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Bought 4 TPMS sensors today...

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by DocVijay, Jun 27, 2006.

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  1. DocVijay

    DocVijay Active Member

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    I finally ordered my lightweight wheels, so I went in ot buy the 4 TPMS sensors to use in them. Man are they expensive. They run $105.52 each! Total bill with tax is $450. I bought them anyway, as I'm selling my original wheels to someone, and I really don't want to deal with pulling of the tires, removingthe sensors and then mounting and balancing the tires, only to do it yet again with the new wheels and tires.

    So use caution when having your tires worked on. Make sure you warn them repeatedly about hte TPMS sensors and how to not damage them!
     
    #1 DocVijay, Jun 27, 2006
  2. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    whew! that's some pricey equipment. :blink:
     
    #2 galaxee, Jun 27, 2006
  3. powrfuel

    powrfuel New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Jun 27 2006, 04:06 PM) [snapback]277659[/snapback]</div>

    what kind of wheels? pics?
     
    #3 powrfuel, Jun 27, 2006
  4. Drift Motion

    Drift Motion RMS13

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    my dad's company came out with somethin to fix that TPMS thing, duno if any1 else have it

    its basically a thin piece of metal, wrap around the rim, have this one part where it can lock the senor in place, and it solves the newer models with the TPMS, the piece of metal is thing and long, weights almost nothin, its like a strap
     
    #4 Drift Motion, Jun 27, 2006
  5. hobbit

    hobbit Senior Member

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    Which system did you [docvijay] get? The Toyota one? If so, can
    you tell who really makes it?
    .
    Smarttire is one of the ones that strap the sensor around the middle
    of the rim, if I recall right ... any other aftermarkets take this
    approach too?
    .
    _H*
     
    #5 hobbit, Jun 28, 2006
  6. DocVijay

    DocVijay Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hobbit @ Jun 28 2006, 12:54 AM) [snapback]277896[/snapback]</div>
    I bought four Toyota sensors. I haven't gotten them yet, they arrive on Thursday. I was planning on seeing who made them, and posting some pictures so that others may be able to circumvent buying from Toyota at those high prices.
     
    #6 DocVijay, Jun 28, 2006
  7. georgel

    georgel Junior Member

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    Are the new wheels designed to work with TPMS sensors? If not, the sensors may not work in the holes designed for standard rubber self-sealing valve stems. The valve stem hole in a TPMS wheel has a machined surface to mate with the 2-part valve seal.
     
    #7 georgel, Jun 28, 2006
  8. DocVijay

    DocVijay Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(georgel @ Jun 28 2006, 09:16 AM) [snapback]277989[/snapback]</div>
    Yep, I'm aware of that. Yep, they should work.
     
    #8 DocVijay, Jun 28, 2006
  9. OriginalGT

    OriginalGT New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(georgel @ Jun 28 2006, 06:16 AM) [snapback]277989[/snapback]</div>
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DocVijay @ Jun 28 2006, 06:44 AM) [snapback]278006[/snapback]</div>
    It seems like not all wheels are compatible with the sensors then. Correct? If so, how would I determine that a particular wheel is compatible?
     
    #9 OriginalGT, Jun 28, 2006
  10. DocVijay

    DocVijay Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(OriginalGT @ Jun 28 2006, 03:28 PM) [snapback]278175[/snapback]</div>
    Most wheels are compatible. It's harder to find ones that are not compatible. Every year more and more cars are equipped with TPMS's and so the rims follow suit. Or the sensors are made to be interchangable.

    I wouldn't worry about the sensors not being compatible unless you get a really unique or different wheel.
     
    #10 DocVijay, Jun 28, 2006
  11. theorist

    theorist Member

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    Please let us know how much your Toyota dealer charges you to enter the unique IDs for the new sensors into your ECU using the scan tool.

    You may want to let the dealer do this (or at least read the ID codes off of the sensor-transmitters) before you install the sensors on the rims inside the tires, so that they don't need to break the (tire bead to rim lip) seals on your wheels.
     
    #11 theorist, Jun 29, 2006
  12. DocVijay

    DocVijay Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(theorist @ Jun 29 2006, 01:42 AM) [snapback]278464[/snapback]</div>
    All they need is the 7 digit sensor ID. I can get the tires mounted and they wouldn't need to break the bead. If you write down the numbers they can just enter it into the scan tool.
     
