This problem has been intermittently happening since using the Trinity over a year ago with a 2008 Jeep Wrangler.
Background: When TPMS detects a failure, it blinks the "tire" dash-light for ~70 seconds -- Then the lamp stays on solid. In contrast, low tire pressure simply turns the lamp on solid immediately. The dash-lamp blinking for TPMS failure is the intermittent problem I have with the Trinity.
This problem only happens when driving over about 45 MPH for over about 20 miles. Worst case is a long trip on the freeway. It doesn't happen on short trips, or city driving. It never happens with the Trinity disconnected, and disconnecting the OBD connector extinguishes the dash-lamp in about 30 seconds.
Sometimes the blinking dash-lamp will go out by itself, but more often it will blink for it's ~70 seconds, go solid on, and stay on until disconnecting the OBD connector.
Experimenting has shown that the location of the Trinity doesn't matter. Locating the Trinity, and most of the OBD cable, on the floor made no difference. If it's RF interference, perhaps the OBD cable is acting like a transmitting antenna. Also, it doesn't matter what is being displayed on the Trinity; The problem is the same with the main menu displayed and then going to sleep (screen dark).
Since it has this problem even when the Trinity is plugged in and sleeping, maybe something in the way the sleep timer works interferes with communication between TPMS and the PCM. Right now the Sleep Timer is set for the max of 60 seconds, and I've tried numerous settings in case the sleep timer was synchronizing with something in the TPMS/PCM. If anyone else has this symptom, please chime in.
Diablosport: The Trinity was updated last weekend (March 16, 2013), no change in symptoms. Is there any more info that can help solve this? Could it be a hardware problem with my unit? If a hardware problem is suspect, any possibility of trying a loaner or exchange?
TPMS failure lamp blinking
Moderator: mikel
Hardware solution
It looks like I may have a hardware solution. So far, about 150 highway miles with this modification and no symptoms.
Decided to consult my son, an EE at Intel. We've worked together on a couple projects previously. Total parts cost is less than a cup of coffee and the install is easy. More later if testing continues to be successful.
Decided to consult my son, an EE at Intel. We've worked together on a couple projects previously. Total parts cost is less than a cup of coffee and the install is easy. More later if testing continues to be successful.
Re: TPMS failure lamp blinking
The fix is adding a ferrite core to the cable close to the connector at the Trinity programmer. This one was rated at 320 ohms @ 100MHz, and snaps over the cable. Cost is about $1, here's a link: http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/e ... -ND/242803
Ferrite cores are routinely used to suppress EMI that radiate from cables that act like antennas. The bulge in many cables for electronic devices is a ferrite core. To work properly, it's necessary to install it very close to connector at the Trinity end of the cable.
Ferrite cores are routinely used to suppress EMI that radiate from cables that act like antennas. The bulge in many cables for electronic devices is a ferrite core. To work properly, it's necessary to install it very close to connector at the Trinity end of the cable.