2008 FORD F150 tires

When your temporary spare tire is installed
When one of your road tires needs to be replaced with the temporary
spare, the TPMS system will continue to identify an issue to remind you
that the damaged road wheel/tire needs to be repaired and put back on
your vehicle.
To restore the full functionality of the Tire Pressure Monitoring System,
have the damaged road wheel/tire repaired and remounted on your
vehicle. For additional information, refer toChanging tires with TPMS
in this section.
When you believe your system is not operating properly
The main function of the Tire Pressure Monitoring System is to warn you
when your tires need air. It can also warn you in the event the system is
no longer capable of functioning as intended. Please refer to the
following chart for information concerning your Tire Pressure Monitoring
System:
2008 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
228

Low Tire Pressure
Warning LightPossible cause Customer Action Required
Solid Warning Light Tire(s)
under-inflated1. Check your tire pressure to
ensure tires are properly
inflated; refer toInflating
your tiresin this chapter.
2. After inflating your tires to
the manufacturer’s
recommended inflation
pressure as shown on the Tire
Label (located on the edge of
driver’s door or the B-Pillar),
the vehicle must be driven for
at least two minutes over
20 mph (32 km/h) before the
light will turn OFF.
Spare tire in use Your temporary spare tire is in
use. Repair the damaged road
wheel/tire and reinstall it on
the vehicle to restore system
functionality. For a description
on how the system functions,
refer toWhen your temporary
spare tire is installedin this
section.
TPMS
malfunctionIf your tires are properly
inflated and your spare tire is
not in use and the light
remains ON, have the system
inspected by your authorized
dealer.
Tire rotation
without sensor
trainingOn vehicles with different front
and rear tire pressures, the
TPMS system must be
retrained following every tire
rotation. Refer toTire rotation
in this chapter.
2008 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
229

Low Tire Pressure
Warning LightPossible cause Customer Action Required
Flashing Warning
LightSpare tire in use Your temporary spare tire is in
use. Repair the damaged road
wheel and re-mount it on the
vehicle to restore system
functionality. For a description
of how the system functions
under these conditions, refer to
When your temporary spare
tire is installedin this section.
TPMS
malfunctionIf your tires are properly
inflated and your spare tire is
not in use and the TPMS
warning light still flashes, have
the system inspected by your
authorized dealer.
When inflating your tires
When putting air into your tires (such as at a gas station or in your
garage), the Tire Pressure Monitoring System may not respond
immediately to the air added to your tires.
It may take up to two minutes of driving over 20 mph (32 km/h) for the
light to turn OFF after you have filled your tires to the recommended
inflation pressure.
How temperature affects your tire pressure
The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) monitors tire pressure in
each pneumatic tire. While driving in a normal manner, a typical
passenger tire inflation pressure may increase approximately 2 to 4 psi
(14 to 28 kPa) from a cold start situation. If the vehicle is stationary
over night with the outside temperature significantly lower than the
daytime temperature, the tire pressure may decrease approximately 3 psi
(20.7 kPa) for a drop of 30° F (16.6°C) in ambient temperature. This
lower pressure value may be detected by the TPMS as being significantly
lower than the recommended inflation pressure and activate the TPMS
warning for low tire pressure. If the low tire pressure warning light is
ON, visually check each tire to verify that no tire is flat. (If one or more
tires are flat, repair as necessary.) Check air pressure in the road tires. If
any tire is under-inflated, carefully drive the vehicle to the nearest
location where air can be added to the tires. Inflate all the tires to the
recommended inflation pressure.
2008 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
230

TPMS reset procedure (if applicable)
This procedure is only required after tire rotation on vehicles
with different front and rear tire pressures.
To determine if your vehicle requires two different pressures -
one for the front tires and one for the rear tires - refer to the
Safety Compliance Certification Label or Tire Label which is located on
the B-Pillar or the edge of the driver’s door. SeeVehicle Loadingin
this chapter for more information.
Overview
To provide the vehicle’s load carrying capability, some trucks require
different recommended tire pressures in the front tires as compared to
the rear tires. The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) equipped on
this vehicle is designed to illuminate the Low Tire Pressure Warning
indicator at two different pressures; one for the front tires and one for
the rear tires. Since tires need to be rotated to provide consistent
performance and maximum tire life, the Tire Pressure Monitoring System
needs to know when the tires are rotated to determine which set of tires
are on the front and which are on the rear. With this information, the
system can detect and properly warn of low tire pressures.
Always perform the TPMS reset procedure after tire rotation. If
the system is not reset, it may not provide a low tire pressure
warning when necessary.
TPMS reset tool
A special TPMS reset tool has been provided with your vehicle to reset
your TPMS after tire rotation. The tool is located with your Owner’s
Guide materials.
2008 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
231

