Tire pressure monitoring system trouble

I recently had my tire pressure sensors changed. Several months ago the factory ones died and I got around to going to a Mountain View tire and having them switch all five sensors.

Ever since then, the system will blink the low pressure light a bunch of times before going solid. Takes about 30 miles of driving. Then the light will turn off randomly

After recently getting a Scan Gauge-3 I’ve discovered tire pressure number for reads negative pressure -15 psi and is slow to connect to the system.

Today and on the other several occasions, all tires are reading 40 psi. All sensors were working and then the low pressure tire light comes on after flashing a bunch of times.

I’ve included two photos of the situation. Two tire shops have not been much help and I really don’t wanna go to the Steeler ship.

 

What kind of sensors did they put in?
Sounds like a sensor problem.

 

No idea.

 

I mean it definitely looks like a sensor problem, most tire shops should have a tool to check the sensors.

It would be something like this.
https://autel.com/us/product/maxitpms-ts408/

 

I’ve had the sensors reprogrammed two times. They’re definitely communicating with the vehicle. But I’m still getting the light.

 

If the TPMS ECU can't read data from one or more sensors for a period of time or receives invalid data from a sensor it will set a code and flash the TPMS light, without scanning it or the sensors everything you said points to a faulty sensor in one of the tires.

 

Ummm I have a Scan Gauge 3 as well, I was under the assumption you had to run a scan to find the tire pressures every time you wanted a reading. Apparently not given how your screen is setup with the live reading. I’m going to mess with mine tomorrow now.
Also which tire is tire 1 ? The driver? Scan Gauge doesn’t tell you which tire is which.

Also it’s probably just a coincidence but 2 or 3 of my tires read at 14.5 all of the time now, while annoying I just chalked it up to the batteries/tpms sensors needing to be replaced, it’s probably the OEM originals still on my truck. Yes, my TPMS light is flashing as well.

 

2nd gen TPMS doesn't do positions, essentially it's just sensor id 1-4 or 5 (depends on year). If you want to determine which is which you would have to change air pressure in one tire at a time and see which one changes in the data.

 

Oddly enough your 4th and 5th tire have the same strange reading as mine lol. I just noticed it’s negative -14.5 as well.
Probably not a coincidence now that I look at it……

Yeah I’ve done that it gives you different readings every time you do that.

 

so Mountain View tire was kind enough to give me two new tire pressure sensors. And they reprogrammed them so 1234 are on the ground and number five is now the spare.

One through four read relatively quickly now. The spare tire takes three or 4 miles before it registers, but it eventually does. I’ve driven about 60 miles around town and the light hasn’t come on so I think the solution was too bad sensors.

Next weekend I’m going on about 100 mile trip and I will do a road analysis.

 

-14.5 is probably the default reading when a sensor is not registering.

 

Yeah that's why I chalked it up to me needing to just replace those sensors. I'm due for tires so I'm going to replace all of my TPMSer's anyway. I'm probably just going to grab the stock Toyota's sensors, but the way you did it with the aftermarket ones honestly makes more sense so they can program them in a logical order.

 

Don't buy them from the dealership, they will gouge you. When I was looking at this my local shop wanted like $129 per sensor which is robbery. Advance Auto sells Pacific P/N PMV-C11A (Advance p/n 40005) which are still at a premium but also are basically the same thing as OEM for less than half the price. Or just have your local tire shop source a decent quality 315mHz sensor. Programming is the same either way, don't get too hung up on that part.

 

That’s basically what Mountain View tire told me. I was going to get the stock ones from this dealership, but decided not to do to the cost. The only advantage is the original factory ones from 2008 lasted till about two months ago so there’s something to be said for the longevity.


I also do not know if the factory sensors will pick up heat

 

Ok, I guess I’ll be grabbing some aftermarket ones. I’ll check out the ones you mentioned.

 

Just fyi I just did all 5 TPMS sensors on my 04 4Runner and paid $65/each for OEM Toyota sensors from Toyotapartsdeal.com. I know that site sometimes gets a bad rap but they worked out for me.

 

$37 Denso 550-0103 TPMS 315-MHZ Sensor for Toyota/Lexus with Factory Alloy Wheel Options. (THIS SENSOR MUST BE PROGRAMMED BEFORE USE), Black

Denso 550-0103 is OEM made by Pacific for alloy wheels and steel spare. Rockauto has them for under $40 each. They have the larger coin battery than the cheaper ones.

Forgot so adding: I bought one for my spare from Amazon and it arrived 3+ years old per the mfg date on the box. I then bought 4 from Rockauto and they were all 1 month old.

 

Good to know. My tires will be aged out probably in 4 to 5 years. I rarely wear out the tires on this truck anymore. So when the tires dry rot, I’ll probably replace the sensors again just to be on the up and up. With a more OEM.

 

All tires are reading on my scan gauge, but I’m still getting the light from time to time and then it goes away on the next key cycle. Takes about exactly 30 miles for the light to kick on it. Blinks 10 times before going solid.

Anyone that works at a Dealer or had experience with this.

 

Maybe a member living in your area has a TPMS tool? It wouldn't hurt to reach out on your local forum.

Did the tire shop plug into the OBD2 port to program them?
Frustration like that with tire shops not knowing how to program the TPMS sensors led me to buy a TPMS tool. I was fortunate to get a TS508 several years ago before the price went way up. I've never had a problem since when I program them myself. I've helped a few friends also.
I have the $40 HF tire changing tool to break the tire bead so I install the TPMS sensors myself.