TPMS

Blkvoodoo

Blkvoodoo

professionally useless
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Joined
Mar 16, 2005
Location
Archer Lodge
semi rant, annoyance of the week,

Tire Pressure Monitoring Sensors

what a pain in the ass

one of the sensors is dead, to truly "FIX" the problem would be to replace all 4 (maybe 5 ?) at a cost of $40 each and then have the tires broken down swap the sensors, re-inflate and rebalance. I'd be into it for a couple hundred all said and done.

While this wouldn't be an issue really if I were to replace the tires, I just bought this truck, it has new tires on it, and frankly, I could give shit less that the truck tells me if a tire is low, I have a tire gauge and know how to use it :D

The Question,

Would you knowingly disable the TPMS system, if only to get rid of the stupid light on the dash ?

looks like all I need to do is unplug the receiver for the sensors, but I'm still investigating this. seems to be several versions thru model years.

vehicle in question is a 2008 Tacoma Pre Runner Double Cab
 
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Why can't you replace just one sensor? I used to do that all the time when I worked at a tire store. Then I'd just reset them like normal and they normally had no problems. Just a thought.

However, if replacing one isn't a possible fix....I'd delete that crap in a heartbeat.
 
the THIS Toyota system doesn't tell you which one is low or inoperative, besides, the average life of the battery in a sensor is 5-8 years, or 100k miles ( truck has double this ), so it would be a guessing game from the start, then catch me if you can after that.

I'm probably going to defeat the system, I've managed to survive with out a TPMS on most of the vehicles Ive driven, I think I'll be ok with this.

asking an over all opinion of the idea really, just cuz I'm bored and waiting for a building inspector to show to inspect the HVAC system that was installed LAST year, they're on the ball they are !!!
 
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Ditch it lol. How did we ever survive before our vehicles told us if we had a slack tire?!
 
This is why you replace the batteries when you buy new tires.

Never had a problem out of TPMS on any cars I own. I wish I had it on the trailer, but not really interested in spending the money for the sensors, repeater, and monitor.
 
IF I had bought the tires, it would have been a consideration, but the new tires were on the truck when I bought it, this is one of the lingering things to deal with when buying a used vehicle.

It'll be a non issue soon enough

Ive thought about the same for the camper as well, one of those deals where it's $250 to buy in, and maybe save on damage if/when a tire goes, or, rip off the side of the camper when it does happen and wish I had..... which will be considerably more expensive....
 
Dealing with this as well. 2008 focus that I bought. Has aftermarket wheels and I get a TPMS fault. Tires are good. Looking for a way around it, but can't see one? I can't even tell if the wheels have the TPMS sensors in them. Either way, its gonna cost to fix. What a load of BS.
 
the wheel sensor should be part of the valve stem, which will have a nut around the barrel of the threaded stem. the sensor itself is part of the stem.

some after market wheels aren't able to accept the sensors

look on www.rockauto.com to see what sensors are available for your car, at the very least you'll have to have the tires broken down to have them replaced/installed.

Surely someone on a Focus forum has made a work around of some sort ?

I've found on the Taco forums that there are a few different receivers in different locations for my junk, I'll be dissecting things pretty soon, I hate having lights on for stupid shit.

one of the "cheaper" methods was to make a chamber of PVC pipe and install the sensors in that and keep it inflated to 28psi or what ever the low threshold of the sensors is.
 
Discount tire can scan your sensors and tell you which one is bad so you only have to replace one . they should have them in stock as well.

As for the ford, it depends, it may have band sensors but by yourself theres no way to tell unless you break the tire down. Discount should be able to scan them too
 
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benXJ said:
Dealing with this as well. 2008 focus that I bought. Has aftermarket wheels and I get a TPMS fault. Tires are good. Looking for a way around it, but can't see one? I can't even tell if the wheels have the TPMS sensors in them. Either way, its gonna cost to fix. What a load of BS.
Click to expand...

Your focus may have the band-style TPMS Sensor, which Ford is notorious for doing. basically a huge hose clamp holds the sensor to the wheel. Just the clamps were about $40 a piece last time I ordered them. It's ridiculous.
 
BLarkin said:
Your focus may have the band-style TPMS Sensor, which Ford is notorious for doing. basically a huge hose clamp holds the sensor to the wheel. Just the clamps were about $40 a piece last time I ordered them. It's ridiculous.
Click to expand...

Yea, that's what I'm finding out. they MAY.

However, searching Ebay and Amazon (not the best sources) I get results for stem mounted sensors, and they are cheaper.

Is there a way, short of going to the dealer, to find out what the car requires? I guess you can't mix and match the types. How to tell if the wheels even have the sensors in them? That's my first hurdle. I'd guess they don't, but who knows?
 
BLarkin said:
Your focus may have the band-style TPMS Sensor, which Ford is notorious for doing. basically a huge hose clamp holds the sensor to the wheel. Just the clamps were about $40 a piece last time I ordered them. It's ridiculous.
Click to expand...

forgot about the banded sensors, yeah, thats pretty lame.
 
