Idea to fool the tire pressure sensors

The same reason why they created run-flat tires

 

If you have nitrogen put in your tires you get really neat green valve caps.

 

Seems like a complex solution for a problem that can be so easily resolved with a tiny piece of black tape.

 

I've been a lurker here since last Sept. when I got my 2010 IV, with 13000 miles and have learned alot. I've now had a bad experience with my Toyota dealer and have some questions. Yesterday, when I went to leave for work, the tire pressure warning light came on. I checked all the tires and one of them only had 15 lbs. in it. I figured I ran over something and pumped the tire back up to 40 lbs. The tire pressure light went off and stayed off for my half hour drive to work. I called the dealer when I got to work and they told me to bring it over at 5:00 pm after work. The dealer is a half a mile away. I checked the tire before leaving work and it had 15 lbs in it again. The warning light came on half way to the dealer. While waiting, they came out to tell me that they broke the tire pressure sensor and they had to replace it and it wouldn't cost me anything, normally $150. When they were done, which took 2 hours, they told me that the tire pressure warning light was on, and there must be something wrong with one of the other sensors. I told them that it was fine the whole way to work. They also mentioned that they could go out anytime, but why would another one go out sitting in their garage? They told me they noticed that my tire pressure was at 40 on the other tires and that could be the reason another one could go out. They also said that they are not covered under warranty. They lowered my tire pressure to 32 lbs., when it clearly states on the sticker 35 front and 33 rear. When I got home, I added air to the tires, and tried to do the initialize again, but the light was still on. This morning, going to work it started flashing. So after this long story, I guess my questions are: would the extra pressure cause the sensors to go out and why would they not be under warranty?

 

+1

 

This dealer sounds highly suspect. Unfortunately, since they were the ones doing the work, you are probably stuck with them getting it fixed, unless you want to pay out of pocket.

The odds of another sensor going bad at that exact time are vanishingly small. These guys did something to mess up your system. I suspect that they didn't properly reprogram your Prius to recognize the new sensor. Here is what they should do, and at their expense:

1) Reprogram your Prius to recognize all four TPMS sensors.

2) Fill your tires to the proper pressure.

3) Press the reset button to set the new calibration.

Tom

 

I have my sensors in a baggy waiting to be installed in my new wheels. hitting the reset button with them in the car does not make the light go away.

 

More Toyota dealership lock-in. :wof:

Electrical tape = Best solution. Why risk damage to your summer rims remounting your tires anyway?

 

OK, i read all the post, and even if some of them were very informative, i'd still like to understand how they function exactly.

it is my first car with tire pressure sensor, and i'm definitely not familiar with it.

it is my understanding that if i remove those tires, and put new rims/tires for the winter, i will have to drive with the tire light on all winter.

now, if i buy those from a dealer, (~400$) that light wouldn't light up unless the pressure goes down.

do those sensor needs to be recalibrated? if so, how often? if i change tires on my summer rims (because it's been 2-3 years and they are used) do i need to get it recalibrated? at which cost?

if i keep the same rims, but put my winter tires on them, will have have to do anything with the sensors?

i'm just debating between buying new rims/winter tires with sensor and all, or just new rims/tires and deal with the light in dashboard, or just keep one set of rim and just switch my tires on it.

thx

 

Correct

You’re to vague in your question. The sensors alone from the dealer cost about $400. It would be more money from the dealer for new rims, new tires, and labor to put them all together and install them on your car. If you want to put your old rims/tires/sensors back on next summer, there would be more labor charges to program the car for the old rims/tires/sensors. When you put the new rims/tires/sensors back on the following winter there will be more labor charges to program the car for the differnt rims/tires/sensors.

Sorry about the long answer. Tell me your goal and I will tell you the options.

No. It is not common to have to recalibrate them and you can do this your self. Please explain what you mean by "change summer tires(because it's been 2-3 years and they are used)"? Do you mean rims, tires and new pressure sensors or just new tires on your existing rims. What does 2-3 years mean?

No, If you do this two times a year it will be very expensive and will cause damage to the rims.

I did not buy the sensors. For now I will use tape. When my first set of tires wear out I will take the sensor out and put them in a tube.

 

Adding some clarification to the above answers, in random order (if there is such a thing):

1) The sensors are sealed and require no calibration.

2) Pressure setpoint calibration is done by the user by pressing the reset button under the steering wheel. You fill up your tires to the desired level, then press the reset. The exact instructions are in your manual.

3) The range of allowable pressure values does not extend down to zero. You cannot calibrate your system to be happy with sensors carried in a plastic bag. They need to be at some elevated pressure. I don't know the exact minimum value.

4) Each Prius can be paired with only one set of sensors. If you want to swap wheels for winter tires, you need to do one of the following:

a. Do without the sensors and live with the light. Black plastic tape can help.

b. Buy a second set of sensors and pay the dealer twice a year to associate the correct sensors with your car. Alternately you may buy your own programming tool.

c. Swap the sensors into the new wheels. This is probably a bad idea. You will quickly break a sensor or ruin the rims.

d. Swap the tires on the wheels. Alloy wheels are not made for frequent tire changes. You will quickly ruin your rims.

Tom

 

thank you! this pretty much answers all my question i had with regard to those sensors. i'm not happy with all those answers (i would have hope for something different), but at least i know what to expect now. still unsure as to what i will do, but i think i might have to spend 5-6 months/year with the light on... this seems to be the most economic way to go.

 

I have steel rims for my winter tires. Would it work to take one of the sensors off my summer alloy rims and install it on one of my steel rims?

Alternatelly. could I run one summer rim with a winter tire.? In other words, would the rims track differently when mixed?

Chris

 

TPMS monitors the sensors individually. In other words, all sensors must be present and reporting pressure in the good range, otherwise you get a warning light.

Tom

 

All for sensors must be detected for the light to stay off.

 

Answer 1 and 2 are two opposite answers. You can calibrate the tire inflation pressure to the specified cold tire inflation pressure level. It is documented on page 443 of the user manual.



Page 443 goes over the sensor ID codes.

 

No, answers 1 and 2 are correct. You cannot calibrate the sensors. You calibrate the TPMS system at the receiving end. The sensors come with a fixed calibration. When you reset the TPMS to "calibrate", all it really does is memorize the current values being the sensors.

Tom

 

I do not recall anyone asking if the sensors get calibrated at the sensor or at the receiver. Here is the question again.

The answer to the original question is yes at times they do need to be recalibrated. The recalibration can be done by the end user at no cost.

This person clearly does not understand high levels of how this system works. Why would you make it worse trying to explain the low level details of how the system works internally?

 

i got o good grasp of it now... the answer 1 and 2 were actually really helpfull and did not confuse me. it was exactly what i was wondering... just couldn't translate it from my french to my broken english! ;-) thx all

 

Because it clearly makes a difference. It is important to understand that it is a system wide calibration, and not a per sensor adjustment. Some people think they need to go from tire to tire setting the system.

Tom