Tire Pressure Sensor Replacement

I'm going to be replacing the tires on my 2020 TRD Sport in the next month or so. I drove it off the lot new in December of 2019. I'm wondering if it makes sense to just go ahead and replace the tire pressure sensors at the same time? Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

 

No. You should be good for quite a while. My 2016 is still on the original sensors.

 

It is NBD if one fails. You just get no readings like you see when you Reset the positions.

I had one fail a day after getting new tires. I was suspicious, but no way to prove anything. The others are original.

 

I'm sure this is either an anomaly or the older sensors must have had shrunk down versions of old Soviet era radioisotope thermoelectric generators but when I traded in my old 2008 taco last year, the sensors were still kicking. I had put several sets of tires on that truck over the years since new but still kept the orig sensors on the stock wheels.

 

I had one of mine fail a few months back on my 2017. Just replaced the one…figure I’ll replace them as they go out. Don’t think it really matters honestly.

 

The tire pressure sensors generally last 10+ years. No need to replace them for a few more years. When you do decide to proactively replace them do so when you get new tires. You’ll save a lot of $$ in labor costs if you do it while the tires are off.
Mine lasted 12 + years. 3 were bad when I got my last set of tires. Had them all replaced and saved over $100+.

 

Replacing them at 5 years really isn't a bad idea, but the chances of actually saving money is slim. There is a good chance that 1 maybe 2 will fail, you won't be ahead dollar wise with the replacement costs. What typically fails is the batteries in them rendering them useless. The reason not do it now is that it isn't a critical system. If it fails, there is really no compelling reason other than peace of mind to jump to replace them.

 

My original 2016 TPMS sensors are still working great. When a TPMS battery dies I plan on putting black electrical tape over the light and deal with it when I need new tires.

I still like to check my PSI by hand just to see if they are still close to the readout on my Combo meter.

 

My (2016) sensors are just starting to die. They don't transmit to the screen when it's cold, say below 40°. I'm going to see how long they go before giving up, current tires have about 15,000 on them. Sensors will be changed when the tires need replaced, even if they die before then.

 

I have at least one bad one on my 2017, recently went out.

 

It is possible your TPMS may become happier for awhile once it warms up. My wife’s Corolla was showing a solid warning light in December and January when it was cold in Oregon. The light has not come back on since it’s been warmer. I expect the light to come back on when it gets cold again or at some random point.

It is probably a flakey battery since I always check the PSI by hand.

 

My 2021 sensor work great in the summer but had one that kept going on and as soon as I drove me 3-5 miles it even out with the rest. So the cold might play some tricks on you. I always check my small screen on the dash to see if there are any difference in pressure on all the sensors just to be on the safe side. So far so good.

 

Yeah, I'm not making an assumption based on a single instance. Starting last fall I noticed as it got colder the TPMS sysstem took longer to switch from -- to showing pressures. In the coldest part of winter the -- never switched to pressures, as spring brought warmer days the pressure readings slowly became dependable. The question is...how much life do the batteries have left? I'm not going to obsess over it. When they die, they die. Then at the next tire change I'll replace them.

I'm guessing this winter they will go to sleep and not wake up next spring. Who knows? Time will tell.

 

2018 no problems

 

My 2014 Avalon still has original working sensors.
The 2009 Tacoma sensors lasted until 2021, I didn't replace them & went with standard rubber stems instead.

 

Should easily get > 10 years before battery chunks out.

Not going to argue about the driver's desired usage of the system if present (I personally don't want or need this) BUT > to be informed, pleaase be aware that there are some of us in locations behind enemy lines where the TPMS must be working to pass a required inspection.

I am also in the group where I don't want a mandatory inspection ever year, particularly with something less than 5 years old.

 

Not sure why you quoted me, but it is pretty obvious if one is failed. Just get it fixed prior to the inspection.

I grew up on a state with annual inspections and live in a state that does not have them. There are certainly problems with inspections and also stuff that I miss about them. Mainly that other folks are bot driving jalopies.

 

Sorry, wasn't actually being snarky or anything. I just know that there are some who have not ever been exposed to the goofy TPMS situation as we have here. Like, if your car is old enough where it didn't have a TPMS it still passes inspection. If you car is new enough it has to work "or else". Grrrrr What's the difference? Just a bad inspection rules layout IMO. Just kinda using your post to help along a PSA that inspection state peeps should know what they're in for.

Your second paragraph above was more about me (not you at all) bitching on the wishy-washy opinionated inspections that still leave a bad taste in my mouth. For example, in VT here there was some upheaval at the brake rotor rust issue. The stations were actually failing people for having surface rust on non-contact generic areas of the rotors, which had no bearing on the functionality of the braking system at all. Some mechanics interpreted "rotor rust" as anywhere on it, and had to be spotless or fail. Lots of $$ getting pushed through that.

/ rant haha

 

Cheers!

Good points.

The emissions inspections went away here not too long ago. Even there, it was funny how folks would fail due to goof ups. Like being in line and restarting the engine with a battery on the way out.

True that TPMS is still newish. Mainly thinking that folks are wasting time showing up anywhere with a CEL on. Haha!


Wow though. Failing for rotor rust is pretty cruel. My folks had to trade out a car due to frame rust. It would have cost more to fix than it was worth. As much as that sucked, seeing the safety issues that roll down the road here is pretty wild.