TPMS

[kenmac]

Or when you hit something and don't realize it.

That can save a tire. Or prevent you from being late to work by alerting you the night before of the slow leak.

Amazing how we ever made without the little buggers

 

[Dutch445]

Remind me again what year they started mandating this?
I'll have to add that to my list of cars not to own "newer than this year"

this is all in response to the ford explorer issues way back when they were rolling over,
they deemed the entire vehicle unsafe, when it really all came down to low tire pressure,
so they invented the TPMS to alert drivers when pressures were low.
upon further searching, here is a wiki page about the whole lawsuit, Firestone got
brought into it also... sue big and sue all

Firestone and Ford tire controversy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[kenmac]

That sue big and sue all. Cost us all.I know I won't own another toyota. Not because they have these sensors,but toyota is the only 1 at least in my area that can program them.These things should be an option. not a gov. mandate.I've been driving what ? 41 yrs. most of that was in vehicles without any seatbelts.Now I need a sensor to tell me when my tire is low. Seatbelts ok ........ air bags,option, tpms ,option

 

[Peacock]

Amazing how we ever made without the little buggers

I know what you're saying....but it's called progress. We've moved on from flat head Fords and mechanical brakes.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I know what you're saying....but it's called progress. We've moved on from flat head Fords and mechanical brakes.

You are right. I like them. Two of my cars have traction control which is now a requirement I believe. I like that also.

Chris

 

[Bob77064]

Traction control is good on ice and slick surfaces. Going through mud with a 4wd it will get you stuck if you can't spin the tires.

 

[kenmac]

I know what you're saying....but it's called progress. We've moved on from flat head Fords and mechanical brakes.

Hey, Some progress is good. Some progress ot so good. I'm in the HVAC bus. Believe me I know about hope and change and progress. Some good some not so good


Ok , I found a tool to be able to program toyota TPMS...wheelrite 400...$1500.00. B-4 I pay a dealer $800.00 to replace the sensors and program I'll buy this device and program them myself from now till the end

 

[crazyal]

If you are going to get a set of summer and winter tire/ wheels for your Toyota then you could invest in a ATEQ Quickset tool. There could be others out there but this is the only one I've read about. The tool is only needed for makes that store the sensor ID in the car's computer (Toyota does it this way). This tool will allow you to read the current ids and replace them with new ids. The sensors have a 7 or 8 digit number on them. Like I said you can buy new Toyota brand sensors off ebay for $25. The tool will cost you $150. If your dealer or local garage/ tire shop is going to charge you each time you swap wheels then the tool will pay for itself.

For the person who will only on rare occasion deal with a TPMS sensor then it's not even worth worrying about. Just like anyone who works on cars has a device to read the data from the cars computer (check engine light) anybody who deals with tires will have the tool to deal with every makes TPMS system. It's easy to break a sensor when mounting a tire. Once you do you have to be able to replace it and reset the computer.

The only other option that I know of is the sensors that allow you to enter the ID of the old sensor it's replacing. But I think you need to buy the tool that will program them. Some smaller garages may only have this type of system.

Either way I really didn't need the government picking the lowest common denominator, that person who can't be bothered to do basic checks before driving. It's like the new back up cameras that will soon be mandated. I'm sorry but all of these mandates along with extra emissions and mpg standards is pushing the price of new vehicles out of reach of too many people. In the old days we called these options and if you wanted them then you paid extra for them.

 

[mjarrels]

You guys are scaring me... wife just bought a 2010 Toyota RAV4 and it has TPMS. I have no clue how they work. My truck has no such thing and currently has a flat left rear tire... I can just look at it and tell its flat!

mark

 

[Cub 7274]

Thank goodness my Journey just picks up the sensors when installed no programming req'd
I switch over from sows to summer tires with no issue and I bought sensors from Ebay for my snow tire rims
Here you have to use the rubber caps or they will corrode and snap off like someone else said they are poorly built and cant stand salt

 

[Car Doc]

Kenmac although I don't do tires I do see quite a few in my shop with the tire light on for one reason or another, half the time its a low spare. I agree it is a pain and an unfunded mandate to be forced to replace battery's etc at the cost of taking all 4 tires down at the same time (which is the best way) but it is a convenience for lots of folks willing to pay. Also tires are only good for 5-7 years at average mileage so I read they figured that into what batteries they put in fwtw.

With that said-All I can offer is what I read in the trade magazines and there is lots of alternatives to OE tpms sensors if it boils down to that and at this point I am not able to say one way or another based on the info they gave you? IE anyone can put all new everything in and things magically start working takes a real tech to pinpoint it accurately and this is a super simple system fwtw...

