In-dash tire pressure monitor warning light

The '06 has the warning light that signals when a low pressure tire is evident. It's been a nice feature and when I add air, the warning light no longer displays. Today, after the pressure was adjusted in all four tires the light started blinking. Toyota tells me a sensor has gone bad and will cost somewhere in the neighborhood of about $180.00 to install a new sensor. seems a bit high to me so I'm wondering if anybody on the forum has ever changed one. If so, is it worth the cost/effort and would you do it again?

Any advice or shared knowledge will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Rags.

 

I have never had troubles with mine in the 2009 or 2013...good luck!!!

 

I will be removing them when tires need replacement. They are a waste. Get yourself a $5.00 tire pressure gage and save yourself $180.

 

changing the sensor yourself is not difficult as long as you have access to a tire removal machine, and then a balancer. pretty sure you also need a tpms kit which is new orings, and valve stems. try a tire shop for the install. they might be cheaper than toyota

 

I might be talking out of my arse here, but doesn't the spare have a TPMS in it? Did you check that?

 

Americas tire wanted $100 per wheel installed for new tpms. I only inquired because the tpms from steel wheels don't work on alloys. IMO its not worth fixing at even that price.

 

when the TPMS light blinks, it means either the sensor has lost its memory, or is bad. if it stays solid, the tire pressure is low

 

we can take them off all together? won't that leave the warning light on or blinking though? I was gonna buy some for my new rims and tires so I could keep them on my stock rims and tires.

 

Newer Tacos omit the spare's TPMS. I know my '12 doesn't have one.

 

Hasn't been a TPMS sensor in the spare since the '07's

 

I got a tire shop to install a set of EBay aftermatket sensors when I switched to 265/65/17 on mu 09 extra cab. I bought all four for about $150. The thing is...I had to go to the dealer to be calibrated. Another $120. Once recalibrated, the truck does not recognize the original wheels with the factory sensors. Each sender has a unique code and the management system will only store four of them.

 

I have a 2008 and I have TPMS in all 5 tires.

 

My mistake , must have changed for the 2009's then , I thought it was earlier though

 

They are a waste to me, I do not have them on my new wheels . I covered the bulb in my dash and haven't looked back since

 

The sensors are expensive+ install. Takes about 15 minutes to replace it. Includes taking the tire off the rim or just breaking the bead.

 

I got sick of seeing the light on my dash. Finally pulled the gauge cluster, removed my needles and pulled the face of the cluster. I jammed some cardboard board in the slot that directs the light. Problem solved. I now have the old fashioned tire pressure warning. Look down the right side and then the left side. Lol

 

after you replace the old valve stem/transponder youll have to reprogram the tire ecu with the new #, on some older tacomas if you replaced all the #'s with zeros its turned the system off, Thank Ford for this nightmare, out shop is always busy pumping up tirers, seems no one can check there own tires any more, not to mention the spare

 

A lot of pretty bad info here.

First, we're way past the age of transponder IDs, etc. Aftermarket TPMS sensors come in all different forms. The highest quality ones (Dill Manufacturing for our trucks) don't require any kind of special read, particularly since Toyotas don't read individual tire position. "Redi-Sensors" are the way to go.

Secondly, you can remove your sensors and run regular valves. Doing this really isn't that bad, if you can live with the blinking idiot light or don't mind figuring out a way to turn it off.

To the OP: Sensors are typically a $60 part (America's/Discount Tire). I typically don't charge folks to install, particularly if the tires were purchased at one of my stores. We do flat repairs for free - seems to me that kind of falls into the same category, and it takes less time than a flat repair. Even that price is negotiable. The 06/07/08 batteries are all starting to die out. I've been known to do a flat $200 for all 4 sensors installed. If you don't mind living with the light until the next time you need tires, you can always wait until the tires need to be replaced, at which point there shouldn't be any labor involved anyway. You'll also be saving yourself the cost of a TPMS rebuild kit ($6-10 per corner depending on where you're buying).

 

Thanks to all for the info. Now I need to decide what to do but it seems logical to just ignore the blinking light and move on. I certainly don't think it's worth replacing the sensor, even at tire changing time. I'll just put a piece of electrical tape over the blinking light so I cannot see it.

 

Alberta..Friggin brilliant!! You should have also noted how EASY this is to do! Two screws, two wire plugs, four bolts and a few clips. I was able to slip a thick piece of tape over the light hole underneath the gauge face without removal of the needles. It took 15 minutes tops. Now the truck looks like it never had a TPMS. I love it.