I finally finished retrofitting TPMS to my Octavia about 3 weeks ago. Using VCDS I checked the relevant boxes in the ABS module which subtracted 16384 from the coding and went into the Instruments module and enabled the light. I set all the tyre pressure at 32psi, turned on the ignition, noticed that the TPMS symbol illuminated on the self check and pressed the TPMS button until the instrument panel 'bonged'.

 

After driving around for about 200 miles I thought that I would test that the system works. I deflated the front offside tyre by 5 psi and took the car for a three mile drive. The TPMS did not kick in so I repeated the test with 22 psi (-10 psi) in the tyre. Still no TPMS light or warning sound. I don't really want to drive around with a flat tyre to test the system so how much air must escape and how far must I drive before the system works?

Were you driving far enough and fast enough for the ABS / TPMS to notice the difference in the circumference of the deflated tyre?

 

If you have a Spare Wheel / Tyre of a slightly different size to your 4 wheels, 

try fitting it and run up to 50mph and see if you get a TPMS warning.

 

http://kouki.co.uk/utilities/visual-tyre-size-calculator

The straighter the road and more constant the speed, the quicker the system picks up a low tyre.

I've had it pick a slow puncture within 1.5 miles at a constant 30mph on an almost straight Road.

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It was not very slow then if the puncture happened just 1 1/2 miles before the warning.

 

Or do you mean the warning sounded 1 1/2 miles after starting off with an already low tyre pressure?

How little air was in the tyre by the time you got the warning?

It was not very slow then if the puncture happened just 1 1/2 miles before the warning.

Or do you mean the warning sounded 1 1/2 miles after starting off with an already low tyre pressure?

How little air was in the tyre by the time you got the warning?

It was about 5psi down when it went off and didn't go down much further by the time I drove back home. It wasn't a rapid deflation but I probably picked up the offending screw as I left home.

I had another puncture and I stopped just after the light came on and when I got out the car I could hear the air escaping and see the tyre deflating.

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The indirect system isn't the greatest, there is more info about it here: http://www.my-gti.com/321/volkswagen-tyre-pressure-monitoring-system-tpms

 

That's why I fitted the direct system to my octavia and can see the pressures changing as I drive now

Thanks for all the replies.

I was just driving along 30 mph roads around where I live.

I have read langers2k's link and I am surprised that the system is not linked to the steering angle sensor as then it would know that the car is travelling in a straight line and that the rotation of the wheels should be in the same ratio as when it was last calibrated.

I will try it again on a longer route at highter speeds and see whether it works then.

Have you used vcds to check the self learning / calibration has completed?

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For testing purposes it would be better to add 10psi than subtract - no? 

I had a puncture on Thursday night and only realised as the noise from the rear of the car increased.  When I checked the tyre pressure the gauge read zero.  The tyre had a cut in the sidewall.  There was no warning from the TPMS.  However, when I changed the wheel to the spare which is a 205/55-16 (fitted tyres are 225/40-18) the warning sounded after less than 1/2-mile.