It can be as easy as a low spare to a bad sensor or bad battery's if you are being told the truth by a competent tech take his advice or not you are in business you know what being in business is like. hth

 

[kenmac]

Car doc. I have a tire maching in my shop.I installd new tires on my 07 toyota tundra.I got to reading and asking questions about these devices and was told that it's best to change them when you change tires.I was also told and read that the asian models take a special tool (different than american models).. In my area , none of the tire shops have the special tool for asian models.They send you to toyota which wants $200.00 per tire to install new sensors. They said I could purchase after market sensors and install them and they would only charge to program ,but the aftermarket sensors may not link up to their reader to be able to down load them into the ecm

 

[Car Doc]

Car doc. I have a tire maching in my shop.I installd new tires on my 07 toyota tundra.I got to reading and asking questions about these devices and was told that it's best to change them when you change tires.I was also told and read that the asian models take a special tool (different than american models).. In my area , none of the tire shops have the special tool for asian models.They send you to toyota which wants $200.00 per tire to install new sensors. They said I could purchase after market sensors and install them and they would only charge to program ,but the aftermarket sensors may not link up to their reader to be able to down load them into the ecm

Yeah it takes a universal tpms scan tool and the dealer wont service them or recommend them. We have the same issues here with the tire shops they break more tpms sensors than they fix. I can do some research for you as to whats the best aftermarket sensor etc if interested in aftermarket? But like I said I don't do tires or else I would be invested with the tools and the knowledge. hth (I have seen aftermarket sensors for 25 bucks fwtw)

I found this quick maybe it is some help? http://www.tundrasolutions.com/forums/tundra/185370-tundra-tpms-compatibilty-reprogram-info/

 

[kenmac]

Thanks car doc. I,m a member of the site you posted. They have some good info there on alot of issues.That's where I learned about changing out my plastic oil filter housing to an aluminum housing.

I have found a site with a code reader.I have put in a call to ask if this reader will do what I need it to do . If I t will,,I'm going to purchase it

 

[Dutch445]

ditto on that site, it's been great while i was diagnosing and repairing SO's older van
and it's CEL lights and sensors etc.

 

[crazyal]

Here's a link to another Toyota site on how to use the Ateq Quickset tool. I've read that since this was written Ateq has updated the software making it more user friendly.
DIY TPMS Programming - Tool to Program your Own TPMS Sensors - Toyota Scion Honda - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums
The Quickset tool is just for reading and entering the unique ID number for each sensor into the ECU (Toyota's computer). The ID number is printed on each sensor. To read them you would need to remove the tire from the wheel or if the ID is currently one that's stored in the ECU the Quickset tool will show it. Ateq makes a second tool, the VT30 decoder that will read the code on each sensor. It will also tell you if the sensor is working. The Quickset too is about $150 and the VT30 is about $200. The VT30 is not needed but would come in handy.

 

[kenmac]

Here's a link to another Toyota site on how to use the Ateq Quickset tool. I've read that since this was written Ateq has updated the software making it more user friendly.
DIY TPMS Programming - Tool to Program your Own TPMS Sensors - Toyota Scion Honda - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums


The Quickset tool is just for reading and entering the unique ID number for each sensor into the ECU (Toyota's computer). The ID number is printed on each sensor. To read them you would need to remove the tire from the wheel or if the ID is currently one that's stored in the ECU the Quickset tool will show it. Ateq makes a second tool, the VT30 decoder that will read the code on each sensor. It will also tell you if the sensor is working. The Quickset too is about $150 and the VT30 is about $200. The VT30 is not needed but would come in handy.

Thanks ,I have 1 on the way.I hope it works the way I need it to work. Delete old sensors and add new. I also hope it will allow me to delete an individual (bad) sensor and program a new sensor and add it to the ecm. We'll see

 

[Reg]

I read about unplugging a wire from under the dash somewhere.I've been driving since I was 14 .I'm now 55.I think I'll be ok without this stupid system telling me if I have a low tire or not. I know how/when to check tire pressure.Been doing it for yrs

Yeah, I've only been driving a couple of decades longer than that, have also learned the old school ways and graduated from hard knocks U.
BUT ! (and this is why I joined this thread) TODAY a tire went down on the tandem axle trailer and the only reason I knew about it was because someone on the highway was waiving at me. Head and shoulders out the window screaming TIRE !
Not funny with 4 horses on board and PLEASE believe this, I couldn't feel it - even on the off-ramp, even when making turns that shifted load to that side.

I figured the tire was crap anyway, so continued the 8 or 9 miles to my destination before changing it.
I know all 10 were good 15 miles earlier.
So I am feeling a NEED for a system like this and since I want it to cover the truck (GM) and two horse trailers it will have to be after market.

From what I have read so far I will have to use the screw on caps, can't use the "in tire" type.

Suggestions/recommendations welcomed - for ME it will be worth it for peace of mind.
I admit to being a bit lazy about checking pressures when the temps get way down there, or even when it is just raining.
The idea of an automatic check every time I get in the truck and all the time I'm driving just APPEALS to me.
Heck, if I had been on a long trip today I might not have had a planned stop for another 150 miles, by which time the other tire on that side would almost certainly have overheated and blown.

 

[Car Doc]

I work around these tpms systems every day and I really like the idea of having them. I would really love to have direct read out systems instead of leaving the decision to an ECU and a lite on the dash though.

Although I haven't invested in the tools to repair them I can scan them and see what they see or not as in pressures etc and location of the tire on the vehicle and in some instances I can program them not many though. I agree they could/should save a lot of tires on trucks inside duals especially. I expect add on systems may be available someday but who knows?