TPMS Issue

Hello all, I am hoping that someone else has had and solved this problem so I don't have to take it to the stealer for service. For well over a year my TPMS warning light had been coming on. Sometimes it would flash (indicating a sensor was bad), sometimes it would be solid. Sometimes it would be on when I started the truck and turn off on it's own after driving a little while. Sometimes it would come on while driving (sometimes flashing, sometimes solid) and then turn off a few minutes later. In short it was completely erratic and not reliable. And yes I did check the tire pressures and they were all (including spare) where they should be.

I say over a year because I was going to wait until I purchased new tires and have them fix it. Well I purchased the new tires last month and I am still having the problem. The tire place (American Tire Depot) said I had one bad sensor and replaced it. Three days later it started happening again. I took it back and his meter said all of the sensors were fine, also said that there was a duplicate sensor reading when he used his tester. He reprogrammed the system and I drove away. Half a block later the light came back on. Drove right back and he told me sometimes it takes a while for the system to relearn. The problem continued and I took it back the next week with the exact same result.

I then purchased an Autel MaxiTPMS Pad (before you say "That is a piece of c**p", note that I got the same results as the tire shop) and tested the sensors myself. While the tires were STILL on the truck I got the same results as the tire shop (all sensors were in good condition but was getting duplicate readings (same sensor code from different tires). I repeated the test several time and sometimes got different sensor codes from same tire. I then took the tires off, did the tests while the tire was at least 30 feet away from the other tires and the test went fine. I can't figure this out and if possible I don't want to spend 2.5 million at the dealer. Any ideas or previous experience? Thanks in advance.

 

Go over to Amazon and read the reviews, interesting others are having the same issues and the solutions may help you?

 

You truck is about 8 years old and that is typical life for sensors. However the sensors were still working on my 2007 Tacoma after nearly 14 years. I ordered new ones from Amazon and had them installed in March along with new tires. They worked fine. I've replaced sensors on 3 vehicles to date with Amazon TPMS sensors at about $20 each and all of them worked great with no problems.

Most tire stores won't charge anything if you're having new tires installed anyway. I have started replacing mine after 7-8 years when I buy new tires even if they are still working.

This is what I bought for my 2007. I THINK the same sensors will work with your 2014, but double check before ordering.

$63 MORESENSOR 315MHz TPMS Tire Pressure Sensor 4-Pack | Compatible with Lexus & Toyota Select Models | Replacement for 42607-33011 | Clamp-in | NX-S008-4

Amazon.com: MOBILETRON Tire Pressure Monitoring Sensor (TPMS) for Lexus, Toyota (TX-S008), 315MHz, Set of 4 : Automotive

 

The sensor ID numbers need to unique and different from each other. You need a copy of Techstream or have the dealer confirm that the ID's are unique and different. The sensor transmitting "duplicate" "readings" is likely the culprit and needs to be replaced. On some sensors, the unique ID is set by the programming tool.
Also: "With the vehicle off, turn the key to the “on” position, but don't start the car. Hold the TPMS reset button until the tire pressure light blinks three times, then release it. Start the car and wait 20 minutes for the sensor to refresh. The TPMS reset button is usually located beneath the steering wheel."

 

I disabled my light with this method and never looked back.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/disabled-tpms-light-on-my-2008.93853/

 

Bought 4 of these and had them put in by America’s Tire.

From what I read they are OEM branded for Denso. $120 for 4 sensors. Bout $80 to have tire shop out em all on and sync em up. No issues doing it. $200 for all new sensors, installed.

Might be worth trying if you have an inkling that the sensors are going out or facing issues.

Denso 550-0103 TPMS Sensor

$36 Denso 550-0103 TPMS 315-MHZ Sensor for Toyota/Lexus with Factory Alloy Wheel Options. (THIS SENSOR MUST BE PROGRAMMED BEFORE USE)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NQ05U24?_encoding=UTF8

 

^^^^^^^ I installed the same sensors (

$36 Denso 550-0103 TPMS 315-MHZ Sensor for Toyota/Lexus with Factory Alloy Wheel Options. (THIS SENSOR MUST BE PROGRAMMED BEFORE USE)

Denso 550-0103) with my new Michelin's early this year. Independent tire dealer activated them and they work just fine

 

Thanks for the replies so far! Should have said in my first post that I did do the reset button below the steering column, but I only waited about 3 minutes. I would try the 20 but now it flashes when I have it in the on position and it will not reset. I don't want to disable the light, that's why I have been waiting over a year to try to fix it. I can actually swap out sensors myself at home but did not want to go through the hassle of removing the tires from the rim if I did not have to. I waited until I got new tires because I know the tire shop would do it when they were putting the new tires on the rim (they did replace 1 sensor). Problem is I can't isolate which sensor (if any) is the bad one. When the tires are off the truck and isolated away from the other tires, I get good clean readings. When they are on the truck, chaos. If anything, I would buy the Autel sensors that I can program with my pad, but can't figure out which sensor it might be or why this is happening. Away from the other tires, all the sensors check out fine. Any other ideas?

 

Wait, are these the OEM sensors currently in the wheels? Or replacement ?

 

See post # 4. The sensor ID numbers need to unique to each sensor. You need to verify via techstream that they are different. Or just replace all four sensors. The sensor the dealer replaced may be transmitting a conflicting ID number. Why the problem goes away when the tires are 30 feet away from the vehicle.....???

 

All were OEM when it started, Tire shop replaced 1 sensor. When I did the test with the tires isolated 30 feet away from the others, each did have there own unique ID. I agree... ???

 

I have the Autel TPS508 and ran into the same duplicate reading on a Lexus. I had to read the left front several times before getting the correct non duplicate sensor ID. It kept reading the right front ID. Maybe it was a stronger signal. That was on the only vehicle I had this problem.
It really sounds like your tire shop either didn't duplicate the original sensor or didn't program the new ID into the system. Probably the latter.
I think the Autel tool you have is very basic and doesn't plug into the OBD2 port to program the new sensor ID's. It will duplicate the ID's with the Autel TPMS sensors but you still need to know the original ID's in the system.

 

Not up on how to diag it, but I had one croak in my 2010 last winter. I brought it to the local Town Fair Tire and was fixed up quick. Not sure if they are in your area OP but that is what I did.