Should the average tire shop be able to program my TPMS?

I got new tires installed on my 2012 double cab tacoma with 4runner tpms (exact same alloy wheel they are now mounted to on my truck) but the shop said they couldn't program them to my truck without the VIN of the 4runner they came off of??? He said he called Toyota dealership who told him THEY could program the truck but that the tire shop would need the VIN to do it. What info would the VIN give him? I already have the serial number for each of the 4 sensors( I assume they are the numbers stamped on the sensors).

Is the serial number from the new sensors enough for the average tire shop to program the truck? Does it depend on the equipment of the tire shop, or is it that they don't know how to work on toyotas with the equipment they have?

The tire shop would have done it at no charge as part of the tire install. I don't want to go pay Toyota to do it if I don't need to.

 

The VIN is not necessary. The sensors will emit their RFID number when activated. They should already be activated, but if they are not, you (or the tire shop) can activate them by releasing pressure constantly for a few seconds. Don't forget to properly inflate your tires after activating the sensors.

After activating the sensors you can pick up the IDs with a special scanner / reprogramming tool. I have one, and it cost about $1,500. I would assume that most tire shops would have one too. They'll go corner to corner and pick up the ID numbers from each sensor, after which they'll plug into your OBD port and reprogram your vehicle to recognize the new sensors.

The tool isn't cheap, the tool requires constant subscription updates for new vehicles (which the shop has to pay for), and the process of reprogramming takes a little while to learn and do properly (every make and model of vehicle is different), so I don't imagine most tire shops would provide this as a free service.

 

VIN isn't required. Any Tire shop that has kept up with technology can do this.

 

Can you have only 1 set of tires with tpms programmed for the truck? My question is every time I put the snow tires on will I have to go to Toyota to reprogram the computer (considering both sets of tires have tpms installed)?

 

I believe our trucks will hold 9 codes but don't quote me on that.

 

What you'd want to do is have someone program a set of Schraeder E-Z sensors in your extra set of wheels. These sensors are programmable, so they can replicate the codes from your OE sensors. When you change out wheels the vehicle won't know the difference. If you're local to Southern California I am capable of doing this type of setup.

To my knowledge the factory computer cannot hold additional sets of TPMS ID #'s, unless this was a very recent change that hasn't been included in my bulletins yet. The only Toyota that I'm aware of that has the option for multiple TPMS sensor ID #'s is the Lexus IS-F, since it allows for street and race wheel sensors. I wouldn't be surprised if the LFA has the option as well, but I've never worked on an LFA.