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Gen3 Prius TPMS Sensor Part Number Madness

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by wr69, Dec 23, 2023.

  1. wr69

    wr69 Member

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    Here are the results of a successful TPMS swap in my 2014 Gen3 regular Prius (15" OEM aluminum rims - the ones you see on most Prius driving around). There was a lot of FUD about these part numbers when searching PC and the internet in general. My replacement part according to Toyota was 42607-33012, notice it ends in "12". The local Toyota dealers quoted around $135 average per sensor, or a total of about $540 for 4 sensors.

    Anyway, these sensors were also expensive online, and I sought out alternatives. In various findings, it appeared like I could get OEM part number 42607-33021 as a substitute, notice it ends in "21". I also found there was a newer part number 42607-33022, ending in "22", but couldn't find that one anywhere easily and cheaply.

    So I settled on 4 x new OEM sensors, part number 42607-33021, which I got from an ebay seller for about $50 total for all 4 sensors. The price difference was so massive, it had me wondering. But the sensors arrived in a Toyota box. the sensors quality and assembly looked good. And the company behind the scenes actually making the sensors appeared to be "Pacific Industries", which was the stamp on the old rims sensors.

    I took a picture of the old sensors, which I believe were from the factory, and compared to the new sensors, and it appears to be just a newer revision of the same sensor, albeit with some minor modifications. Well, I felt comfortable enough to give it a shot and am now running with the new sensors, which paired nicely to the ECU in my 2014.

    Installation: I actually had a second set of rims, so installed the sensors physically myself, torquing them down to 4.5 Nm (newton-meters, not inch-pounds). I then took the rims to my local goodyear shop since I was getting new tires anyway and went ahead and had goodyear proceed with the tires and then reprogramming the new sensors to my ECU. They were able to do that no problem and didn't charge extra.

    All-in all, I really like goodyear tires, and am happy with how it turned out. I have had goodyears on several prior prius and they are a good balance between MPG and comfort. And the sensors seem to be working out so far! Hope that helps anyone in the same boat. A little extra work can save you some serious $ on these expensive OEM sensors.

    I cannot current post pics for some reason, but will try again later!
     
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  2. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Just FYI, almost any aftermarket 315Mhz TPMS sensors would have worked. Not on Gen3, but I used Autel One sensor on Gen4 Prime winter tires. The cost was less than $10 each after subtracting the cost of the TPMS tool which I bought as a kit with 8 sensors.

    It is ridiculous what a dealer try to charge for replacement.
     
  3. wr69

    wr69 Member

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    I thought about going the autel route too and would have bought the programming tool - if the tire shop wouldn't program my new OEM sensors. in the end, I got the OEM ones for ~$12.50 each off ebay - they seem like they work so far. so for that price difference, the OEM seemed worth it to me. These sensors seem like a bit of a "racket" in general; and if there was a way to de-program the blinky light on the dash, I might just say screw it and get standard rubber valve stems when TPMS "wear out." But then again at $8-13 a piece for the TPMS, that's pretty low cost - if you can get them programmed for a good price.
     
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    You can dig the old battery out and solder in new, for about $4 per. A bit messy, they're embedded in silicone goop. More info on youtube.

    One link:

    TPMS sensor battery replacement. Here's how, but is it worth it?

    Not sure if I'd even bother with that, just let 'em die, use plain valves next time. We drive with plain-valve snow tires now anyways, 5 months out of the year. Light doesn't bother me.

    Oh, was gonna say: search those part no's on Amayama, most of them popped up for me. In Canada that's often cheapest route.
     
  5. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Yeah, I was burned by a dealer charging me arms and legs on my first car that came with the TPMS sensors. Never again. I bought Autel TS508 TPMS tool that came with 8 sensors. I had three cars at that time all requiring OBDII link to relearn a new set of TPMS. So the cost of the kit which was about $250 was recouped within a year not having have to take them to a tire shop to swap winter/summer tires&wheels.

    One good thing about Autel sensors with the TS508 is that I can clone the sensor IDs. So, after cloning a set onto winter wheels, I don't even have to go through the relearn procedure at each winter charge over. To the ECU, the same set of wheels are still on it.
     
    #5 Salamander_King, Dec 23, 2023
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2023
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Dealership sensor install is neck-and-neck with the price of aftermarket rims.

     
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  7. wr69

    wr69 Member

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    hey mendel, its a good thought, but I don't think it's worth it. the tire shops don't seem to even want to replace the original sensors without charging you for a "tpms washer kit", which is a replacement rubber gasket and nylon washer. so technically, by the time you pop them out and paid for the replacement gaskets/washers, which is probably not a bad idea, it's not worth it. I wish I could post some pictures so people would have them for reference. what's up with priuschat? is it down for picture posting? all-in-all, I have the 42607-33021 part number on my wheels now for a day and it works and has been programmed. they are not really any bigger or weirdly shaped compared to the original part number 42607-33012.

    I also just created a PDF of my findings with pictures and added it to my signature. Hope this helps some folks in the future!
     
    #7 wr69, Dec 23, 2023
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2023
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  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    image and file upload has been broken since the server migration, over 3 weeks back now. If you can manage to upload somewhere else, you can post a link here. I've been using my google drive. It's a pain though.