Please take the tool with the
provided Velcrostrip on the back
and mount it in the bottom right
corner of your Owner’s Guide case
(as shown) for safe keeping.
If you find that the reset tool was
not provided when delivered, has
been lost or no longer functions
(the battery is not replaceable),
please contact your authorized
dealer to obtain a replacement.
To verify that your TPMS reset tool is working, press and release the
button on the center of the TPMS tool. The red light should illuminate
and remain on for approximately five (5) seconds. If the light does not
illuminate, the tool needs to be replaced.
TPMS reset tips
To reduce the chances of interference from another vehicle, TPMS reset
should be performed at least three feet (one meter) away from another
Ford Motor Company vehicle undergoing the TPMS reset procedure at
same time.
Do not wait more than two (2) minutes between resetting each tire
sensor or the system will timeout and the entire procedure will have to
be repeated on all four wheels.
A double horn chirp indicates the need to repeat the procedure.
TPMS reset procedure
Note:It is recommended that you read the entire procedure before
attempting.
Note:To enter the reset mode, Steps 1–5 MUST be completed within 60
seconds.
1. The key must be in the ignition and the ignition turned to OFF/LOCK.
Press and release the brake pedal.
2. Cycle the ignition from OFF/LOCK to RUN three (3) times ending in
the RUN position.DO NOTstart the engine.
3. Press and hold the brake pedal for two (2) seconds, then release.
4. Turn the ignition to OFF/LOCK (DO NOTremove the key.)
5. Cycle the ignition from OFF/LOCK to RUN three (3) times ending in
RUN.DO NOTstart the engine.
2008 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
232

If reset mode has been entered successfully, the horn will sound once,
the TPMS indicator will flash and the message center will displayTRAIN
LF TIRE.
If after repeated attempts to enter reset mode, the horn does not sound,
the TPMS indicator does not flash and the message center does not
display TRAIN LF TIRE, seek service from your authorized dealer.
TPMS reset sequence
The TPMS system needs to be reset starting with the left front tire in
the following clockwise order:
1. Left front tire
2. Right front tire
3. Right rear tire
4. Left rear tire
1.Left front tire:Place the TPMS reset tool against the left front tire
where the tire meets the rim, opposite from the valve stem (1) as shown.
This is where the sensor is located inside the rim.
The tool needs to be held against the tire sidewall opposite the
valve stem as illustrated with the arrow on the tool pointing
towards the rim; do not use the tool with the arrow pointing away
from the rim as it may not activate the sensor.
2. Press and release the green button and hold the tool to the tire
sidewall until the horn sounds. The red light on the TPMS reset tool will
2008 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
233

illuminate while the tool is active. The horn will sound once within
10 seconds to indicate the process was successful.
Note:If a double horn chirp is heard, repeat the procedure. If a single
horn chirp is not heard, move the vehicle to rotate the wheels at least a
1⁄4-turn and repeat the procedure. If the horn does not sound while
attempting to reset any wheel, seek service from your authorized dealer.
3. Perform Steps 1 and 2 on the right front, right rear and finally the left
rear tires.
Successful completion of the reset procedure can be verified by turning
the ignition to OFF without the horn sounding. If two short beeps are
heard, the reset procedure was unsuccessful and must be repeated.
If after repeating the procedure two short beeps are heard when the key
is turned to OFF, seek assistance from your authorized dealer.
Rotation, pressure adjustment and TPMS reset example
The following example describes all the major steps involved in rotating
tires on a vehicle with different front and rear tire pressures. It
illustrates that the TPMS reset procedure needs to follow tire rotation
and pressure adjustment to avoid a possible false low tire warning.
Example:
A particular vehicle has the following recommended tire pressures: 50 psi
(345 kPa) front; 80 psi (552 kPa) rear.
Note:For your vehicle’s pressure, refer to the Safety Compliance
Certification Label located on the B-Pillar or the edge of your vehicle’s
driver’s door.
Before tire rotation
Sensor 1: 50 psi
Sensor 2: 50 psi
Sensor 3: 80 psi
Sensor 4: 80 psi
2008 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
234

Tire rotation using the
recommended sequence
(front tires at top of diagram)
Sensor position following tire
rotation
Sensor 1: 50 psi
Sensor 2: 50 psi
Sensor 3: 80 psi
Sensor 4: 80 psi
Pressure adjustment without the
required TPMS reset procedure
Sensor 1: 80 psi
Sensor 2: 80 psi
Sensor 3: 50 psi
Sensor 4: 50 psi
In this situation, the TPMS warning
light will come on.
If the TPMS reset procedure is not performed after tire rotation and air
pressure adjustment, the TPMS telltale may illuminate for a false low tire
pressure condition.
2008 F-150(f12)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
235