Reset Tire Pressure Monitor System?

The TPMS reset button is under the steering column just about where your knees rest. You will have to get on your knees outside of the car in order to find it. Look at the bottom of the dash right around the steering column for a button that is slightly recessed.

 

From the Owner's manual :​

How to initialize the tire pressure warning system
​

​

Park the vehicle in safe place and turn the “POWER” switch OFF.
While the vehicle is moving, initialization is not performed.​

Adjust the tire inflation pressure to the specified cold tire inflation

pressure level. (→P. 565)

​

Make sure to adjust the tire pressure to the specified cold tire inflation pressure level.
The tire pressure warning system will

operate based on this pressure level.​

Turn the “POWER” switch to ON mode.​

Push and hold the tire pressure warning reset switch until the tire

pressure warning light blinks slowly 3 times.​

Wait for a few minutes with the ON mode, and then turn

“POWER” switch OFF.​

Sorry to hear about your tire.​

 

That's likely because the new tire pressure is close to (or the same as) the tire it replaced.

 

i have a leaking rear tire right now. the light comes on, i park leaving the car on, fill the tire, get back in the car and the light is out. i like this. most cars i've had take 5-10 minutes for the light to go off, prius does it right away.

 

The only reason to reset the TPMS is to change the warning pressure level. The system sets the warning level to about 8 pounds less than the pressure in each tire when the system is reset.

If you get a flat, the pressure will obviously go below the warning level, and the light will come on. Once the flat is fixed and the pressure is back up to normal, the light should go out by itself.

If a pressure sensor is replaced or changed out (winter tires), then the new sensor serial numbers have to be registered with a scantool. The TPMS reset also has to be performed to establish the warning level with the different sensors.

 

I would still recommend resetting the TMPS after installing a new tire(s) or any time you change the tire pressure.

 

Actually the 8 pound difference between setup and warning is really quite large. What this means is that if a tire is at 32 pounds when you press reset, there won't be any warning until it drops to 24 pounds.

Maybe a better thing to do is to set the tires 4 pounds high, press the TPMS reset, drive around for a short while, and then reduce the pressure back to normal. That way you'll get the TPMS warning when a tire is 4 pounds low, instead of 8. A bit of a hassle, but running a tire 7 pounds low isn't good, but still not low enough to trigger the TPMS light.

 

From what I understand, it's not 8lbs, but a 25% drop in presure that triggers the TPMS. So if you run at 40PSI and set the TPMS there, it will go off at 30PSI,...for what it's worth.
Tom

 

What if I get rims without sensors for my winter tires? My Toyota dealer service manager warned me that the low pressure warning would be on all the time. Is this true?

 

Yes, the Gen III will turn on the TPMS warning light after 15-20 minutes if no signal is received from any sensor. I have the same setup, the light was on most of this past winter (sometimes the system would read the sensors from the tires in their storage shed, but 15 minutes after driving away it would come back on again).

It's annoying, but at least it's only a light (there's no audible alarm along with it like the seatbelt warning).

 

My warning light has been coming on intermittently for the past few weeks and the Toyota dealer can't seem to fix the problem. They just reset it and send me on my way saying that the computer did not give them any error codes. When I drive off, the light comes on again within a few miles of the dealer. I keep bringing it back to no avail. My next appointment is Tuesday to have them look at it a 4th time. Very frustrating. I have the stock wheels with the plastic covers removed and added chrome center caps.

Is there a way to turn the light off completely and just disable the warning system?

-TD

 

If they kept jerking me around like that - I'd be seriously considering contacting a lawyer about any appropriate lemon law. Granted, it's tires... but the same problem not being addressed means a lawyer's letter might be what you need to get traction on the issue.

 

I just went through the reset procedure and I have to say the illustration in the Owner's Manual sucks.

As jdcollins says, the reset button is under the steering column. It's actually about dead center under the steering column and back about 4" or 5". It's a little round button about the size of a pencil eraser.

To find it I did a paw search with the vehicle power OFF. I'm too old and creaky to get down on my knees and look. I felt around and found it much farther back than I expected. Because the power was off, I could push it without affecting anything.

I then turned the power ON and pushed it and held it until the indicator flashed three times then released the button. I left the power ON for three minutes as instructed in the manual.
:cheer2::car:

 

Thanks. I can't wait to try this. I've felt around blindly, craned my neck, got down on the ground and studied that strange drawing in the manual but haven't been able to find button. As soon as my wife gets back with the car...

 

Be aware, if your car has the PCS system there is a PCS disable button under there as well. As I recall it's closer to the centre of the car.

 

David thanks for the heads up. I was thinking about the new OEM (green slimey goop) emergency spare today and wanted to find out where to get the sensor in case I ever need a new one.

I read GAM's old post about the PCS reset button and went to get my cars Window sticker to see exactly what I have in the car.
There is a lot of tech stuff listed on the window sticker I'm going to have to lookup in the owners manual.
1.8L DOHC 16V (VVT-i ) 4-Cylinder Engine
( VSC )
( TRAC )
( SST )
( Active Headrests )
( 6-Way ) Adj Drivers Seat
( 4-Way ) Adj Pass Seat

Then see if I can find a TPMS sensor somewhere.

 

The sensors are in the wheels (part of the fill valve). There is no sensor on the spare.
If you change wheels (for winter, for example) the light will stay on, though if you store the wheels with the sensors close to the car the light will go out until you move the car away from the wheels. The light is there to annoy the driver, it has no effect on the car or the car systems.

If you are not as old as I and have not lost your agility, you can put your head on the drivers floor and look up to see the TPMS reset button, and closer to the centre of the car, the PCS on/off button (if equipped). They are on the plastic that slops away from the dash toward the firewall, close to the steering column. On the GII you will see the TPMS button and the SKS on/off button (if equipped).