Tire pressure sensors

They can be swapped. Just make sure whoever does it doesn't break them in the process.

SPH-D710 ? 2

 

It's a little complicated. I don't believe the sensors can be swapped wheel to wheel without demounting each tire from its rim (negating the benefits of dedicated wheels for winter tires).
On top of this, the car can only recognize one set of sensors at a time, so even if you purchased a separate set of sensors for your winter tires, you'd have to pay someone with Techstream (usually your Toyota dealer) to register each set of sensors with the car when changing over each season. [see the next post for an alternative to this]
Many here simply leave the sensors off of the winter rims and spend that season ignoring the warning light.
Annoying situation.

 

For my winter/summer wheel setups, I bought a second set of sensors and an ATEQ Quickset device. I use the ATEQ Quickset device to change the sensor registration in the computer myself, and not have to take it into the dealer.

 

To move the sensors you don't actually have to -remove- the tyre from the wheel, just break one bead, push in and access the sensor. The nut that holds it on is on the outside (on the valve stem). You DO have to make sure the new wheel has the correct size hole for the sensor/valve stem.

 

Just to turn it around:

If you get your snow tires without sensors, a little amber light goes on in the dash. When you switch back to your regular wheels (with their sensors), the light goes out.

 

I haven't found it to be worth the trouble to change. I drive with the little flat tire picture during the winter and it goes away in March when i swap tires for the summer.

 

I like the "Click & Clack" solution: black tape over the tire waring light (and remove it in the summer.

 

I just do nothing. It's tough with that light glaring at me, but I cope

 

See the below thread (Posts #54 and #65 to #72) for a brilliant fix by pEEf on how to install a jumper wire to turn off the TPMS warning light.

Idea to fool the tire pressure sensors | Page 4 | PriusChat

I check my tire pressure regularly. I don't need TPMS and don't need to waste hundreds of dollars buying extra sensors and equipment or pay people to turn off lights. I also don't care to be distracted when driving by that annoying yellow light.

 

I also did the solution to put a jumper on 2 pins in the TPMS ECU. That permanently shuts off the system. No warning lights whatsoever!

I had problems with my TPMS system since the 2nd month I owned the car. The light came on inexplicably even when tire pressures were normal, even after resetting the system and having the dealership (2 dealers actually) reset and recalibrate it. I even complained to Toyota corporate about it and they approved having my dealer replace the sensor with brand new ones. That fixed the problem, but 30 minutes later the light started flashing again!

I was ready to dump the car because I felt like it was a lemon. I don't really care if TPMS works, I just wanted the damned light off!
That fix did it.

Here is the pertinent post:

Idea to fool the tire pressure sensors | Page 3 | PriusChat

It's really easy and quick if you can follow directions and are not afraid to touch the innards of your Prius. It took 5 minutes to do.

Thanks goes to pEEf.

 

Much like we have to cope with other always on lights such as "ready" and "airbag on". lol

 

I just couldn't stand that light. It even blinked and then stayed on every time I drove the car.

Not only couldn't I ignore it, I had several passengers notice it and ask what it was.

Just really annoying and the suggestion (by the dealer too) to put black tape over the display sounded like a redneck fix that would look as bad as the light. I'm too much of a perfectionist to tolerate something like that.

I've always been like that, that's just me.

Now that the TPMS light is gone, I'll probably start obsessing about "backup beeper" which is my other complaint. I've never gotten around to getting rid of that yet.

 

Is there a way to read the actual PSI from the tires with the TPMS system? ScanGauge?

The cheap Chevy rentals I drove back in 2008 will tell me the PSI read out at the exact tire locations. I supposed they had four transceivers, one at each corner. The Toyota TPMS implementation has been a disappointment. No direct readout, and not exact location info, and requires a reset when you rotate the tires with different F/R pressures.

 

#black tape lol.. super tacky
backin up beep doesn't really bother me.. I accept it as being part of the product prius..plus it just adds its lil cheesy "hello, we're driving backwards" alert (of course we are, car.. I stepped on ur brakes and changed ur gear)..I don't mind the backing up beep.. for technology sakes.

Issue: the sudden caution lights on the dash while on the freeway was a lil bit of concern..when infact they were more of reminders (maintenance alerts after 5k miles) rather than danger signs (from online research it was sunday, service centers closed

Thanks for sharing the reference on how to turn off the "alert-me-when-my-tires'-air-pressure-is-out sensor" lol.. I check my tires regularly. I don't really need an alert for that

Hopin to get mine looked at today.. Check hybrid system and check engine alerts came up together (at the same time, after a slight bump while driving yesterday) air pressure alert was up 2 days ago.. bought car 3 weeks ago.. Love the prius no doubt ..most efficient (green) car I've driven..

My proposed resolution: a reset on maintenance log (settings) after dealer check. Hopefully it syncs the car with the refresh (car check and reset).

BlackBerry 9930 ?

 

Why not use Schrader EZ-Sensors in your winter tires? They can be programmed with your original sensor IDs creating a cloned set of sensors. Simply switch between summer & winter tires, maintaining correct position on the vehicle and the vehicle will never know the difference. Keep in mind TPMS is a Federally mandated safety system. Doing anything to defeat the MIL is illegal and can be used against you in case of an accident.

 

Toyota does report tire pressure on the thier scan tool. Scan Gauge may not display it unless it has access to the controller reporting the data.