TPMS SENSOR RANT!

I am so freaking mad right now, over something that I totally overlooked when buying a brand new vehicle.
The government mandates that every new vehicle have a tire pressure monitoring system, because somebody assumed that we are all too damn stupid to check out tires once in a while. This isn't entirely bad, except that when I spent $400 on some used alloy wheels off another TOYOTA 4X4, the damn sensors from my stock steel wheels leak when put on the 2015 4runner Trail Premium wheels.
Anyway, does anyone know how to make my steel wheel tpms sensors work on the fancy factory aluminum ones?
Maybe use the seal kit from the 4runner on the Taco sensors?
Or am I S.O.L.?

 

Most of us just deal with the light on. You need allow wheel sensors, steel wheel sensors are slightly different.
Good luck and lets see a picture of the new wheels.

 

I don't want the light on in my brand new pickup, and I can't afford another $300-$400 for new sensors just to use these wheels.
I guess I'll just run street tires and steel wheels and save my sexy alloy wheels for the next 20 year old beater 4runner I buy

 

Your bad.

On the bright side, you can usually pick up OEM TPMS sensors on here for $80-100 shipped, and you can probably sell yours for the same price - though you need a minimum of 50 posts to be able to post a sale ad in the marketplace here. You're free to shop there or make a WTB (Want To Buy) thread, which is likely what I'd do. There's also aftermarket TPMS sensors you can buy for less than OEM cost, your local tire store should be able to give you the low down on that.

 

because most people are too stupid to check their own tires

 

If you rotate them 180° they'll seal, but won't be resting against the wheel.
May have to mount the tire first, then press down on the outer bead and rotate the sensor so it's "backwards", and then be very careful when pulling the wheel up to seat the outer bead.

Or buy 4 from Amazon, the $40 obd2 interface cable, and download techstream and program them yourself, then sell the old ones.


It's stupid, the alloy wheel ones can work in steel wheels, but not the other way around.

 

I had the same issue. I ended up buying a set of PMV-C015 sensors off ebay.

 

I don't get why people always rant about these tpms. It's a non-problem that you created in the first place. It's not like it disables the vehicle. Deal with the light, deal with having steel wheels, or get new sensors.

Also, the sensors are kind of nice to have. It's not about being too stupid to check your tire pressure once in a while. It's about buying you a few minutes to get off the road and get the jack under the truck before your riding on the rim, or swing by the tire shop / air compressor before you have to put on the spare, when you get a slow leak. That said, I wouldn't miss them either if they were gone.

 

Haha I was definitely considering this. That's gonna be plan b.

 

I'm only mad at the fact that the sensors are federally mandated. It should be an option for convenience, not required by law. That's the stupid part. I'm back at the tire shop to try again now. If all else fails, the sensors will be in a pvc pipe under the back seat.

 

steel wheel sensors will only work on steel wheels

alloy wheel sensors will only work on alloy wheels

you need new sensors for the alloy wheels, you can get them on Amazon for about $100

 

Depending on which major tire dealer is in your area, they should have various "TPMS rebuilt kits" that should fit either the steel or alloy wheels. I worked at Discount Tire for almost 9 years so I know there are several rebuilt kits that would fit the same TPMS.

 

They got the sensors to work with a different seal kit, and aren'tgoing to charge me for the second try. Thanks for the tips, guys! I'll post a picture as soon as I get my kid to take a nap

 

This isn't a problem created by a law, you caused it by not paying attention.

That's the stupid part. Accept blame and responsibility.

If you don't want the TPMS, get rid of them. You obviously do, so don't bitch something that you go out of your way to do.

 

I don't want the tpms because of the light that goes with it. I'm not bitching about compatibility issues with wheels and sensors, but rather the need for the sensors in the first place. I'd prefer rubber valve stems and no lights on the dash.
It's all gonna work, I was just whining because I wasn't going to get something that I wanted, even though I don't need different wheels and tires anyway. Hell, I didn't even need a new truck, but I bought one. I'm spoiled by my old vehicles that can take anything that will fit and not give a rat's ass whether I want to run the tires aired up or flats on the rim.
It worked out fine. I like my truck, and the new wheels and tires look great.

 

Have you looked into TPMS bands?

 

Nope? I will now though, lol

 

save your time and money.
been hearing many report aftermarket TPMS do not work with the new 3rd gens.
Give the price of them vs OEM for the maybe $15-20 more just get OEM

 

My 3rd Gen came with steel wheels. I bought the 2nd Gen alloy TRD Pro wheels. The original TPMS sensors work fine and are not rotated. Not sure exactly how the tire shop did this. Maybe go try somewhere else.