TPMS sensors replacement (for dead batteries, etc.)

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asavage

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The telltale sign of TPMS sensor trouble on our rigs is that the TPMS ECU no longer receives a signal from a sensor, and rather than merely illuminating the Low TIre Pressure warning on the dash, it flashes it for a minute every time you start the car, and afterwards it settles to solid.

My original TPMS sensors -- located inside the tire/rim cavity -- from chassis build date Feb2014 have finally expended their batteries, and eight years was considered a pretty decent lifespan from these batteries. The current Michelins X-Tour tires were installed in Oct2017 at around 52k, and at 111k still have lots of tread life left; I've retired and am driving it a lot less, so these might suffice for another three years or more.

Two weeks ago, I didn't know much about modern TPMS sensing, as our older rigs with TPMS used the "indirect" sensing method, where the ABS system's wheel speed sensors are used to calculate when a tire is low, using its smaller rolling radius when compared to the other wheels (or a stored revs/mile constant that is stored when the system is reset). So I had to do a bit of boning up on how this has been done more recently, and found this hidden tire shop cash cow of a design.

Just for fun, I let our local tire shop have a go at it, and they provided a quote of $346 to replace all four TPMS sensors -- just the sensors, plus "TPMS Relearn".



I own a couple of Toyotas, so I'll be facing this issue a few more times in the next few years. I bought a couple of tools, some very cheap sensors, and changed them myself in my driveway on a dark, windy night, in about two hours, without removing the wheels from the vehicle.

Each sensor's battery can be replaced . . . if you're willing to un-pot its PCB and solder in a replacement. You have to get the thing out of the wheel first, so altogether you're facing more or less an all-day job, but it can be done, and there are many YouTube vids showing people doing this.

For my 2014, the OEM Toyota part is 42607-06011, at $68 each.



If you have a pirated/cracked copy of Toyota Techstream, and a spare laptop set up to run it, plus the matching J2534 USB<->OBDII adapter dongle, you can use it to update TPMS ECU to use the new TPMS sensors' IDs, so it knows to "listen" to only your sensors and not the ones in the wheels of the cars parked next to you. This is what the dealer does. The cracked "kits" for Techstream are spotty in quality of cracking and ease of installation, some have malware installed during the installation process, and there's a couple of other gotchas, plus you need to be careful with the 32-bit vs 64-bit version, but with enough time and a bit of luck, it can be a useful tool worth the investment. But it doesn't just work out of the box, in many cases. You can acquire these things via Amazon for as little as $40 -- here's a sampling:





Alternatively, you can buy aftermarket programmable sensors, and they can take on the IDs of your existing sensors, in effect becoming clones. In this way, Techstream isn't needed, but the programmable sensors are ~$25 ea, and they require a programming tool (or service).

A third method is to buy a programming tool and either programmable sensors (no ECU update required), or non-programmable sensors, and use the tool instead of Techstream, to update the TPMS ECU via OBDII. This is the route I took.

The programming tool I settled on is the Autel MaxiTPMS TS508. Nominally a $200+ tool, it can be had from a couple of different sources for $140 shipped with tax (I bought mine from Aaron Creech on FB; his price has gone up to $125 + $15 shipping + tax since my purchase), but there are other sources (eBay) for much less than retail, even for brand-new units. Mine, from Aaron, registered fine on Autel's website, and I was able to download/install new firmware for it after registering it. The one I received is in a soft case with zipper opening and pockets for documentation and the two cables (USB charging; OBDII); most units for sale show the hard case instead -- for more $$$

RAV4_EV_TPMS_17b.jpg


[Registering an account @ Autel was a poor experience; Firefox was difficult and Chrome only slightly better. Several UI issues with the registration process. But you only have to do it once, sorta.]

I decided to install the cheapest aftermarket sensors I could find with a reasonable feedback rating, and I settled on this set via Amazon for $50 after tax.






The MaxiTPMS TS508 verified the tire store's diagnostic. Skipping ahead, here's the tool reading one of the low-battery sensors, with the sensor removed from the wheel. To be clear, the tool can read the sensor when it's installed as well, but I didn't think to take a pic of it then.




The MaxiTPMS TS508 was also able to read each of the new sensors fine, out of the box, before installation.

Lastly, the each tire's outside bead must be broken, in order to access and replace the TPMS sensor. While I do have access to a real tire changing machine, I decided to buy a portable bead breaker (I do like to collect tools), and change the sensors with the wheels mounted on the vehicle. I bought a BeadBuster XB-452*, $149 shipped, no tax. Made in USA, and it has the optional longer "finger" adapter, which as it turns out I did need.

