TPMS Summary Thread

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Nov 30 2006, 04:28 PM) [snapback]355951[/snapback]</div>

So just to be clear, let’s say I now run at 44 psi, can I just go reset the pressure and it will tell me there is a problem when I reach 33 psi, or 75% of my new reset pressure? I must have read over that in the manual. I am understanding you correctly, right?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Nov 30 2006, 04:42 PM) [snapback]355962[/snapback]</div>

You know Galaxee, it is people like you who give the site such a good name. It seems just when you think you know all things Prius, someone else teaches you something new that you didn’t even know, you didn’t know. Your Awesome!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Nov 30 2006, 05:28 PM) [snapback]355951[/snapback]</div>

And don't forget, you answered my question on battery life just today in an earlier thread regarding the battery life of a TPMS sensor, about 10 years and the battery is not replaceable.

Great explanation! I wish the manual for all the systems on the Prius was written as you wrote about the TPMS system. Answered all my questions and more in plain English. Too bad auto manuals must be written in a "lawyeresque" style to avoid lawsuits. "Do this and don't do that" often leaves me wondering why. Fortunately with PriusChat I can usually find the answer to my questions.

Rick
#4 2006

 

Galaxee wrote "Now should you swap wheels altogether and decide to go without the sensors altogether, you will see that light all the time. It seems to take a while for the car to realize that you no longer have the sensors in there, and the light is a bit erratic. If you store your stock wheels with sensors inside within about 60 feet of the car, it will make the lighting up of the warning light even more erratic because the car will communicate with the sensors when you start up near them."

Thanks for the useful information. Yesterday, I put snow tires and new wheels without sensors on our 2007 #2. I've driven about 100 miles. The TPMS light has not yet come on. The stock wheels with the sensors are still at the tire dealership, so they are not affecting it. When you say "it seems to take a while", how long would you expect? I am wondering if the TPMS was working correctly. I do see the light come on during startup.

Joe R

 

Actually, I decided to ignore the OEM TPMS on my 2007 Prius.

Instead, I purchased an aftermarket "direct TPMS" (similar to what I already had in my HCH-2) that offers me a little more detail about the actual pressure on each wheel. Granted, probably overkill for most folks, but at least it displays the individual tire pressures with a precision of +1 or -1 lbs/in (as well as the individual temperatures too).

I do this mostly for FE purposes and also because I can use an additional sensor set for the winter wheels too with very little add-on cost.

Cheers;

MSantos

 

MSantos or galaxee,

Do you know the brand of the TPMS in the Prius 2007?
Are there better replacement sensors that are compatible with the Prius system?

25% seems like a lot. (35 normal, 26 alarm)
MSantos' sensors with +/-1 psi may be too tight.
5-10% sounds acceptable. (35 normal, 33-31 alarm)

I planned to get rims and winter tires.
Prius sensors at $105 is expensive.
PressurePro Sensors detects a 12.5% drop for $50. Better than the expensive Prius sensors and half the price.


ukr2
2007 #5 Metalic Gray

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ukr2 @ Feb 8 2007, 08:48 PM) [snapback]387231[/snapback]</div>

Actually, the +/-1 psi is the reading precision of the unit. The warning threshold can be user set at any value (20psi to 73psi) . For instance, I set my front tires to 42psi and the warning at 40. For the rear tires, I set the pressure at 40 and the warning at 38psi.

I can also set the warnings for temperatures. For example, I set the warning for 60C on all 4 wheels.
The great thing about this system is that it shows a top view diagram of the vehicle and it will flash the tire that is triggering the alarm or the high temperture. If the flashing continues for a while then the monitor will produce a beeping sound.

Saddly, I have been unable to find a compatible set of stem valves or even a dedicated monitoring unit that is compatible with my Prius.
But then again, I do prefer the type of sensors this aftermarket system has. It is of the strap type which is less vulnerable to damage when repairing a flat and comes with its own weight balancer.