Put them all in here, and put somewhere out of site...

awww.lotustalk.com_forums_attachments_f91_115762d1238342940_tpms_fix_tpms_fix.jpg
 
It only takes ten minutes to change one out. Shouldn't even need to rebalance the tire. Break the bead at the valve stem, swap it out, reinflate.
 
shawn said:
It only takes ten minutes to change one out. Shouldn't even need to rebalance the tire. Break the bead at the valve stem, swap it out, reinflate.
Click to expand...

Golly, I hadn't thought of that, who knew it was that easy, but then again, why do I need this ? No idea which one it is, no interest in paying $40 a piece for them. Disable the system, it's just like old timey trucks with regular valve stems and real air in them. Who'd a thunk ?
 
I'd pull the light or disable it.

How do you know one of the sensors is "dead"?
Is the light on solid, or flash?
I'm kind of with Shawn, if you have access to a tire machine it's really not a big deal to get to the sensors.

I assume you've been through videos like this
 
Sounds like you just want to bitch and cry about some white people problems. :flipoff2:

When did you buy a Tacoma? I didn't know you were rich. We need to hang out more often.
 
the truck is 8 years old, has 255,000 miles on it, runs excellent, looks like hell close up.

Yes I have tried to reset via the onboard reset procedure, all air pressures are @ 35psi (including spare).

do I care if the system works ? no, as stated earlier, it was a conversation point to see what others thought.

I haven't had a "Toy" to play with for awhile, so I'm sure I'll get into all kinds of weird stuff.

the 1GR 4.0L V6 needs a valve adjustment, something that very few ever receive.

right now, it's beater truck that happens to run and drive reasonably well.
 
shawn said:
Sounds like you just want to bitch and cry about some white people problems. :flipoff2:

When did you buy a Tacoma? I didn't know you were rich. We need to hang out more often.
Click to expand...

Last week

Rich ? ha, no,

in the right place at the right time, and understanding what was in front of me ? yep.

6 years of driving Rocky Mount to Durham, 2 years between Florence, Richmond and Charlotte and Raleigh. Road miles, this truck still has a lot of life let in it. came with a new set of tires, new windshield and had been run on synthetics. yep, it was a service truck, it's a bit rough. but very useable.
 
lets just say this, I've had my eye on one of these for a LONG time, you can't touch one with less than 100k mile for less than 22-24k, I'm not spending that kind of dough on a vehicle with that kind of miles not knowing the service history, don't care what the brand.

Low KBB is about 8k for these kind of miles, but not seeing anything on Autotrader much less than 10k.

How many of these trucks do you see with weighted tags ? basic tag is 4000lbs, 2wd version of this truck weighs 3855lbs, drive and a bag of groceries and it's over weight.

this one now has an 8000lb tag. AND it came with a 2 5/16" hitch already mounted :cool:

I'ma wanna borrow your Haulmark here pretty soon, need to move some stuff.....
IMG_3218.JPG
 
I know you like to be all hard core, manly and neandrathal about shit. And I appreciate that about you, Kev.

But I gotta say, next to air conditioned seat ball coolers, I think TPMS are one of the better inventions in the last decade or so. I cant count the number of times its saved me from having to change a flat on the road. Im anal about it and check my pressures every time I get in the truck. If one s more than a pound or two low Im either heading home or to a tire store. Ive probably had 10 nails in tires that werent leaking bad yet but would have eventually came out and left me with a factory jack and a POS spare tire winch. Now granted I drive on construction sites every damn day. So I get more tire trash than most. But Im a fan.

And to Shawn's point. You dont even need a tire machine, like Dave said, just break the bead right at the stem.

You could always test which one it is by carrying other tires away from the truck.
Finally to add a little useful advice. If the batteries are dead, well you gonna have to replace them. If its just sticking and acting up sometimes pulling a valve core and then re-inflating the tire can kick start the bitch to working.
 
IF this system actually provided more than just an indication that a tire was low, like maybe actual tire pressures at each wheel individually, I'd probably spring for the sensors . But it doesn't. All it does is pop on a an annoying yellow light, no other info. the cost/effort VS benefit isn't there, I pay enough attention to my junk I can tell when a tire is slack (visually or by road feel)and usually don't have much in the way of tire problems anyway.

Besides, the whole reason of getting this is I need a second vehicle, currently have the 4Runner and the Camry, Wife prefers to drive the 4Runner, Camry sits, as in, it's had 4000 miles put on it since July of last year, it's had 20,000 put on it since Dec 2011 when it was purchased. It sits, it's a nice car, I want it to stay that way, but I don't have a garage to keep it in, it'll get killed by the sun just sitting in the driveway. Camry is still in very good shape, so it's going to be sold while it still has some value before it goes to crap sitting. This truck will sit just fine, if it goes to crap, thats ok, its already been well used

Having a work supplied vehicle has it's perks, but has it's pitfalls as well

so, know anyone looking for a nice 2011 Camry SE, 44,5xx miles currently, Charcoal grey, leather heated power seats, sunroof, 4cyl 6spd auto, New BFG Advantage T/A's, ( and no TPMS issues ) asking $14,500.
 
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On the car. Maybe.
If you still have it September 1 let me know.
 
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