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Override TPMS sensor idea (need feedback)

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by Judgeless, Nov 27, 2009.

  1. Judgeless

    Judgeless Senior Member

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    I have winter tires and rims with out the TPMS sensor. My goal is to override the blinking light on the dash. One option is putting tape over the light. I am thinking of another option and would like feed back.

    I would like to take my OEM rims/tires to a tire place and have them remove the TPMS sensors. Then I would mount them on a 3-4†piece of PVC with both ends capped. The PVC is rated to 125 PSI. I would pressurize the tube with all 4 TPMS sensors to 40 PSI and put the tube in the trunk.

    Does anyone have any input on why this would not work?
     
  2. Judgeless

    Judgeless Senior Member

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    The TPMS sensors act very odd. I have old tires in the garage next to the car. Sometimes when I start the car the light does not come on because the old rims with the sensors are so close.

    The light takes about 15 minutes before it comes on. That is a really long time for the car to give you feed back that your tire is losing air.
     
  3. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    I have noticed this too. It almost seems like it checks randomly.

    As far as you idea, sounds like a lot of work. Perhaps removing the TPMS fuse would be simpler.
     
  4. Judgeless

    Judgeless Senior Member

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    I just looked it up. The fuse for TPMS is called ECU-IG NO.2 (fuse 21, 10A). It covers TPMS as well as the following.

    Driver support system, Pre-Collision System, LKA system, inside rear view mirror, garage door opener, yaw rate & G sensor, brake system, electric power steering, navigation system, electric moon roof, tire pressure warning system, seat belt pretensioners, audio system, emergency flashers, turn signal lights, windshield wipers, headlight cleaner

    If I take that fuse out I lose the function of all those devices.
     
  5. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    Yea, don't want to take that one out!:) Clever of Toyota to mingle all those functions together.
     
  6. aapoppa

    aapoppa formerly known as "Popoff"

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    This would work. There are threads on PC describing this as well as on other sites on the web.

    http://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-second-generation/328044-diy-tpms-canister-pipe-bomb.html
     
  7. Judgeless

    Judgeless Senior Member

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    Thanks for the link. That is exactly what I planned on doing. The odd thing is both pictures only have one sensor. People ask in the thread if you need all 4 and the answer is always yes.

    These guys must have built 4 of them. That does not make sense. They should put all 4 sensors in one tube.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  8. Judgeless

    Judgeless Senior Member

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    I have to post a pic of my air gun I built a few years ago using 4" PVC. Those are 9V batteries on the right to open the value.

    [​IMG]
     
  9. aapoppa

    aapoppa formerly known as "Popoff"

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    look at step 4 in the description

    "4. put all your tpms sensors in and stuff more poly fill in the pipe to again prevent them bouncing around."

    What do you use the air gun rig you built for?
     
  10. Judgeless

    Judgeless Senior Member

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    I do not know how the sensors would work in a pressurized tube. They detect differential pressure from inside to outside the value. In the tube the pressure would be the same inside to outside the value.

    I use the gun to shot marshmallows and ping pong balls. It was a fun experiment.