Tire pressure sensor question

Picked up some new BFG A/T KO2's for my 06 Tacoma Sunday at Costco. Dropped the truck off because they were busy. Guy doing the install calls me to say that my tire pressure sensors are stuck and corroded. Told me that they all need to be replaced at $56 bucks a piece no charge for install. Money is a little tight this time of year so I asked if he can just throw in regular valve stems, they guy says sure no problem. When I pick up the truck the guy behind the counter tells me that I need to get the new sensors put in soon because without them the tires will leak. ????? Never heard of that. Why would they leak? Anyways I grab my keys and hit the road. The funny thing is my low tire pressure light never came on in the truck. If they put regular valve stems in the light should go on right? I'm starting to think that whoever was doing the install just replaced the sensors and they forgot to charge me. Why else would the warning light not come on??

 

They won't leak.

They want $200.

I think the light will come on after a certain amount of time, but not sure.

 

Maybe they left em.. i dont see why they needed to be messed with to swap a tire anyhow.

Look at ur stems, are they metal or rubber?

 

Look at the stems. Are they regular rubber ones or are they TPMS (grey with hex fitting)? I agree with above, they won't leak. Pick up some replacement sensors from a TW member or check out Ebay.

 

+1, why would they leak. They did not pre TPMS. I tell Discount Tire not to touch my stems. Some of the counter guys push harder than others. When I had my Coopers installed last Friday. I told the dude no sensors and that was it. I have heard that you can expect about 6 years out of them. Last time I agreed to new stems was on my son's Escape because he had the cheap rubber ones. I specified metal but they did not follow instructions. Road hazard and sensors are just extras that they peddle to increase revenue.

 

200 plus another 60 because now they need to break them down again to install the new sensors. The guy told me that it's illegal to take out tpms and install regular stems. Lol. It should be illigal to be a dumbass instead. So far so good tires seem to hold air.

 

They are all the hex metal stems. No rubber. When the guy called me to ask about the stems I told him to just go ahead and put regular stems in he said good because I already started drilling them out.. I have put about 80 miles on since the tire install and no tpms warning light so I keep thinking there was some mix up and they just replaced them.
far.

 

Looks like TPMS to me.

 

The shop I use told me If a vehicle came into the shop with sensors it's illegal to remove them. If that's true or not I don't know.

The article below says if it's broken they can put in a regular valve.
http://www.tirebusiness.com/article/20111123/NEWS/311239995

 

Guy is so full of shit. His eyes must be brown.

TPS sensors aren't necessary. They are essentially idiot indicators. I do five tire rotations so I need to figure out how to pull the bulb for the tire pressure light out of my dash (because I am not paying for a 5th TPS sensor, I haven't needed on in 10 years of driving, don't need it now).

 

You should have just left the old sensors in the rims. They were working before the tire change right.

You won't have an air leak with what you have. But I'd strongly advise replacing the TPMS sensors. They are there for a very good reason and they do work as advertised. They are not a replacement for an air gauge as many think, but a warning system for rapid deflation at highway speeds. Twice since 2011 the TPMS sensors have saved me from major headaches if not a deadly crash. Once in a vehicle where the sensors had been removed it made life much harder and expensive.

In 2011 I was driving on the interstate 75-80 mph when my light came on. I hit the brakes and moved to the shoulder ASAP. Within 30 seconds of the light coming on the right rear was completely flat. Imagine no warning and having a flat at 80 mph.

Just this fall the light came on while hunting on gravel forest service roads. I stopped and found a small hole in one tire that I was able to plug and air up the tire within just a few minutes without removing it. With the slow leak I'd have likely been back on pavement and driving 55-60 mph when it finally went flat.

Two years ago I was driving a Wrangler bought used with aftermarket wheels and no TPMS. Had a flat driving slowly on a gravel road and didn't realize it until I ruined the tire. I bought some sensors on Amazon and had them installed at the next rotation. Cost $35-$40 IIRC on Amazon.

 

Packcon - I agree with you 100%. I have never had tire pressure sensors on any of my vehicles in the past. Tire pressure sensors are nice but I shouldn't be told by some dude at a tire shop that I can't put regular valve stems on MY truck. If it is in fact a law then it's not the tire guys fault I guess. I mean if your the kind of person that is terrified to drive without some little light warning you that your tire is losing air then that's fine and dandy. I just think that you could leave it up to the individual to decide what's best for them. Damn government, always trying to control us. Lol

 

Marshall r -
I see your point I guess. I think I would be ok without the sensors but I guess in the rare event that my wife drives my truck I could see them coming in handy. Better safe than sorry I suppose.

 

well they dont really need to take your sensors off if they are changing your tires just the middle stem(they are all interchangable) and also just keep in mind tpms only last around 8 years and your almost at 10. start saving up for new ones soon.

 

Sorry for the thread jack, but I have a question about the TPMS sensors...I just had 4 new tires put on. I refused the rebuild kits. When I got home I noticed one of the silver stems with the hex end is taller and a brighter silver than the other 3. Did the installer possibly break one and threw a new hex stem dealy on without telling me? If I get an OEM one can I take the other one off without having to remove the tire to get at the parts on the inside of the rim?

 

you can remove it but the sensor might fall into the tire. its at your own risk. if its ok just leave it alone. plus i dont think they sell just the cap by itself.

 

My TPMS light has been stuck on flashing since I had my entire suspension redone and wheels rotated, etc. Tried resetting them multiple times after triple checking the pressure and even adding a little to see if that would work an no luck. It's annoying and distracting to have that light constantly flashing... Checked the spare and it's good so I don't know what to do about it.

 

u pressed the reset button? u need to reprogram them with a shop that has the tpms tool

 

I thought the point of the reset button was that you could turn off the idiot gauge if you were deflating/inflating when doing off roading and such..?

 

do you have after market sensors or oem? it could be your tpms is dead also. looks like your truck is from 2006. getting it checked out with the tpms tool will give you the answer. i am just letting you know what it can be.