An FYI on tire sensor system.

I feel like an idiot. Actually I blame the numerous mechanics over the years that have been in my cab. I bought a 2006 TRD Sport 4x4 new way back in 2006. About five years in to ownership my low tire idiot light came on. Many a person told me it was the low tire sensor in one of my wheels that is setting it off. Basically, I need a new sensor. Pretty expensive part that I wasn’t going to shell out to get. I’m smart enough to check tire pressures monthly and always have. I can deal with this light on. So today I’m in my truck and noticed a tire low pressure reset button under the steering wheel dash. I’ve never noticed it before. WTF! I immediately knew what it was and hopped on Google. Sure enough, it’s a reset button to reset all the sensors in the valve stems and it makes the light turn off.

About a year ago I had my truck in the Toyota dealer for several fixes. Not one person told me about this.

Here it is for those not in the know:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1U5paWEQJMk

 

41 looks and no responses, tough crowd.

 

I shorted mine out years ago. You can do it in 05 06.

 

I for one am totally speechless at this point.
You did no research on this at all. It is in the owners manual.
The dealer never told you about or attempted to reset the TPMS System, or told you about it.



What can we say?
Do you want us to point and laugh at you?

If it makes you feel any better the batteries are pretty much at the end of their life cycle anyway and the light will come back on soon.

Dead battery or non-responsive device it usually blinks for a bit when attempting to communicate then comes on solid.

For a low pressure issue it just stays on solid after you start up.

 

That’s exactly what I wanted you to say. I can sleep well tonight knowing I was an idiot and lived up to it.

I actually am pretty taken back that so many tire changes and so forth and not one mechanic clued me into this feature. Maybe they didn’t know or maybe they did. All wanted me to buy a new sensor. I do most of my mechanicals myself but had the truck in the Toyota dealer last summer for the first time. You’d think one of the techs would have said something or reset it for me.

 

I am surprised they didn't reset it and charge you like 50 bucks...

 

Yep

 

A FYI for your FYI - after doing a tire rotation, you need to press that button

 

Yes, 15 years and umpteen rotations later.

 

Why?

 

You never once ducked down to remove your floor mat? Never dropped anything under your seat? How did you not notice it?

 

All you did was reset the TPMS light to come when pressure drops below whatever PSI was in your tires when you pressed the button. When one of the batteries dies in your sensors the light will come back on.

Not expensive at all. New sensors will cost you about $20 each and any tire store will install them at no cost when you buy tires.

$50 MORESENSOR Signature Series 315MHz TPMS Tire Pressure Sensor 4-Pack | Preprogrammed for Select 270+ Japanese Brand Models | Replacement for 42607-33011 | Snap-in | NX-S008-SN-4

Amazon.com: MORESENSOR Signature Series 315MHz TPMS Tire Pressure Sensor 4-Pack | Preprogrammed for Select 270+ Japanese Brand Models | Replacement for 42607-33011 | Snap-in | NX-S008-SN-4: Automotive

You will have to buy a 5th one for your spare.

Cost to install is about $10 each if you're not buying new tires. With a 15 year old truck I'd just buy a new set and have them installed when you buy tires next time. Sensors will typically last 7-10 years, but 12-15 isn't unheard of. Spending $80 for new sensors every 10-15 years works out to about the cost of one meal at McDonalds a year. If you can't afford that you can't afford to be driving.

Are you smart enough to check the tire pressures while you're driving. TPMS sensors were never intended to replace an air gauge, but to warn the driver of a sudden tire deflation while driving. Twice since buying my 2007 Tacoma I've had the warning light come on while driving 70-75 mph on the road. Both times I hit debris that punctured tires to the point that they couldn't be repaired. Both tires were completely flat within 20-30 seconds of the light coming on. Both times I was able to get the truck onto the shoulder of the road and slowed to a safe speed. Without the TPMS warning I'd have had a tire come apart at 70+ mph.

This ain't rocket science and it's not expensive. Just replace your sensors every 10 years even if they're still working.

 

If you think a tpms sensor is expensive, I'm glad I don't have to work on your vehicle

 

I was saying it’s a part that is not needed if you have any common sense and check your pressures regularly. I don’t need an idiot light to tell me my tire pressure’s are off. Not needed enough to spend money on it in my opinion.

 

I’ve been down there hundreds of times and never noticed it. Lol

 

If you don't think it's necessary that's fine.. but the system was never intended be a substitute for checking tire pressure manually with a gauge. It's purpose to give advance warning of a sudden loss of pressure at high speed, like on the freeway.

By your logic, why do you need a low oil pressure warning light? Any idiot can read the oil level on the dipstick right?

 

while I can agree with part of that argument there is a second side to that. 90% of the people driving don’t even know what that light is or means. This thread is a perfect example. More information displayed to an operator is only useful if it is comprehended and acted upon.

 

I can agree with this. My wife calls it "the butt light" because, well, that is what it looks like. It's usually in the spring and fall when the butt light turns on, and it's usually the spare tire. However, her new 4Runner has a super slow leak in one tire that takes like 3-4 months to drop to a point where the light goes on. I usually adjust them before this happens, but we don't drive a lot these days.

I had one go on when I had a Tundra, was on a gravel road and a sharp rock cut into the corner of the tire. It lost air pretty fast, but it warned me in time to pull over before completely flat.

I know on the 3rd gen the button resets tire position as well as zeroing the pressure, and the display shows you the pressure in each tire. 2nd gen is just a light, so not sure on the 2nd gen if it matters to press it when you rotate. But, it doesn't hurt to zero it when you rotate and have pressure adjusted like you want them.

 

The Tacoma seems not to care about the rotation and resetting the TPMS button - no light. The other cars, Audi and Infiniti, need it reset.

 

And when the comments started, the crowd seemed to get tougher.