Brand New Prius got a flat tire and broke my air pressure sensor but not covered by warranty???

Try another dealer on the warranty coverage. Maybe they broke it when they fixed the tire? Sounds like its malfunctioning to me also; could be just coincidental to having a flat.

 

Question
Do all Pri '10 have the air pressure sensor?
Thanks,
Danny

 

Yes, all vehicles (not just Prius) produced after 2007 have TPMS standard.

Ask to see the "broken" sensor. You can easily tell if it is broken due to flat tire or malfunction. I tend to agree that it could be the former. In that case, you are out of luck. I think Dealer is correct in not covering it. If you happen to run into another dealer that are willing to, please post its name. That must be a great one we should know about.

Consider this. If your Prius got a flat tire and hit a tree, should the body work be covered?
If no, why should the sensor?

 

No. Mine doesn't have air pressure sensor. Glad now we don't have it in the UK or Europe. Just because of a flat tire then we have to have th senesor changed because it is broken?

And for the guy about hitting a tree. He didn't hit anything. He got a flat tire which should be expected once in a while. I never hit a tree after 17 years of driving but had a punchture every year. If you hit a tree (if it is not brake pedal or gas pedal failure) then it is an accident you probably caused. But a flat tire is expected to happen and it shouldn't have been designed so that when the tire goes flat your sensor breaks.

 

TPMS is common in US, but not in Europe. Toyota dodn't offer this as an option. IMHO, the puncture of the tire and a subsequent damage is not covered under warranty.

 

Of course the punchture of tire is not covered under warranty. IMHO I don't think the TPMS should be broken just because you've got a puncture. Heck so every puncture it will set you back $200 for the rubber and $150 for the sensor? Thats crazy to shell out $350 just for the whole thing.

 

If you get a flat tire and damage the rim, the rim is not covered under any warranty. I can't see where the TPMS sensor is any different than that. It may indicate a bad design if it is easily damaged, but that and a $1.25 will get you a cup of coffee (prices adjusted for our region, YPMV. )

Tom

 

When you said the tire pressure was fine, what is the tire pressure all around? Twice now I've found after tire rotation at the dealer they left the tire pressure at 32 pounds. That caused the TPMS light to go on and off since 32 lbs is the minimum. Temperatures can change that.
If you have more than 32 lbs cold, I would think a call to Toyota itself. If only for the peace of mind.

 

No, you don't. I had a flat and my sensor is fine - but I heeded the warning light and didn't go very far (a couple of miles at relatively low speed), and it wasn't completely flat yet.

I think you have to drive on a completely flat tire for a certain distance before the sensor will be damaged - might that be the case for the OP?

 

I was going to ask the OP just that question - how far he drove on the tire after the flat and how fast was he going. It is my understanding that the TPMS sensor is just a little box attached to the inside of the tire stem - once the tire is completely flat it would have no protection from small rocks, bumps or even the rubber of the tire under the rim.

Also I believe that some cars are easy to reprogram a new TPMS sensor - the owner can do it - while others require a scan tool - I do not know what the Prius is - so is part of the $150 for programming?

 

I am completely confused by this thread.

Was the tyre a run-flat? If it was, then there should be no damage to the TPMS and a warranty claim is justified.

If it wasn't, then you should not be running on it at all if it is flat.

My understanding of the purpose of tyre pressure monitoring is to allow you to see that pressure is reducing and to bring the vehicle to a stop in a place where the tyre may be changed, before the tyre goes flat.

At that point you should exchange the tyre for the spare before continuing.

Driving even a short distance on a flat tyre (that is not a run-flat) is liable to damage both the tyre and the rim, let alone the TPMS.

In the U.K. it is against the law to drive with a tyre that is under-inflated unless it is a run-flat (Laws CUR reg 27)

 

LOL! Warranty coverage? Should Toyota cover it if a tree falls on it too just because its new?

 

Prius doesn't come with run flat tires.

I agree if the tire is flat and you still drive it then it is your fault to break the rims and sensors or any other things related to you driving without tires. But if it just accidently go flat due to hitting some object and you stop immedately then no sensor shouldn't break. The ABS sensor is also located in the break area so should that break too?

 

The ABS sensor is not inside the wheel like the TPMS sensor is. The TPMS sensor is stuck to the outside of the wheel and I could see how it would be damaged very easily by a flat tire, even if it wasn't driven on.

Thats an issue for your insurance company though...not Toyota.

Personally I think TPMS is a big waste of time. All the effort and worry people go through trying to make it work, "will the sensors be damaged" all the worry and expense when people replace tires. For what? So I can ALWAYS know what my tire pressure is? I check it every week when I wash it...thats enough.

 

So where is the ABS sensor then?

 

The TPMS is a box that is attached to the inside of the wheel. If you run the tire flat, the TPMS is easily damaged because the tire will be pressing on it everytime the wheel spins. See the attached picture for a typical TPMS box.

 

This mandated tire pressure monitoring seems like more a great big expensive pain in the nice person than anything good. I didn't realize it was legally mandated since 2007 but wiki confirmed it. It'll cost me $350 to get a new set of these stupid things if I get winter tires. If I don't get the monitors on winter tires the light will be on the dash, right? Is there anything else? If not, I sure as heck won't pay that for another set or move the current ones over each time.

 

You're estimate of $350 is pretty close for a set of 4 from Tire Rack. That's what I paid for them when I got my winter tires this past winter. You do not have to get them put on, you will just see the obnoxious light on the dash the entire time you drive without them. The other thing you have to consider, is that even with 4 new TPMS on the wheels, you have to get Toyota to program the IDs each time you swap wheels. My local dealer wants $50 for this each time. If you swap the sensors, most tire places will charge you a mounting & balancing fee as part of the swap since they will have to remove the tires. At that point, you may as well just get the tires and not a separate set of wheels/tires for the winter as it would just result in additional wheel expense up front.

Personally, I wish you could just turn off the TPMS on the darned thing. I wonder what would happen if there were NO TPMS IDs stored in the computer? Does it even allow for that? Would it keep the light on constantly or would it assume that there are no IDs and shut that part off?

 

MAHUAHAHA chances of me paying $350 for them on the new wheels and then $100 ($50 in fall, $50 in spring), really? HAHA 0%. I put on winter tires myself and keep them in the garage.

Is there any chance insurance will freak if I'm driving tires without these? I presume no but wonder if it's worth any iota of thought.

If I review the cut out above no damn wonder the OP ruined his sensor, I bet these break all the time on flat tires.