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Detecting tire-pressure sensor failure.

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Mr. Humidity, Feb 27, 2023.

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  1. Mr. Humidity

    Mr. Humidity Junior Member

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    My question is: Is there a way to test an individual rim's tire-pressure sensor for proper functioning? If so, what is it? Here's the background on that question.

    In a past post, I described how I thought I needed a new rim. I got one from a salvage yard, though (it turns out) I didn't need it.

    So now, I've got a fifth rim.

    Some time ago, at least one of my tire-pressure sensors failed, leaving the dash light on, no matter how aired up the tires are. I looked into replacing it, was told it would it be over $400 and decided it wasn't worth it.

    Now I'm wondering, if my tire-pressure sensor failure is on a single rim, perhaps I could replace the failed-sensor rim with the salvage-yard rim (assuming its sensor works).

    So that leads me to my question: Is there a way to test an individual rim's tire-pressure sensor for proper functioning? If so, what is it?

    Thanks.
     
    #1 Mr. Humidity, Feb 27, 2023
  2. pasadena_commut

    pasadena_commut Senior Member

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    If you have techstream I guess you could figure out which sensor was which wheel by deflating the tire, looking for a change in the reading, then reinflating it.

    I believe that tire shops have better tools for this, so that they can read a sensor ID from each tire specifically, without having to fart around with identifying them by pressure changes.
     
    #2 pasadena_commut, Feb 27, 2023
  3. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    In the past I used Techstream on my Prius to see which TPMS was bad. After that I bought a TPMS reader for about ~$100 that I can use on all my cars.
     
    #3 wjtracy, Feb 27, 2023
  4. Mr. Humidity

    Mr. Humidity Junior Member

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    Thanks. I'll see if AutoZone or O'Reilly's has a TPMS sensor I could use.
     
    #4 Mr. Humidity, Feb 28, 2023
  5. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    More than likely; the battery is dead on one or more of your "in-tire" TPMS. If one is going the rest of them are sure to follow. The TPMS should be changed when you buy new tires; that way you avoid these issues. Whomever quoted you $400 is trying to rip you off. New sensors are $25 each; but you'll need to reprogram/clone them. That's where the TPMS sensor/cloner is used.

    Hope this helps....
     
    #5 BiomedO1, Feb 28, 2023
  6. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    Mine is Autel MaxiTPMS TS401 (which I don't know if they make anymore).
     
    #6 wjtracy, Mar 5, 2023
  7. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    The sensor is in the valve, not integral to the rim, so just replace the failed sensor/valve on the original rim.

    Any tire shop has the RF-scanner tools to very quickly read all the sensors, and figure out which one is not responding. Their labor price to swap sensors and reprogram the car to the sensor IDs, plus the retail price of the sensor itself, should be 2 digits, not 3. Ask around to your local shops.

    When sensor replacement is combined with changing tires, they normally charge only for the replacement sensors, not for the extra labor for the sensor swap, as that extra sensor-swap labor is minor compared to the basic tire change labor. But without a tire change, the whole process is still just as much labor as a tire change, so that probably will have a labor charge.
     
    #7 fuzzy1, Mar 5, 2023
  8. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

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    Good tool. It's been replaced by the TS408, which can ping sensors and can program Autel MX replacement sensors.

    The TS508 is like the 408 but has an OBD2 cable to "automatically" enter ID numbers in the car's ecu.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #8 mr_guy_mann, Mar 5, 2023
  9. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    Not too much more expensive either as I paid $135 in 2019
     
    #9 wjtracy, Mar 5, 2023
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