Just got my 2014 C-14! TPS question regarding my local dealer as well as others

[wcgreen]

Hey folks!  Been on here for well over a year, talking and looking.  Finally purchased and got an extremely good deal on this 2012.  Canyon cages, Sargent seat, Larger shield, Throttlemaster, 12,700 miles on it and just put 1k on it past 2 weeks getting it back to grad school... Is my only transportation for next 3 years, so gotta keeping running tip-top.  Day I got it, TPS sensor showing front tire battery low.  Guy I bought from said just gotta put a battery in there.  Got to Tuscaloosa... local dealer, who I need to have a good relationship with since this is my only vehicle, said you cannot replace battery, and gotta put $250+ new sensor on it.. said Kawasaki will not allow you to replace battery.  Gotta be the whole unit.  So... correct?  Thoughts?  I missed my extended warranty by 4 days according to Kawasaki.    Also, this dealer will not mount tires purchased off net.  Pirelli Angel GT for front is gonna run $220 there with everything.  Sadly, I am in grad school, in an apt and no way to do any of this myself.  Appreciate your thoughts!
Billy
www.wcgreen.net

[Landon]

First you need to try to find a local that has the equipment and will help you change tires. Dealers will not change the batteries as far a I know. Depending on what type of sensor you have (they changed at one point) you may be able to remove the sensors and send them to Fred Harmon in Texas. Unfortunately this will put you without your bike for a few days while they are shipped there and back.

I try not to depend on any dealer. You might try to ask some locals if there is a small independent shop or someone that does tires on the side for a much smaller fee. If you were closer to me (Southern Indiana) I would be glad to give you a hand with tire changes as I have the equipment.

[maxtog]

Hey folks!  Been on here for well over a year, talking and looking.  Finally purchased and got an extremely good deal on this 2012.

Welcome/congrats

Day I got it, TPS sensor showing front tire battery low.  Guy I bought from said just gotta put a battery in there.  Got to Tuscaloosa... local dealer, who I need to have a good relationship with since this is my only vehicle, said you cannot replace battery, and gotta put $250+ new sensor on it.. said Kawasaki will not allow you to replace battery.  Gotta be the whole unit.  So... correct?

Like said, correct.  Dealers will not replace the battery, only the whole sensor.  So either you have to do that, or go to a non-dealer to remove the tire (or do it yourself) and replace the battery yourself (which does require some work... it is not designed to have the battery replaced).

I missed my extended warranty by 4 days according to Kawasaki.

Oh, THAT is a *HUGE* shame, because for just $383 or something, you could have had *3 YEARS* of more coverage for the entire bike and it would have also covered that sensor.  Plus, you can often work a deal that they cut the price of putting on a new tire, if needed, because replacing the sensor covers unmounting and remounting a tire.

Also, this dealer will not mount tires purchased off net.

Yep, also very common.

[wcgreen]

Welcome/congrats

Like said, correct.  Dealers will not replace the battery, only the whole sensor.  So either you have to do that, or go to a non-dealer to remove the tire (or do it yourself) and replace the battery yourself (which does require some work... it is not designed to have the battery replaced).

Oh, THAT is a *HUGE* shame, because for just $383 or something, you could have had *3 YEARS* of more coverage for the entire bike and it would have also covered that sensor.  Plus, you can often work a deal that they cut the price of putting on a new tire, if needed, because replacing the sensor covers unmounting and remounting a tire.

Yep, also very common.

$383? hmmmm.  They put my VIN into the Kawasaki computer and it said an extrea 3 years was $630.  An extra year was $450 and 2 was $550.  According to the dealer, that only applied to the original owner extending the warranty and he could get a grace period... according to him, I could not get the warranty because it expired a few days ago and they would have also wanted $630 for 3 more years.
Billy

[connie_rider]

Find another dealer....

Ride safe, Ted

[gPink]

What was the original purchase date?

[maxtog]

$383? hmmmm.  They put my VIN into the Kawasaki computer and it said an extrea 3 years was $630.  An extra year was $450 and 2 was $550.  According to the dealer, that only applied to the original owner extending the warranty and he could get a grace period... according to him, I could not get the warranty because it expired a few days ago and they would have also wanted $630 for 3 more years.

