TPMS system malfunction

I have brought my truck to two different tire shops, and both have had trouble fixing my tpms system. What i thought was a bad sensor has not fixed the tpms light. The shop replaced the sensor and the light will still not go off.

Has anyone experienced a larger issue with the tpms system, such as an issue witht he computer side of things? For instance, the shop told me all sensors read ok, hey upload the numbers, and then like clockwork the light comes back on.
I have not brought the truck to a toyota dealership. I dont know if they have equipment that could diagnose this better. Also, these two shops have programmed my sensors before with no issue's.

 

Many people have had good success going to Discount tire for TPMS stuff. I am guessing that the tire shops you went to don't know what they're doing. Your other option is buy the ~$50 Techstream, put it on a laptop and do the TPMS stuff yourself. Techstream will tell you the condition of the battery in each sensor and also show what each sensor is transmitting for pressure and temperature.

 

I suspect you are aware of this, but if not, before spending anymore $$$ - go look at this video. More info in owners manual as well.

From what I understand, after doing this, the light will remain on until the sensor(s) get sync'd up. You may have to drive for awhile before the light goes out.​

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U5paWEQJMk

 

$50 Techstream ???
That’s not chock full of Chinese communist viruses?!?!

 

Chinese, yes. Virus', no. This is where I got mine.

https://www.obdinnovations.com/

 

Do they provide a work-around for the login?

 

I've never had to login to anything with it.

 

Then they must be providing a hacked version.

 

Yes, all of the ~$50 Techstream versions are a hacked/pirated version.

 

thanks, and yes im aware of this. I cant even get it into this mode. TPMS light blinks as soon as the car is turned on, engine running or not. after a minute or two it turns solid. I suspect a tech screwed something up and didnt replace a sensor. I was more wondering if there was ever anything on the car side of things that could get messed up.

 

The new wheel sensor has to be programmed into the computer so the signal can be recognized. Maybe the shop(s) did not do this step.

 

I'll keep you guys updated. They say they didnt replace the sensor when i called them back. This is the same shop that said I needed a new sensor 2 months ago, i was just waiting to get new shoes. I even saw the work order before it went in, the desk guy wrote across the front of it in large letters "check sensors first". Not surprised.

 

I went to a Discount Tires and had two replaced because the batteries were dead. They told me that they can't reprogram the computer and I would have to go to the dealership to have them do it. Something about it being proprietary. Is that true? I kind of want to do some sort of TPMS delete. I was never into the system unless its the type that gives you the tire pressure for each tire. Those are nice.

 

The people at your Discount Tire are a bunch of idiots. @Discount Tire is a member here. Maybe he can point you to another Discount Tire in your area that has it together.

Scangauge can show the pressure in each tire.

 

Look behind your radio in a 2nd gen and unplug the tpms box. Saves a lot of time, money, and headache.

 

If it's blinking at 1st then goes solid, this normally indicates that one or more sensors is no longer transmitting. So either a battery in one has gone bad, a sensor/s has gone bad or at least one has been damaged somehow.

Any competent tire shop should have the equipment and knowledge to easily diagnose which sensor/s are bad by "sniffing" each one for signal.

Tire Discounters has done lots of sensor work for me over the years and I've never had any problems.

I suggest you find a new shop

 

If your light blinks and then goes solid after a couple seconds, you have a problem with a sensor. My truck did this when I installed new wheels and I didn't have sensors in them.
I have since installed the correct sensors (steel wheel and aluminum wheel sensors are different), had them programmed and the light is off.

I don't understand why so many people have issues with the TPMS system. My light never comes on. The batteries do last for about ten years so only a scan tool will tell you if the sensor is bad because the battery isn't replaceable.

 

I thought the tpms box was behind the headliner near the back window...

 

Yes they are.

Everybody know this.

 

That is the TPMS Receiver.

The TPMS ECU is behind the stereo under the dash.