TPMS sensors can't be programmed at America's Tire

I think I mentioned in my original post that I also drove to a dealer and they said sure, we can look at the problem for $210 (he actually said $209.88 - how's that for precision!).

I assumed that actually solving the problem after looking at it would cost more than $209.88. OTOH, I'm sure I would have been comfortable in their air conditioned lounge with hot coffee and donuts watching their 90" TV.

 

This problem is now resolved!

Last week Tire Rack got back in touch with me either because I emailed them about the sensor IDs or I gave them a bad review on their survey. The customer service rep looked up the correct procedure to program the sensors (listed below) and told me to take it back to America's Tire and they should be able to fix it. I told her that they told me that they only program their own sensors, and she said America's Tire is owned by Tire Rack and she had talked to the manager and he said he would fix it.

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Sensor Relearn Procedure
1. Ensure all tires are inflated to the pressure listed on the tire placard.
2. If TPMS light is ON, proceed to Step #3.
If TPMS light is OFF, proceed to Step #5.
3. Turn ignition to the ON position.
4. When using the updated ATEQ or Bartec tool, utilize the tool’s Reset ECU function under one of the menus: plug into vehicle’s OBD port and follow tool’s onscreen prompts.
a. ATEQ –“Unlock ECU” is found under vehicle’s Service menu.
b. Bartec – “Toyota ECU Reset” found under the Wrench icon after entering the vehicle’s “OBD Relearn” menu
5. If using an ATEQ tool, use the “Service TPMS” menu, not “Check”.
If using a Bartec tool, use the “Relearn” option, not “Test Sensor”.
• If using REDI-Sensors 7007HP or 7008HP and the sensors do not scan under the appropriate vehicle, you may need to configure the sensor/s under the tool’s “Program”
menu first. A tool software level update to the following would be required:
ATEQ: D__1-42-07 at minimum
To view your current update level: “Settings” → “About”.
Bartec: v64.0 or v4.0 at minimum
To view your current update level: “My Tool” → “Tool Info”.
6. Starting with the LF tire, use the scan tool to scan each sensor in the following order:
LF, RF, RR, & LR.
7. Turn ignition to the ON position.
8. Connect scan tool to OBDII port and upload sensor IDs.
9. Unplug the OBDII cable, keep ignition still in the ON position.
10. To verify baseline tire pressures are correct, hold down pressure warning reset button (located under the driver’s dash) until TPMS indicator blinks 3 times.
11. With the ignition still in the ON position, re-scan each sensor. The light should turn off.
12. Test drive the vehicle above 30mph or more for at least 10 minutes, monitor the TPMS indicator to ensure it does not illuminate or blink.

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I took the car back to America's Tire today with the procedure that was emailed to me. The service rep barely glanced at the procedure (predictably) and said pull the car up over there and we'll take care of it. The mechanic takes out this electronic device about the size of a phone but 4 times as thick and holds it against each valve stem. After 5-10 seconds the thing beeps and he moves to the next tire. Then he attached this device to the OBD port under the dash with a cable, pressed a couple buttons and it was done.

I was prepared to pay some kind of fee for this but they didn't charge me.

Total cost of this adventure:
4 tires: $480
4 tpms sensors: $210
installation: $100
total: $790

 

I think I paid the standard fee for mounting and balancing new tires. It wouldn't have surprised me if they charged an additional fee for replacing the tpms sensors and reprogramming the ECU because that's more work than just doing the tires. Maybe these businesses like to roll that fee into the price of sensors.

I sorta think that's why they didn't do it the first time. The tire shop told me they charged $60/tire for tpms sensor replacement. Tire Rack only charged me $48 per sensor for the parts.