
The two summary points below are included here to make it easy to find, and compare, for all
systems.
Whether or not TPMS goes into learning mode is determined by the control unit only, for all
generations of systems.
• Learning mode is only active while driving above 25kph (15 mph)
• Below these vehicle speeds the system is locked. This is done for robustness, to avoid mutual
interference with other vehicles or to avoid learning in parking lots where there is a lot of steel
and unpredictable signal reflections.
• Stop and go traffic will not work for learning. The vehicle needs to keep moving at a speed
higher than the minimums given above, until learning has completed.
The wheel electronics of:
• Generation 1.x always transmit whether driving or standing.
• Generation 2.x transmit based on request by the trigger module.
• Generation 3.x transmit when wheel rotation is detected (latest at a speed above 25kph /
15mph). After 5 Minutes “standstill”, the TPMS wheel electronic will go to sleep.

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1.) TPMS – Generation “1.0” & “1.5” (permanent transmit):

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Tire Pressure Monitoring Generation “1.0” & “1.5”
• Function
• Wheel sensors transmit data at regular intervals via an HF radio frequency signal to each antenna
in the respective wheel well.
• The signal is received by the antenna and sent to the control unit for processing.
• The control unit displays the relevant information in the instrument cluster
• Sensor operation
• The wheel electronics unit is comprised of the following components:
• Pressure sensor
• Temperature sensor
• Battery
• Transmitter, measuring and control electronics
• There are two frequencies for the transmitters.
• 433 MHz is used in the U.S.
• 315 MHz is for areas such as Asia.
• The following information is transmitted by the wheel sensor:
• Individual ID number of sensor (also printed on the sensor body)
• Current tire inflation pressure (absolute pressure)
• Current temperature of air in the tire
• Status of integral battery
• Message information necessary for proper data transmission
• Sensor transmission modes
• During normal driving the sensor takes measurements every 3 seconds and transmits every 54
seconds.
• With a pressure loss of over 2.9 psi (0.2 bar) per minute, the sensor immediately goes into highspeed transmission mode, measuring and transmitting every 0.8 seconds.
• After the vehicle is parked and a specified run-on time, sleep mode is entered.
• Antenna Operation
• The antenna receives the HF radio signals for the TPM control unit.
• In the Cayenne model line the antenna receives the signals for the control unit and does
not process the high frequency signal (the control unit does it).
• In the 997 the antenna receives the signal and processes the high frequency signal into
a digital message that is sent to the control unit.
• NOTE: Refer to the application chart to see which Cayennes and 997 vehicles are
equipped with the 1.0 and 1.5 TPM systems
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• Learning Parameters
• Learning occurs only while driving
• The learning process is divided into three phases
• Recognition of own wheels (which wheels belong to this vehicle)
• Takes approximately 6 minutes of driving
• Can be initiated by selecting a new set of tires in the instrument cluster
• “No monitoring, system is identifying” message is displayed
• TPM warning light is on
• Warning light goes out when the own wheels are recognized
• A loss of pressure and a warning can be displayed at this point
• No specific wheel position is available at this point
• Assigning wheel position (what corner is each wheel located at)
• Can take a maximum of 30 minutes driving
• Determining wheel location allows system to then display pressures in
the instrument cluster
• Differential pressure (temperature compensated) will also be displayed
at this point in time.
• Confirmation phase (has anything changed)
• This phase is primarily for determining if a wheel/tire or sensor change
has occurred without it being selected in the instrument cluster menu.
• NOTE: When a wheel/tire or sensor has been changed, it is necessary
to reselect the tire size in the instrument cluster. The system will
relearn with the new change and it will avoid false warnings.
• Operation and display:
• TPM menu navigation is not possible while driving.
• Once sensors have been learned, it only takes about 2 minutes for tire
pressures to be displayed when the vehicle is started.
• The actual pressure display shows the actual pressure that is in the tire.
It is not compensated for temperature changes.

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• The pressure deviation or filling display shows the temperature compensated pressure deviation (only
visible when vehicle is stationary).
• Only use this screen as a reference when adjusting the pressure in the tire.
• A negative value (“-“) is too low and needs more air pressure.
• A positive value is too high and needs to be reduced.

• The gentle warning screen is used if the pressure has dropped more than 2.9 psi (0.2 bar), but not
more than 5.8 psi (0.4 bar).
• This warning is displayed for 10 seconds after the ignition is switched off and every time the vehicle is started.
• Air pressure should be corrected at next opportunity.

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• The “stern” warning in red text is displayed if the pressure has dropped by more than 5.8 psi
(0.4 bar) or by more than 2.9 psi (0.2 bar) per minute.
• The display appears as soon as the condition exists.
• The driver should stop to inspect the tire in question.

• A speed warning not to exceed 50 mph (80 km/h) in the event of a puncture is also available.
• Selecting the run-flat system in the TPM menu is necessary for this warning to work.
• This is a helpful warning in the event of a puncture, since adherence to it will help
preserve the remaining life of the tire on the wheel.

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2.) TPMS – Generation “2” (trigger based):

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Tire Pressure Monitoring Versions “2.2” – “2.6”
(Hardware configurations 2 & 3)

NOTE: U.S. Law does not allow the system to be turned off.
• Function
• The radio messages from the wheel electronics units are requested by the control unit, as
required, via the trigger units.
• The system detects the vehicle’s own wheels, and the installation position of own wheels, by evaluating the trigger location and performing a statistical evaluation of the wheel electronics
information received.
• Sensor operation
• The wheel electronics unit is comprised of the following components:
• Pressure sensor
• Temperature sensor
• Roll switch
• Battery
• Receiver, transmitter, measuring, and control electronics
• Higher transmission power in the wheel sensor is necessary due to the longer radio link to the
central antenna.
• The roll switch detects whether the wheel is stationary or turning.
• This information is used either to start a triggered learning process for a moving wheel
or to switch off the wheel electronics unit when the wheel has been stationary for a long
time.
• To avoid confusion with 1st generation wheel electronics, the new wheel electronic unit can be
identified by the modified shape of the housing and the small air filter.
• A modified data protocol ensures that the wheel electronics unit will not be detected if installed
incorrectly and this is stored as a fault in the fault memory.

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A

B

C

D

A-1st generation (original), B- 2nd generation (original)
NOTE: The newest Gen.1 – wheel electronic replacement from 2015 has the housing of
the Generation “3” wheel electronic! (In photos below)

7L0.907.275.D

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