Cheers;

MSantos

 

I put chrome valve extensions on my tires to save time checking pressure and improve the look - BIG MISTAKE! I thought I would share my misery to save others the trouble. I have found discussion about chrome valve caps and possible TPMS interference, but my situation is different.

Recently I took my Prius to an automatic car wash, and the track that pulls it along must have clipped the valve stem or stem extension on the driver's front tire. The Prius valve stem split/cracked along the threads below the valve point rendering my tire flat within seconds. I am currently driving on my spare while waiting on the dealer to order the $104 replacement part. They estimate my total repair around $150-$175 with part replacement and recoding. Should have it repaired in a day or so, but what a headache.

The car wash said they would cover the repair bill which was very nice of them, but they are probably expecting the cost of a normal rubber valve stem ($2) not all this.

 

I have a couple of questions. Let's say I get a second set of wheels and tires for summer, and leave my stock wheels and snow tires for winter use.

1) If the new set has no TPMS, and is stored away from the car, then it should figure out at some point that I have no TPMS, and the light will go off. When I swap back to the factory wheels in the winter, will the TPMS recognize them? Will resetting the TPMS with the steering wheel button be sufficient to wake them up?

2) If the new set has TPMS, then are you saying I'll need to go the dealer and plunk down $50 twice a year, each time I swap wheels?

Answers to these questions will help decide whether I actually do get a separate set of summer wheels (and whether I get them with or without TPMS), or whether I just get a second set of tires and pay to swap them twice a year. That last option is one I never would have considered in the past, but the $$ and hassle of the TPMS may make it the lesser of two evils.

 

I have a question on resetting the TPMS. The manual steps are (paraphrased):

1. Put the system into IGN-ON

2. Hold the Set button until the TPMS warning light blinks 3x

3. Leave the system in IGN-ON for a few minutes

It's the vagaries of step 3 that bother me. Does anyone know if that step is necessary? If so, how long should the system be left on for? If I turn it off after 3 minutes, & it wasn't quite 'done', will the TPMS revert to the prior setting, or be left non-functioning? :blink:

 

I recently got back from vacation and when I got in my car for the first time the tire pressure light was on. I attributed it to the cold weather and had air put in my tires. The light went off after driving for a bit. A couple of days later by Fiance was driving the car and hit something in the road, we got a flat. Once we got a new tire put on the light went out after driving for about 10 minutes. We drove 4 hours home and no problems. Later that evening we went out again and the tire pressure light was back on when we started the car. It went out again after about 20 minutes of driving. The next day, the light was still on, I had to have my 5,000 mile maintenance done anyway and they rotated the tires. The light has still not gone off and that was yesterday that the tires were rotated. Wouldn't they check the pressure when the rotated them? Also, If the light went out after getting the new tire, wouldn't that mean the system is working correctly? What are your thoughts? Thanks!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jamielynn05 @ Oct 30 2007, 05:00 PM) [snapback]532575[/snapback]</div>

Jamie,

My dealer didn't want to set my tires to the User recommended 42/40 or 40/38 until I insisted.

I suggest adding air to cold tires until the pressure is 2 psi higher than you desire.
Then set the Tire Pressure button.
Then lower the pressure in the cold tires to the desired pressure.
This reduces the pressure sensor range in half and should Light at 2 psi below the your desired pressure.

Remember, driving the car for a mile or more will increase the tire pressure as the tire temperature increases. That's why your LIGHT went out after driving.
Only set the pressure when the tires are cold.

 

I hate to sound ignorant but, since I haven't actually seen the Prius vlave core set up ..Question ???

When changing tires can (the tire store) change the valve syems (like a regular tire) or not ? I did not see that mentioned above ????

OR...should we just leave the valve stems alone to prevent damage to the sensors ???

Thanks in advance for an explanation !!!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dorf @ Oct 31 2007, 07:23 AM) [snapback]532843[/snapback]</div>