TPMS light flashing when start truck for 30 seconds then goes solid!

Hi,
I have read much information about this subject on this site and other websites. What is the best tool/scanner to diagnose this condition? Best and least expensive tool/scanner to get the job done. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!
Many thanks,
George

 

Most likely one or more tire pressure sensors have died, a tire shop should be able to ping them with their tool and see which one(s) don't respond.

 

Just ignore and keep an eye on tires

 

All my TPMS sensors are dead. But I wheel once a month so.. manual checking I guess.

I just ignore the light.

 

You can buy new sensors online for about the price of a tank of gas. They last 7-10 years on average, but I've seen some go as long as 14-15. Most any tire store will install and program them for about $10 each. Of if you wait until you need new tires there is no charge to install them since they have the tire off the wheel anyway.

I replace mine proactively with every other set of tires I buy. I get 3-4 years out of a set, to every 6-8 years my vehicles all get new TPMS sensors. If I tried to make it through 3 sets of tires I might make it, might not.

The sensors don't replace your air gauge. I still check my tires regularly. What the sensors do is warn you if you have a sudden tire deflation while you're driving. Twice in the last 17 years I've hit unseen road debris that punched a sizeable hole in a tire. My warning light gave me just enough time to get off the road and stopped before the tire was completely flat. Neither tire could be saved, but they didn't come apart at 70 mph either because I had advance warning. That is what they are for, and if someone can't afford to spend the equivalent of one more tank of gas every 7-10 years they can't afford to be driving.

 

Walmart will replace them for about $20 each. And I'm saying the unit is $20 and the labor is free install with purchase. They don't match the factory so if that bothers you just do all 4 for under $100 - which is less than one Toyota unit. I did it 2 or 3 years ago and they're still working just fine.

 

As I recall, the Toyota TPMS sensors are supplied by Denso and are manufactured by Pacific Industries. Save yourself some loot and get the Denso sensors for around $37 ea.. Know that the alloy and steel wheels use different sensors. The last of my original sensors failed at 12 years. It still works but leaks a slight bit.For me it's not worth just replacing the rubber seal.

 

Do you have any more info on the different sensors?

I swapped from steel to aluminum wheels and discount tire moved my tires and tpms sensors over, everything works fine.

 

It's not clear but I think one has a slight angle and the other is straight, definitely 2 different part numbers.

 

Electrical tape will eliminate the light

 

As stated, the angle is different between the two and it's obviously doable but when the tires are removed down the road they might be be damaged by an installer who isn't aware of the issue. This is from what I've read and not from practical experience.

 

Glad I found this thread. It appears that after 17-years and 205k+ miles, I have at least 1 sensor that's going to require replacing in my 2007 Tacoma. I'm glad to read that a shop can easily determine which one needs replacing, without dismounting every single tire.

Now, the decision is whether to just replace the effected one or all of them at once.

 

Those lasted a long time. I can’t imagine there is much battery left in the others. But then if you only change the one, worse case is you need to replace the others soon.

 

Surprised they lasted that long. Replace them all... the batteries are on their last leg. On my 07 they went out about 5 years ago... truck had around 30,000 miles. Just lived with the dash light until i upgraded to new wheels/tires.

 

Just disable the tpms so the light doesn’t bug you? Easy and free fix