TPMS question...$5 per new tire to reset? $20 to push a button?

Read NutzAboutBolts posting here:

Are the valves and TPMS one unit? | PriusChat

Bottom line, I think you can just tell them to leave the valves and TPMS alone, pocket the $20. I wouldn't just spring it on them though; discuss it up-front. If they give you a hard time it might be worth it to try elsewhere. This seems more or less a ploy, and messing with TPMS can leave them messed up.

Personally, I'm about ready to drop kick the things off the driveway, things are laxer up here tho. I think. I hope. We've got no tpms on our separate snows, and no problems.

 

Why do you need to reset tpms?

 

It sounds like another repair shop shady maneuver.............

 

If those are the same sensors that were already on the wheels, then no reset is necessary. Any new sensors will have to be programmed into the system.

 

There are lots of tire shops out there.
Some of them low ball the price of the tire, and then shank you with all of the extras. (Oh? You want them inflated??? )

I think it's time that you explored other options.

 

How in the dickens does a wheel know that a new tire was paced on it??? I would have asked that guy if he was goofy.....

 

I've yet to get new tires with TPMS involved. In past new valves were pretty much mandatory with new tires; all shops suggested them, and there was pretty good justification: the valves were largely rubber.

The valves with TPMS sensors are integral I think, ie: you can't replace them. They're metal, with maybe an O-ring sealing at the valve rim junction.

I think the tire shops are both hurting from losing out on new valve installs, and seeing a cash cow. Trouble is: there may be SOME justification in replacing the rubber bits.

Phone a few places, ask? Whatever they tell you, maybe you can pass it on here?

And if they're talking about reinializing the EXISTING TPMS, that makes no sense, not necessary. I suspect what they're pushin is to replace some rubber sealing gaskets. Whether that's warranted is the question.

 

It was always customary to replace the valve stems when replacing tyres. The rubber would harden and crack, and could cause a flat tyre. The stem -insert- usually doesn't need to be replaced (though the new stems came with new inserts).

In this case, I would tell them to leave the TPMS alone and leave the inserts in the stems. There is just about an even chance they will mess something up by changing them as not. For info., Pearl is still running on the original inserts in the original TPMS units, after two tyre replacements.
I would also very carefully go over each charge on the quote. There is a hint of slime here!

Finally, from experience in even the "best" tyre shops, DO check the tyre pressures yourself when they're done. Inflate to your preferred level, then press and hold the TPMS reset button till it beeps or blinks, or whatever it does these days. I have never had a "professional tyre shop" properly inflate my tyres! The pressures are usually all over the place.

 

^ Good to know you can achieve a tire change without a complete battle over the TPMS.

If you've got your TPMS set for tire pressures at a certain level, and you replace tires and set them to the same pressures, I don't think there's any reason to do the TPMS reset. I may be wrong, but think you've just come back to status quo, the TPMS system will be happy without intervention.

Also, I sorta equate TPMS with the plastic fairings that masquerade as bumpers these days: an item who's fragility has eclipsed it's usefulness.

 

I do agree the tpms is a way for tire shops to make more money. I once needed a tire repaired, posted sign says $10 but if you have tpms they charge $15. They never even touch that sensor but will charge $5 more for no apparent reason. When I asked them, their answer is "it's because you have a sensor". My best guess is an insurance against accidently breaking one, the extra money will allow them to replace it.

 

I do not understand this whole issue.... I had tire repaired a few times. They took the damaged tire off the rim fixed it. It was CLEARLY off the rim then it was put back inflated and wheel reinstalled ..... and was NO NEED to tpms reset or anything else ...

The TPMS thingy is fixed onto/into the rim !!! (I think)

 

The TPMS thingy (sensor) is usually attached to the valve stem on the inside of the rim.
If somebody repairs your tire, and IF they take it off the rim to do so, and if they don't damage the sensor, then there is nothing to "reset" since the wheel usually goes back on wherever it came off.

When you get four (or two) new tires, they often replace the valve stems which necessitates removing the sensors from the old stems and perhaps some o-ring or gasket replacements.
Really....No Big Deal.
Tire shops do this for a living. They're pretty good at it.

The trouble is that if they put the rims with the new tires on them back on different corners of the car, and they don't 'reset' the sensors, then your car might report that the wrong tire is low.
Most shops just do a like-for-like and put the same sensors back in the same corners....but if you're a busy shop and several people are working on the install and balancing work, wheels can go back on different corners.
ALL good shops will ensure that the sensors are properly registered or 'reset' or 'learned' when they're finishing up - if for no other reason that they might not have been properly registered before the customer got new tires.
You touch it.......You own it.
All of this is not a big deal for most people, especially if you just have one little TPMS light on your dash that illuminates whenever there is a low tire.
This is the way my work Prius is.

As stated above, sometimes the shop will require a little extra money to replace the valve-stems if TPMS sensors are attached, and sometimes they will charge to make sure that the system 're-learns' which corners the new sensors is currently located in.
Charging extra for working on wheels with TPMS sensors on them is a fairly low-octane practice, since ALL POVs have pretty much been required to have them from the factory for almost a decade now.
OTOH, ALL SHOPS charge for this in theory if they perform the labor.
Some just don't itemize it or they give the customer the choice of not replacing the valve-stems, or they do it as a matter of policy and roll it into the price of the tire...or the instal package, or whatever.

There are lots of tire shops.
Negotiate....or just pick a good shop and don't sweat the details.


Your call.

 

Tire rotation has no effect on the TPMS system.

The wheels/tire's could actually be in a stack BESIDE the car, it'll still be happy. Until you drive off.

ETC, what I'm saying above contradicts the Owners Manual, but that's been my experience. I'm (DIY)swapping between regular and snow tires, and rotating them in the process. The snows don't have tpms sensors, the OEM tires (obviously) do. Every spring when I put the OEM's back on, regardless of position, the TPMS system is happy, warning light goes out. I think the manual is not quite right on this.

 

This varies by system design. Because Prius has only one TPMS antenna, it has no clue which code is coming from which corner. Swapping positions changes nothing.

Some other systems can link specific TPMS codes to specific corners. And some systems can even re-learn new codes automatically, or at a simple push of a button, so no human pre-knowledge of the new sensor code is required. I believe only super-high-end brands do this, like Chevy, Ford, and Chrysler . Low end brands like Toyota and Subaru do not.

 

Maybe they wrote the Owners Manual while the TPMS was still being designed.

 

I just installed my second set of replacement tires and have yet to do anything with the TPMS sensors with no problem.

Sam's sets the pressure to door placard 35 psi. When I get home I reset to 40/38. No issue with TPMS.

 

My Corvette tells me the pressure in each corner, warns me at the dash if low or high, and sends me an email in case I'm oblivious while driving.

 

I replaced one sensor at age 7 years due to low battery. And another 2 when I replaced 2 tires a year later. Still have one original sensor on my 2006. I never had a "tpms service" over 3 sets of tires. Aftermarket sensors go for about $30 each, or 2x or 3x that for OEM.

 

exactly, they are easy to damage if they pay no attention. if they have to pay attention, that slows the grease monkeys and they charge extra fee.