Direct TPMS in 10th Gen Civic

OMG: Did not realize just how DUSTY the console is, until I took this photo.. DUST MAGNET.
Yes, I will clean it up -- how embarrassing

Anyway :-

Just mounted my Direct TPMS in the Si.
Located just below the Passenger Airbag warning.

From the drivers Perspective, you do not see the Velcro, but you do see the full parts of the Top part of the display, and it looks like it is flush with the outer edge of the Passenger Airbag plastic.

Attached with Velcro, and Lithium Battery Powered, charged via USB cable, with USB charger in +12v Aux socket.

Being mounted with 10 Lb Velcro, it's not going anywhere, but can be easily removed or re positioned if needed


Reading are the same to within 1 psi of the pressures I measured with another High End Digital Pressure gauge earlier today.

It's Cold ( 35 F). When we last put Nitrogen in the tires, (FREE at Cosco), it was in the 60's, and we had just driven there, so the tires were hotter.
At the time, they put in Nitrogen to 35 psi all round ( according to their meter) with the intention that I would bleed off and adjust when tires had cooled down. (We should have gone higher as they were hot !!)

Once things settle down, and I have done a few trips, I'll decide if I need to change the pressures.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Car-Tire-P...ternal-Sensors-Bar-PSI-Unit-C1E3/132367486699
$30 on Ebay (including shipping -- Sweet deal)


Yes, I now the Front & back pressures are relatively incorrect, higher pressure should be on the FRONT tires.
The TPMS is set up correctly, thus showing that in fact, the front tires are low !!
The INDIRECT TPMS is not going to pick up on that.
Will be interesting to see how these pressure increase after 30 minutes of driving,,,
The tires are certainly not going to stay at 35 Deg F so pressures will rise.

Very happy with the end result,Functionally, Cosmetically and Cost.

Bluetooth Oil Temperature & Pressure next !!!
(This is going to be a little more difficult !)

How are the caps powered?

Hatchbackboi1 said:

How are the caps powered?

Click to expand...

Caps are powered by a very small Lithium Battery, (user changeable).
Caps turn off after a time of sensing no movement, so battery life is greatly extended. Typically 3 years +, but if only a year, we are talking less than $10 total.

These caps permanently open the valve when screwed down to measure the pressure, and now the caps are responsible for holding the air pressure?

calonzo said:

These caps permanently open the valve when screwed down to measure the pressure, and now the caps are responsible for holding the air pressure?

Click to expand...

Yes .... Not Ideal, but the caps have locking nuts, so they cannot unscrew from vibration etc, and are difficult to remove by a casual thief, unless they have the right tool.


If any of them do develop a leak, then the TPMS will alarm at the user set Low Pressure value, and if they are completely removed, the tire stem valve should close, and you will get a zero pressure alarm, and then a signal lost as the sensor gets out of range of the Car.

For $30, it seemed worth trying. I may decide later to fit Internal Sensors, or just wait till I need new tires, and upgrade then. Internal sensor are significantly more expensive, and there is both the sensor cost, as well as the fitting, and the refilling with DRY Nitrogen.

Already, just knowing that despite having Cosco fill the tires to a given pressure, they are really now measuring differently -- temperature being one factor, relying on someone else & their equipment is the other.

FYI: I have replaced the Repair Kit with a proper, performance spare, so I feel covered should i get an unexpected sensor leak, but I doubt that will happen.
I have been running similar external sensors on my other car for over a year, and no issues at all.

There are other thing one has to keep an eye on, one being Corrosion, but that is easily prevented by a light coat of water repellent lubricant.

Thanks. To put air in the tires, you need a special tool to remove the cap?

Kinda redundant

calonzo said:

Thanks. To put air in the tires, you need a special tool to remove the cap?

Click to expand...

Yes, it's a small angled wrench .. not a big deal.
No different to having to have a WheelNut Key if you have secure wheelnut.

But since you can verify your tire pressures to the nearest 1 PSI at any time, you do not need to keep removing them, as you would a valve cap, in order to put a tire pressure gauge on, and always be leaking a little air/Nitrogen each time you do it.

In effect, you can check you tire pressure in about 2 seconds, each time you get into the car, and at any time while you are driving.
Another big advantage of the self contained unit, or an APP, is that it displaying and working all the time, and does not depend on anything else - head Unit, Smartphone, to function.

calonzo said:

Thanks. To put air in the tires, you need a special tool to remove the cap?

Click to expand...

Putting air (Nitrogen) in the tires is not a quick process.. unless you happen to have your own Nitrogen Cylinder.
For me, it means a trip to Cosco to get any needed filling.

Typically, they take about 2 minutes, and there is seldom any wait. They stop what they are doing and come out with the Hoses, and fill you up -- It's almost like a Pit Stop !!

Far easier than going to the dealer, checking in, having some stranger drive your car around "the Back", and do whatever, only to return the car some 30 minutes after doing who know what.

At Cosco, you see them do it in front of you, can talk to them while they do it, and its only 2 minutes. The additional 1 minute per tire for you to remove the secured sensors, and then replace them, is nothing... and doing it yourself, you know it is done to your expectations.

Curious about how these lasted or if you are still using them?

I know this is an old thread but coming from a Camaro with leaky tires im kinda OCD about watching my tire pressure now.