    #12 DocVijay, Jun 29, 2006
  13. Tigerops

    Tigerops New Member

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    I had a '99 Plymouth Prowler that had these sensors and it's a pretty cool system. However, for my Prius, I've bought the TireMinder valve caps. They're pretty neat also, especially at (I think) $16 for all 4. They are made for different pressures and once the tire pressure falls below that point they turn red. So all I do every fill up is walk around the car and make sure the caps are all green. It's a great cheap alternative.

    Anyone else use these babies?
     
    #13 Tigerops, Jun 29, 2006
  14. theorist

    theorist Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tigerops @ Jun 29 2006, 12:54 PM) [snapback]278637[/snapback]</div>
    I bought a couple sets for a dollar a set on clearance at RadioShack as gifts for out of state family members who regularly let their pressures fall to unsafe levels. For myself, I prefer using a good tire pressur gauge regularly. I wasn't happy with limited choice of tire pressure, the increased risk of leakage (these caps keep the valves open,) the weight of the caps and possible resulting imbalance, or the limited accuracy. I was thrilled with the clearance price and am thrilled to give them as gifts to family members who never check their pressures and who I worry about. (I only get to visit them and inflate their tires a couple times a year. :(

    Maybe I should remove my TPMS sensors-transmiters and sell them for a few hundred dollars?
     
    #14 theorist, Jun 29, 2006
  15. B Rad

    B Rad New Member

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    Can the tire pressure light on the dash be shut off so you can run with out the TPS without seeing that light all the time ???
     
    #15 B Rad, Jun 29, 2006
  16. theorist

    theorist Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(B Rad @ Jun 29 2006, 03:48 PM) [snapback]278740[/snapback]</div>
    Not that anyone's reported. Some simply cover the warning light with tape.
     
    #16 theorist, Jun 29, 2006
  17. windstrings

    windstrings Certified Prius Breeder

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DocVijay @ Jun 27 2006, 02:55 PM) [snapback]277589[/snapback]</div>

    Hey Doc.. a couple of questions...

    1. Do you never need to buy studded tires nor have the need for a "backup" set of tires?

    2. What is involved in Damaging the tpms sensors?.. when I go in someday to get my flat fixed... what should I warn them about?
     
    #17 windstrings, Jun 30, 2006
  18. DocVijay

    DocVijay Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(windstrings @ Jun 30 2006, 07:13 AM) [snapback]279032[/snapback]</div>
    1. No, I don't think I'll ever need studded tires here in Florida. As for a backup set of tires, no I don't need that either. I have one spare, which should do the job. If I'm in a situation where I need more than one spare, chances are that it's more serious than jsut a flat. One set of wheels will be sufficient.

    2. IF they are not careful, the machine that mounts/unmounts the tire can hit the sensor and break it. They really only need to run it over about 60% of the edge to fully seat the bead. THey just need to start in front of the sneosor and hten go around. For example, let's say the sensor is at 0 degrees. They would put the first part of hte bead over the lip, and hten place the machine's attachment at 30 degrees and then go around to 270 degrees. At this point the bead should pop on completely, sna dhte attachment, which runs very close to the rim, won't come anywhere near the sensor. Just make sure they know it's there. Most tire shops have some experience as they are becoming more common now.
     
    #18 DocVijay, Jun 30, 2006
  19. mike_m

    mike_m New Member

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    Hi Bjorn,

    Got Pics? :)
     
    #19 mike_m, Jun 30, 2006
  20. DocVijay

    DocVijay Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mike_m @ Jun 30 2006, 10:03 AM) [snapback]279064[/snapback]</div>
    Yes, I have plenty of pictures. :p What exactly is it you want pictures of? If it's the sensors, they have not arrived yet. They don't keep those in stock, and I had to special order them. I'll post htem as soon as they arrive. I'm going to stop by and check today.

    I imagine they beautiful, as they would have to be made of gold or platinum at this price! :eek:

    I'll post pics of the sensors alone, mounted to the wheels, and so on. I'll post one here, but most pics will be in my mod thread.
     
    #20 DocVijay, Jun 30, 2006
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