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TPMS question

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by hybridtwins, Aug 8, 2009.

  1. hybridtwins

    hybridtwins Member

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    Does TPMS show actual tire pressure, or does it only use an 'idiot light' approach?
     
  2. stream

    stream Senior Member

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    The later.
     
  3. hybridtwins

    hybridtwins Member

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    Too bad. Any idea what the threshold is?
     
  4. jay_man2

    jay_man2 jay_man_also

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    8 psi below the current setting, according to what I read in a thread about the TPMS reset switch.

    My Highlander Hybrid TPMS would display the pressures, and it drove me nuts because, being OCD, I could never get all 5 (yes, even the full size spare) to be the same pressure cold or hot. The Prius approach is more my style. :p
     
  5. stream

    stream Senior Member

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    I believe I read in another thread it's 8 psi, although I'm not sure what the source was. The owner's manual doesn't specify.
     
  6. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    The threshold before the lack of tire pressure turns on the light? Or The threshold before someone is an idiot?

    Because the idiot threshold is around 34 PSI and throwing a match into your gas tank to see if it's empty.
     
  7. hybridtwins

    hybridtwins Member

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    Understood.

    it would be great if you could have the idiot light, plus the pressure display buried somewhere in a maintenance screen where it wouldn't be so intrusive.

    in any case, 8 psi seems like quite a bit of latitude. On our 2002's I try to never let the pressure drop more than 5 psi at most below the 42/40 we use.
     
  8. Blind Guy

    Blind Guy New Member

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    The 8 PSI threshold is movable, for example, tire pressure for the model V is 33lbs. Front and 32lbs. Rear, lets say you want to increase your pressures to 38lbs Front and 37lbs. Rear, you MUST Initialize the TPMS to recognize the new settings. Otherwise the TPMS would maintain the -8lbs. threshold for the original settings of 33/32lbs, and they would not indicate Low Pressure until 25/24lbs., rather than the desired WARNING at 30/29lbs. for the new tire pressure settings.

    To "Initialize" for new tire pressure settings, do the following:
    1. Set your tire pressure settings to their new values.
    2. With tire pressures COLD and set to their NEW values, turn the Hybrid System OFF.
    3. Turn the Hybrid System ON.
    4. Press and HOLD the "Initialize" button (located under the dash, inline with the steering column), hold the "initialize" button until the TPMS light blinks SLOWLY, and release.
    5. Wait until the TPMS light goes OUT.
    6. Turn OFF the Hybrid System.
    The 8lbs. threshold is now recalibrated to be 8lbs. below the newly established tire pressure values.

    David (aka Blind Guy)
     
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