Idea to fool the tire pressure sensors

Got it right guys thanks for the input, here's how it should look...

 

Just what I needed! fwiw, it was almost the exact same procedure to do this on my 2005 Toyota 4Runner as well. Thank you!

The reason I want to do it is I already replaced the factory sensors around year 5 with a full set from Town Fair Tire. The OEM ones were 4 times the price and 2 of the 4 had a dead battery (or some other failure). The Town Fair ones don't appear to have lasted nearly as long and I have at least 1 that is faulty (as indicated by a solid TPMS light). What's weird is that sometimes the light goes off and stays off for a few days. Then it will come back on, blink for a minute, then go solid.

So since my car is over 8 years old, over 150k miles, and I know how to check my own tire pressures, I'd just as soon do away with the dash light so I don't have to be hassled at my yearly inspection.

 

My memory is bad, but if I recall Gen2 does not have a good way to hack disable TPMS.
I found a way to give a fake reading with a binder clip, which I used for a couple years until we finally got new TPMS all around,
Some of mine OEM lasted 12 years.

 

I got new tires last fall, put them on about a week back, and the tpms sensors were all recognized, no light. As far as I know (it was Costco), they did the rebuild kit, where the replace washers, and maybe the valve?

If and when they fail I don't really care, will probably just replace with regular, at the next tire replacement, if that ever happens. Still, in Canada regulations are more lax I believe? TPMS were not mandatory, last time I checked.

 

This mod is brilliant. Just did it on my Prius V after the 17 inch upgrade did not have TPMS sensors.

Here’s a tip. A staple works just as well as a paper clip. The staple goes in the hole just about perfect and is almost the perfect length as well. Just need to cut 1/4 of an inch. I added a piece of electrical tape to be safe.

Much thanks!!

 

Is this jumper placed in the tpms ecu? Or into the wiring harness connector ? Paper clip seems too thick. I was thinking of shorting the black and purple wire in the harness?

 

...not sure @pEEf is still active here

 

Just did this with a staple and put a tape over it. Worked like a charm!

Make sure to use the round smaller holes. Sharing knowledge like this is what makes this community so great!!

Thanks everyone!!

 

Is this the wiring harness connector that we're putting the paperclip into? Or the ecu itself? In that photo it looks like the connector (but I haven't taken my glovebox apart yet), just don't really understand how that works, would have expected it to be the ecu. Would like to confirm before trying. Thank you

 

I signed up to clarify this for others since I know the post is old. Sorry if there is a more formal guide on this already but my searches came up with nothing.

Do this with the car off. You are inserting the jumper/paperclip/staple into the plug itself AND leaving it unplugged. In my instance I used a staple bent into a U, tested by just turning the car to the on position and verified that it was correct, then I taped off the connector with electrical tape. It will be off instantly when you turn it on, there was no blinking or delay. It was just off. All other lights on dash are fine.

My question as I am a dummy with electrical. How long has anyone ran with this. Just curious. I didn't want this like melting behind my dash or something. I wouldn't think it would do anything....

 

Got it!