"EXTENDED GTPP 36 MONTH WARRANTY....now $383..."
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=225.0

[wcgreen]

What was the original purchase date?

1/13/2013

[maxtog]

1/13/2013

That just really sucks.

[Landon]

$383? hmmmm.  They put my VIN into the Kawasaki computer and it said an extrea 3 years was $630.  An extra year was $450 and 2 was $550.  According to the dealer, that only applied to the original owner extending the warranty and he could get a grace period... according to him, I could not get the warranty because it expired a few days ago and they would have also wanted $630 for 3 more years.
Billy

I would talk to the seller I bought it from and see if he would extend it under the grace period if you paid for it. Once he bought it then the extended warranty would transfer to you.

You might also reach out to Pete in the other thread and see if you can extend it through him.

[wcgreen]

That just really sucks.

Yeah... I know.  However, I got a really good deal on this bike.  Was thinking I could only get a 2010 at best.  I did have to put every bit of scratch together to get it, so I likely would not have had the VERY reasonable $383 to get the warranty... eating beans and rice the rest of the month!  But, I am happy I could get the bike... 2012, 12,700 miles, Sargent seat, Canyon cages, big wind screen, Throttlemaster, new rear tire, and got it for $7500.  So, hate that I couldnt get that warranty.. just missed it!  But happy I could get a 2012 for a good price!
Billy
www.wcgreen.net

[just gone]

Welcome Billy. Sorry about the warranty time out thingie, that's too bad. The battery usually will come back once it warms up, at least at first. Then eventually (usually months) it just dies and you'll quit getting warnings and just a "---"where the tire pressure numbers were.

OH OH! another swordsman on the forum. Look out V'Jim!

[gPink]

That toothpick's not a sword. 

Billy, I thought you college kids lived on Ramen and beer. 

[wcgreen]

Welcome Billy. Sorry about the warranty time out thingie, that's too bad. The battery usually will come back once it warms up, at least at first. Then eventually (usually months) it just dies and you'll quit getting warnings and just a "---"where the tire pressure numbers were.

OH OH! another swordsman on the forum. Look out V'Jim!

Thanks for that!  I may look into finding out how to remove the sensor... apparently, you can do this without removing the tire... install just a regular tire valve, and  send those removed sensors off to Frank for repair... then, try to find a local AL pal that has tire change ability, and install the fixt sensors when I get new tires.
Billy

[wcgreen]

That toothpick's not a sword. 

Billy, I thought you college kids lived on Ramen and beer. 

Oh, they mostly do that around me... At 51, my tastes are a bit more ingrained!
Billy

[maxtog]

Thanks for that!  I may look into finding out how to remove the sensor... apparently, you can do this without removing the tire... install just a regular tire valve, and  send those removed sensors off to Frank for repair... then, try to find a local AL pal that has tire change ability, and install the fixt sensors when I get new tires.

True, there is a way to do it.  Brian explained it and it looks far more tricky than I know I could manage.  Thankfully, a lot of people out there are more handy than I. 

[Cloggy]

I may look into finding out how to remove the sensor... apparently, you can do this without removing the tire...

Piece of cake, have just done this myself. Two C clamps, a large flat blade screwdriver, some small blocks of wood and a bit of elbow grease. And of course a way to inflate the tyre again.

Pierre

[VirginiaJim]

That toothpick's not a sword. 

Billy, I thought you college kids lived on Ramen and beer. 

Agreed and Welcome!

For your enjoyment....  http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=13831.0

[lather]

One point that has not been mentioned. Although the low battery warning is annoying, it is also false. I have an 08 that I bought new in October 2007. My original batteries worked for 4 and a half years AFTER I got my first low battery warning. A true low battery warning should mean that battery failure is imminent not four years away! So one option is just to live with it, which I did until tutorials for replacing batteries were published. Once you get adept at the message reset technique you can clear your display easily even with heavy gloves on.

I have replaced one set of batteries so far.  Now one of the replacements is giving the low battery signal full time. I will replace it during my next tire change.

[VirginiaJim]

My low battery warnings occurred in colder weather, not warm.  But the temp that they started complaining at eventually rose to the point that I decided to replace the batteries.  Hasn't come back yet, knock on wood.