According to WordPress, the platform that hosts this blog and literally millions of others, Disaffected Musings has reached a milestone for “unique” visitors since I started it in January, 2018. Without revealing the actual figure, let’s just say it is a large, round number.
Thanks to all of you who read the blog. Incredibly, over its six-plus year life this blog has been read by people in well over 100 different countries. So far in 2024, the blog has had views from 60 different countries, including the US and Canada.
I don’t know how many more posts I will publish or how much longer this blog will be active, but I am grateful to those of you who read. Thanks again.
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So, I have an appointment with a local independent shop to, hopefully, fix the TPMS issue with the F-Type. It is apparent that the vendor who sold me the wheels and tires did not install original equipment Jaguar TPMS sensors as no programming would be needed if that had been the case. (Alternatively, one or more of the sensors are defective.) All efforts to reach the vendor have been unsuccessful and have not generated any reply.
Not long after I made the appointment, the owner of the other shop I called reached out to me. After a half-hour conversation, I must admit that I am more confused than ever. He is the one who confirmed that, when original Jaguar TPMS sensors are installed, no programming is necessary.
However, he warned me that Jaguars are notoriously finicky about working with aftermarket parts. When I told him what I had been quoted by the first independent shop to install and program new aftermarket TPMS sensors, if necessary, he strongly hinted that sounded suspiciously low and not much later gave me the famous line, “You get what you pay for.” He did not, however, recommend taking the car to the Jaguar dealer and was VERY critical of what they charge for work.
Again, while I am at an age and situation where time and avoiding stress are more valuable to me than money, I do not want to grossly overpay for work. I spoke to the shop where I have the appointment and explained my dilemma. The tech/service writer just said to bring in the car and we would go from there.
The amount the Jaguar dealer quoted me to replace the TPMS sensors was a four-figure amount higher than the other estimate from the independent shop. Do most Jaguar owners not care at all about money? Except for recalls and highly specialized work, you DON’T have to take your car to a dealer for service.
Below is, once again, a picture of my F-Type, which is yet another example that EVERYTHING in life is a trade-off. Even when you die, you don’t have to worry about paying your bills or getting your TPMS fixed.
#VisitorMilestone
#TPMSHeadache
Disaffected Musings 
Congrats on the milestone. Based on the info you have gotten recently perhaps the blog is more popular than you had estimated?
Hope things go well, and fairly cheaply, fixing the TPMS problem. My “short bus” had those and the tire shop damaged one when I had tires installed. Luckily for me I’m friends with the local Ford dealer so I didn’t get robbed (comparatively) when I had it replaced. It was still twice what I would have preferred to pay though. 😦
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Thanks again, DDM. What has happened is that since I have been posting on a more regular basis than I expected after ending my “hiatus” blog readership seems to have improved a bit from earlier in the year. The visitor milestone, though, is six-plus years in the making and did not sneak up on me.
During my half-hour conversation with the owner of the second independent shop, not the one where the F-Type is going Thursday, I had you in mind when I said I understand why some people don’t want to drive computer-controlled cars. I said it was a lot easier in the day when you adjust the idle screw and fuel mixture screw on the carburetor and maybe solve your problem.
EVERYTHING is a trade-off. We have cars that are (usually) more reliable, safer, more fuel-efficient, etc. However, we have de facto given up the right of self-repair. We are at the mercy of trained technicians. Of course, that gives us someone to blame if the repair doesn’t work, another trade-off.
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TPMS is a mysterious business. OEM stuff should be able to “talk” to the car’s computer without the interference of the technician, but it doesn’t always work like that. I have seen it here at Nissan.
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Thanks, RJ, but previously I have never had any issues with any car’s TPMS. However, your statement about the lack of need for a technician for a car with OEM sensors is understood.
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