TPMS Light Keeps Popping After New Tires - Blinking not Solid

Here’s one for you guys...

I bought a set of 3rd gen sport wheels with factory tires (265/65/17 Toyo Open County A30s) and got Toyota to put them on my 2006 prerunner back last July, along with all new oem sensors. Ran them for about 20,000 miles no problems.

Just got a new set of tires this March, same size and very similar tread and all (265/65/17 Toyo Open County H/T II) and that weekend after getting my tires I had my sensor light start blinking one day while driving. Took it back to my tire place and they said one of my sensors was dead (oem sensors.)

I realize now I should have just gone back to Toyota at that point as they’re still under warranty, but anywho...got my tire place to replace the sensor with an aftermarket one and my light was off for about 100 miles. Took it back the next morning to have it reset, and same thing later that day, another 100 miles it was back on.

The third time my light popped they were nice enough to give me a refund and I just went back to Toyota where I got them to replace the aftermarket one with an oem one and my light was off.

And now, once again, about 100 miles later, literally on the same road...my light popped, blinking and doesn’t shut off.

I haven’t been back to Toyota yet to see if it’s the same one or not, and either way they should all still be under warranty at this point...but what the hell???

It’s like the sensor is programmed, but falls out of program after a period of time...even the aftermarket sensor wasn’t dead, it was programmed one day and just wasn’t the next. I thought my tacoma just didn’t like the aftermarket sensor but now I’m starting to wonder if it’s something bigger. I’m positive I don’t have one in my spare...tire pressure is fine...I can’t think of anything else unless somehow my tires themselves are interfering with them or there’s an issue farther up in the system itself.

Anyone else run into this problem or have any idea what it might could be? As always, thanks in advance TW.

 

Sounds like a defective sensor. ( blinking light means no communication to sensor ) lots of times that is due to a dead battery. They may have damaged the sensor mounting the tire. Happens all the time.

 

Again, aftermarket and 2nd oem sensors were brand new...installed by Toyota. 100 miles later, light pops, on both, brand new.

They were able to reprogram the aftermarket one both times it popped again...again, not defective, just “fell out of program.”

And I doubt the Toyota one is defective already, seeing it was just put in 100 miles ago.

 

If you haven’t taken it back to toyota yet there’s a good chance another sensor may be weak or dead. Once one sensor dies the rest are usually soon to follow.. the batteries normally last 5-7 years.

 

Yea...which is weird seeing I just got them back in July...

 

Ohh. Some how I missed that part.
Some Tacoma’s had a sensor in the spare that often gets over looked. I’m not sure what years tho.

 

There’s always the possibility the OEM sensors from Toyota we’re older stock, batteries may have been weak at the time of installation. I understand the need for the TPMS but they drive me nuts...

 

Just swapped tires, sensors between our two trucks and put bigger tires on my 2014 at Discount Tire. Long story short, after the first stop, the TPMS light was blinking on the newer truck with new tires and sensors, so I took it back to Discount. A tech spent 20 minutes trying to re-set everything and finally got it. He said Toyotas required a slightly different procedure to get the sensors to link and not everyone knows how to do it. Knowing what I know about temperamental Toyota ECU tuning, I believed him. After the re-set, the light is off.

 

I think 2008 was the last year of them being in the spare, my 2008 had one and i dont think my friends 2009 did.

 

The light should NOT keep blinking.

Key ON -> TPMS Light ON for 3 seconds then OFF. (System is Opening correctly)
Key ON -> TPMS Light ON for 3 seconds then STAYS ON (Low Tire Pressure / No communication with sensor)
Key ON -> TPMS Light BLINKS Continuously and does NOT stop. (TPMS System Malfunction)
The light should continuously flash at .5 second intervals. (Unless you are on DTC Check Mode)

Yes, there is a way to enter DTC Check Mode.
It was posted here on this forum once before. I haven’t had any luck finding it.
You have to jump the correct pins on the OBDII Plug.
Once the pins are connected correctly. You can then read the codes.
The TPMS should flash with any stored codes.

Again, I have had no luck finding the post that once stated what pins to connect.
Possibly @Muddinfun may know?
Or @Jimmyh

 

1. You need to connect terminals 4 and 13 of DLC.
2. NOTE: The test mode will not start if terminals 4 and 13 are connected after the ignition switch is turned ON.
3. Turn ignition switch ON.
   
4. Read the DTC on the MIL by counting the number of blinks and pauses.
   • When two or more DTC's are present, the lower number code will be displayed first.
5. After completing the check, disconnect terminals 4 and 13 and turn off the display.

https://www.auto-manual.com/fault-codes/error-codes-toyota/

 

Thanks Jimmy.

 

Alright tacomaworld...thank you for all those who chimed in but I finally figured it out...let me indulge you.

So apparently the tacos with sensors in the spares (05-08 I believe) HAVE TO HAVE ONE IN the spare or else your light will keep coming on. No matter how old or new your other 4 sensors are. That’s why mine kept popping. Freaking weird but glad I finally got it figured out.

Good luck out there and keep her between the ditches.

 

Nice!
I wonder if one could remove (the spare) with Techstream and the light not come on?

@Bishop84