    Yeah, since November 30th:

    November 2023 Server Migration Notes | PriusChat
     
  9. Eddie25

    Eddie25 Active Member

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    My experience hasn't been this, it's been that there's a part number that has to match. For example my 2011 would be PMV-107J and my wife's 2019 is PVM-C015 and they are both 315Mhz, but are not compatible with each others cars. I use the Autel tool, it shows those numbers when I scan the wheels. I'm sure there's universal sensors or whatever, but I'd be careful. I hope I'm wrong because my wife currently has to drive around with the tire light on in the winter :D.
     
  10. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    You might be correct on two different OEM sensors. But I said any "aftermarket" meaning not OEM parts. But as you said, it has to be "universal" sensors like Autel 1 sensor.
     
  11. Eddie25

    Eddie25 Active Member

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    Ah, OK thanks. I was actually under the impression that I had aftermarket and Toyota had a different part number designation like the OP mentions, but now I see I did get "genuine" ones.
     
  12. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Now come to think of it, I have seen some aftermarket TPMS sensors sold as a "replacement" parts. They may not be universal. So far my Autel universal sensors have been flawless.
     
  13. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    I know I posted this to you before but it's okay your TPMS sensors on your car 2014 whatever it is are made by a company called Pacific If you look at the back of your center caps on your wheels you'll see the word what Pacific If you were to break down your tire and rim and take your TPMS sensor off it'll be a red logo and the word Pacific the greens go on the generation 2 I think or vice versa they cost $43.90 for a set of four on eBay these are the original sensors that Toyota specd for your car. And what came on your car in Canada in the US I don't know about anywhere else so anybody that's telling you all these funny numbers ending with 12 and very expensive and so on and so forth well I guess nobody did any reading because we've been through this like 20 times in the last 4 months Pacific is the brand they make all your wheel trim and hardware of your wheels center caps bug nuts beauty rings if you have them whatever Pacific they make your TPMS sensors although all this is moot now you've already spent the money and done whatever and etc but this has been posted a bunch of times Glad it worked out for you Pacific is the company that makes all your wheel trim for your Prius
     
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    can you pass inspection with the tpms light on?
     
  15. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    In North Carolina in the county I'm at I can have a check engine light on We do not have emissions some of the counties down here in the south have finally gotten pretty smart and realized it's all pretty much a scam the emissions part of the testing not clean cars. So I don't know where all this hoopla started with the TPMS sensors but usually TPMS sensors should not cause you to fail inspection but depending upon how the inspection laws are written in the given state it could The states that are looking for maximum dollar extraction from their citizens will have the wording so that any orange lights on the dash are not permitted or they'll be written in a way that technicians are also taught when they go to these classes to become an inspector in the given state how they are to interpret the pages of text that they're dealing with and when people come in and ask about it that's what they tell them no here in our state it's such and such and so and so that's that The states with the tightest laws are the ones extracting the most money from their citizenry Colorado California I don't know those guys you know or your property taxes are you know half of your yearly salary or something crazy.
     
  16. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    In most states with mandated inspection, working TPMS is not required to pass. Only 5 states requires functioning TPMS.

    TPMS is subject to inspection in states where vehicle safety inspections are mandated. These states are Hawaii, Rhode Island,Vermont, West Virginia. New York inspects TPMS, but does not require it to be functional according to TireRack.

    See: https://www.tirerack.com/upgrade-garage/what-are-state-tpms-regulations
     
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  17. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Groovy! So can I go to Pacific Industrial and buy some? Or is it more "look around eBay and Amazon and decide whether you trust "Xuan" or "JoeElectronics" more to sell you a "Pacific" sensor that was really made by Pacific"?
     
  18. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Nope you look at the labels I have pictures of folks need them they have a very specific label and QR code that can go along with the newer ones again the label is very specific they have green and a red Pacific logo our car comes with the green I don't care about all those Chinese names you're spouting off there they they have no bearing on anything to me I don't even know who Pacific is nor do I care but if you look on the back of your center caps and wheel trim you'll see the Pacific logo The Pacific logo looks just like that that you're looking at on the back of your wheel center caps online The exact Pacific green labeled TPMS sensors I ordered look like the Pacific logo on the back of my center caps exactly I guess that's their trademark like folks do here in the US they write things funny and they whatever that's their logos what it looks like I don't know what all this Chinese nonsense you're putting up here don't even care about that but when I look on eBay for those Pacific brand sensors they pop up then I find the green label ones and then I look in the fit for those green label sensors and it covers my Prius and that's what's on my Prius right now that came from the factory because they've never been touched that's probably what I'm going to order and they're $49 of freaking set whoops and they work so there's always that That's all I'm saying I don't know who all these people are you're typing up here maybe that's the real company that is Pacific I don't know or care I look for their trademarked looking logo that's on the back of your center caps in various wheel trim items they may make other things too but I don't care about that either I haven't done any research and don't plan to.
     
  19. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    eBay sellers have names. What's the name of the eBay seller you buy these from? You see the seller's name over on the right of the listing.

    [​IMG]
     

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  20. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    I don't know I have to figure out how to scan that QR code that's not on something else I don't spend a lot of time with that stuff but I will check as far as I know he's still in my list of crap that I've bought so he's not a fly-by nighter at least so far but the names you mentioned earlier don't come up or ring a bell I'm not sure that they're Asian people or whatever but I'm not certain of that I'll have a look in a minute and see what we got but it usually the people I buy from on eBay have really dumb names It's not like their names it's some business name twisted with letters upside down or whatever the heck but rarely is it anything very normal looking.