2010 Prius tps sensor warn lite stuck on

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Jim Caldwell, Oct 9, 2020.

  1. Jim Caldwell

    Jim Caldwell Member

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    It came on a few thousand miles ago when none of the tires were low. I am assuming then it a bad sensor....but how to determine which tire? They were recently rotated. I have Techstream but it couldnt identify which tire has the bad sensor could it? And once identified how to i get a replacement?
     
    #1 Jim Caldwell, Oct 9, 2020
  2. Pluggo

    Pluggo Senior Member

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    Are you still using the original sensors by any chance? It sounds like the batteries in your sensors may have expired.
     
    #2 Pluggo, Oct 9, 2020
  3. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Any ordinary tire shop should be able to figure out which one is dead very quickly, just by trying to read them. And perform the replacement too.

    If you can read individual pressures with Techstream, then you can identify specific tires by changing their pressures and matching the changes to the readouts. A process of elimination should identify the dead one. Or two ...
     
    #3 fuzzy1, Oct 9, 2020
  4. pjksr02

    pjksr02 Active Member

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    What error code(s) was/were shown in Techstream? If there is a low battery, that would show in the data list.

    Does your TPMS warning light light up immediately after you start the car, or does it blink for a minute, first?
     
    #4 pjksr02, Oct 9, 2020
    Last edited: Oct 9, 2020
  5. Jim Caldwell

    Jim Caldwell Member

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    I could check it with techstream, but i got the current set of tires at discount tire. I guess why bother as it looks like a fault i cant repair myself anyway. Im thinking they wont cover a failed tps thats 10 yrs old. The low pressure warning is flashing for a minute after start up, then comes on solid. What does that mean? Do you have to get a tps that is specific to that model so that it can communicate with the car?
     
    #5 Jim Caldwell, Oct 10, 2020
  6. Jim Caldwell

    Jim Caldwell Member

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    Found out that the flashing means probably a sendsor has failed, and since its 10 years old it may just be a dead battery. There are service kits available but i dont know of a source for a battrry thats definitely the right one. Discount tire (where I buy all my tires) only wants to replace the sensor at price of 60.00....no additional charges. They have to be reprogrammed. I should really replace all four sensors as they are probably all about to go out. But at 60.00 a piece i can only do one. Rockauto has them for about 30.00, but there is too much chance of getting the wrong one, and the tire shop has to have a re-programmer. So i guess i have to bite the bullet and get Discount Tire to replace the bad one?
     
    #6 Jim Caldwell, Oct 10, 2020
  7. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Plus, without taking the sensor out for inspection, you don't know if the battery can even be replaced at all. Most are sealed units with non-replaceable batteries, in part to prevent premature failures from leaky battery covers.
     
    #7 fuzzy1, Oct 10, 2020
  8. pjksr02

    pjksr02 Active Member

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    The Toyota sensors officially do not have a replaceable battery (not sure if you might be able to unofficially replace one). After 10 years, it's probably a good idea to go with a new sensor.

    The blinking for a minute only means that there is an error. You'd need to either connect your code-reader/Techstream, or do the DLC3 jumper thing and count the flashes to get the exact code(s).

    Discount Tire is a very good place to go, in my experience. They can go tire to tire, and "ping" the sensors, to see which one isn't working--hopefully it's only one; then they can register the new sensor into your car. But without you knowing the error code(s), you'll have to rely on what they tell you. Personally, I'd connect Techstream to know what I'm dealing with. (BTW, Techstream has a TPMS registration function, too, if you obtain your own sensors.)
     
    #8 pjksr02, Oct 10, 2020
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