TPMS MODULE 4 OR 5 WHEEL MONITORING AND WHY ONLY 4 IF SPARE IS FULL SIZE.

Hello everyone! Once again I'm trying to understand and determine why is it that Toyota gives you a full size spare BUT do not give you a TPMS in that wheel. But it gets better not really sure but if your truck does not have a TPMS in its spare you can purchase one from a dealer can install it on the wheel but can't program it in the TPM module. Dealer is telling me that he can't program my vehicle to take a fifth wheel's TPMS, cause the module will only accept four wheels on a TPMS.
Ok lets say that's true. So can I purchase a Toyota TPM module for five wheel monitoring, install it in my truck and program it to accept five sensors. Dealer says he doesn't know if its possible. Now why is this ? remove a four wheel TPMS module ( if there is such a thing) and replace it with a five wheel right Or is it such a pain in the butt to do that they are trying to down play its significance.
One other thing this one really got me.....I currently have no TPMS light on in my truck. Everything is working beautifully,(only 8K on the vehicle), with after market wheels and tires. Go in for an oil change and tire rotation and guess what? Oil change done but refused to do tire rotation due to aftermarket wheels and tires. Doesn't say that in any of their literature. The bs story I got was tires may not be balanced correctly for different axle. Hey guys last time I checked balancing is done with wheel off of the vehicle. Can someone one shed some light on this I'm an ASE TECH and I have never come across this ,and neither has anyone I work with.
I hope I'm not getting snowballed.

 

What year is your truck? If memory serves me correct, there is 5 TPMS sensors. I once replaced all 5, and I have aftermarket wheels, changed tires a few times and what not..... Never had an issue with them until one crappes out.... Hence replaced all 5

 

It may be possible, but I doubt that it is feasible. I am sure there are many differences between the Controllers and the wiring to make it not worth the effort. Besides I seriously doubt Any Dealer would be willing to accept the responsibility for making this change. Get you a tire pressure gauge and check the spare every few months.

You need to locate another dealer for your service needs. The aftermarket wheels and tires should make no difference, And if they are balanced it doesn't matter what position they are on the vehicle.

 

Your right Jmmyh, need to find a real dealer(gonna need luck with that) . What happen with me is I replaced the stock Dunlop spare tire with aftermarket products, thinking I would swap out the TPMS like I did with the wheels and tires that are on the truck . Except there is no TPMS for the spare. So I bought a Toyota TPMS and at this service asked them to install it on the spare and program it. I offered to pay for the install and programming. That's where the problem started. They asked me why bother . Well I do a lot of mudding and if I blow out a tire or wheel have to drive about 500 miles with spare tire before I can swap out TPMS from defective wheel, that would blow out TPMS lite, which is a bigger headache. I don't believe the dealer. I am gonna try to program the spare tire TPMS into its module. If it will not accept it then I will safely conclude there is a 4 wheel and 5 wheel module for this vehicle buy the five wheel, install it ( which is a bitch to get to) and reprogram it ( still a lot easier than trying to replace bulb off of TPMS warning. My current scanner is not compatible with Toyota do you recommend a reasonably cheap but good scanner that can do this . Really don't want to buy a Bartech. Thanks

 

2nd gen Tacomas had 5 sensors up until 2008 and they went to 4 sensors in '09. Other Toyotas had 5 sensors but I don't know if that is still being done currently. My wife's '09 Highlander has 5 sensors and my 2007 FJ had 5 sensors(loved the 5 tire rotation). I think the dealer is feeding you a line that the TPM can only handle 4 sensors programmed. I would go to another dealer.

 

Just so you know there is no "bulb" for the TPMS.

The TPMS Indicator is an "LED".

Oh, For a scanner I use a Knockoff copy of Denso Techstream Software and a VMCI Cable from XHorse Electronics connected to my notebook.

Check on ebay for information on Techstream.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...chstream.TRS0&_nkw=Xhorse+Techstream&_sacat=0

 

Pretty sure you won't have to worry about the bulb burning out. First, I think it's LED, second, mines been on for like 3 years and 45K miles and hasn't burned out.

 

TPMS light doesn't "blow out". It can illuminate for months at a time with no issues. Common scenario in the north where you have to swap between regular tires and snow tires every winter. 500 miles is nothing.

Toyota puts in 4 TPMS sensors because that's the minimum required by regulation.

If you go off-roading, a tire pump and pressure gauge should be part of your basic kit.

 

Unfortunately my 07 has a sensor in the spare... big pain in the ass. Every winter when the temperature drops the #!*&$%@!! tmps light comes on. When driving the tires heat up but the spare stays cold... just enough pressure change to trigger the #!*&$%@!! light. Toyota probably got tired of dealing with it and decided the spare sensor wasn't worth the headache.

 

Thanks OFFROAD ! Never thought of that and it makes sense. What I am going to do is put the TMPS on the spare put the spare in the tire rotation and program it into the module. The left front wheel that now becomes the spare I will not program its TPMS into the module and just keep my scanner with me in the truck, in the event I get a flat or blowout.

 

Just my .02 cents here but that tpms light would have to literally be on for years before it burns out.... Seems like a whole lot of work for a irrelevant dash light to not be on in the off chance u blow a tire off roading.

 

My 2014 has room for 5 tires but only 4 sensors (plenty of experience with something wrong in my system). I'm sure Toyota can add that fifth one on but they'll charge you for it. I think a sensor through them is $200 plus mounting. Also, the steel spare would require a different sensor than the rest of the truck.

Personally, I'd rather have zero sensors and do it like people did for 100 years - be responsible and periodically check your pressure. Eliminate the expensive nanny system and let me do what I will.

 

Got pissed off at Toyota borrowed an Autel 601 scanner put the full size spare w Ulta wheel and Toyota sensor in the rotation. Got the ECU to accept 4 wheels , left the spare position blank in the ECU and it works. After all Toyota initially gave me a factory TPMS less spare tire . After talking with several tech's , the consensus is the spare tire gives Tacoma most headaches because the temperature of that wheel is always lower than the other four , especially in the winter. Remember Tacoma's TPMS is a direct system meaning it measures air pressure , temperature and (purportedly) wheel speed from ABS sensors and module. So now I have a full size spare w a TPMS in it ready to go should I need it and I can include it in the rotation all I have to do now is hit the reset button cause the ECU knows all my sensors.

 

If you want that spare to be monitored by the TPMS system (whether in use or as a spare), you need to program that 5th slot in the ECU. If the ECU has a blank 5th slot, it won't monitor that slot.

 

Correct can have ECU monitor spare but declined. Too much of a headache by this systems faults