The BeadBuster allows to break the outside bead of the tire without a tire machine, spoons, ramps, presses, hammers, or any other tools. You can use a 3/4" wrench to operate it, though it's a lot faster with a power tool. I used my old air ratchet.

You'll need to remove the valve core (which requires a cheap tool that most people do not have, but it's well under $10 even for a very fancy one) to dump the air from the wheel, and more importantly to allow a sufficient volume of air into the wheel later, to re-seat the bead; a mini air compressor will not suffice, unless you resort to old-time hacks or flammables, neither of which I'll document again here, BTDT, now I have a real air compressor and don't need those tricks.



I found the BeadBuster a bit fiddly in use, and the short "finger" not working well at all. With the longer "finger", more angle adjustment was needed than the guide videos showed for other rim types, but after a few tries I was able to break all four tires' beads without sidewall damage or significant rim scratches -- nothing that shows after the tires are re-seated.

Sorry for the poor focus:




After all the sensors were replaced, the next trick was figuring out which "vehicle" to select on the TS508's menu. What definitely worked was 2005-2012 RAV4 (315mhz), for both the OEM and the replacement sensors.








I was able to use the tool to read all four sensors' IDs (and verify their battery condition, and the current tire pressure) into the tool's memory, then connect the tool's OBDII adapter cable, turn on the vehicle, and via OBD the tool updates the TPMS ECU with the new sensors' IDs.

Pretty much, if you own enough tools and are reasonably handy around cars, it's not difficult. I spent as much on "new" tools as I would have having the tire shop do the job (Costco did quote me slightly less), but I'll have to repeat this job on the old Sienna within a year -- the tool tells me two of its TPMS sensors have low batteries -- so the savings will come shortly.

---

* = When, two months later, I used this tool on my Sienna, I broke it. It was probably my fault. It's a fussy tool to use. I was able to warranty replace it due to the jackscrew also beginning to fail -- a legit warranty claim -- and I upgraded to a heavier model, XP-554 HP-PRO, which worked without issue on the Sienna. I had to do the Sienna twice, because the same brand of inexpensive TPMS sensors that worked without issue on the RAV4 EV did not work on the Sienna, and I had to remove and return them to Amazon, then buy a different brand locally.
 
I just had this done at America's Tire about 3 months ago, btw. They were able to replace the tire sensors with no problems and get it working again.
Apparently the tire sensors normally last about 8-10 years. Since mine is a 2013, i got the "full" lifetime out of them. It was about $60/sensor installed and programmed.
 
"8-10 years" is the usual quote when the topic comes up, but it's variable and does have a mileage component: the transmitters turn off when the wheels drop below a certain RPM, so the batteries can last longer when the vehicle isn't used much.

I imagine that >98% of TPMS sensors are replaced by tire shops, at a very tidy profit.
 
When my 2014 was still covered by my platinum warranty a few years ago, I had one sensor go out. I took it to the Toyota dealer and they replaced it under warranty. So far the other three are still working.
 
Costco replaced my sensor when they replaced my tires. I may not have gotten the same model/make the vehicle came in with - rolling resistance issues?
Enjoy,
Ferenc
 
You'll need to remove the valve core (which requires a cheap tool that most people do not have, but it's well under $10 even for a very fancy one) to dump the air from the wheel, and more importantly to allow a sufficient volume of air into the wheel later, to re-seat the bead; a mini air compressor will not suffice . . .

Well, Matt's Off-Road Recovery seem to be able to re-seat tire beads out in the snow with a mini compressor, so maybe if you're more talented or lucky than I, it can be done.
 
I recently had my TPMS light go on, but I chose to revert to my old school TPMS - Two Peepers in My Skull.

I was annoyed by the dash light, so I went in under the glove box, unplugged the lead from the control module, and installed a .20 resistor that shorts power to the TPMS lead. The nagging dash light is now off and I think I'll keep it that way until either my eyes or the car fails.
 
Do you think that the requirement to have this system in every car was invented by idiots?

Update. There is other simpler method for eliminating the external manifestation of a malfunction of this system - stick sticky black tape onto the malfunction indicator of this system :(
 
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I like that the TPMS system -- even this early, crude one that does not relay the specific PSI of individual tires*, as did our other cars built in the same era -- has prevented me from driving for long on an underinflated tire. I have had it call out several minor punctures, and a leaking valve stem on the Sienna.

However, embedded batteries are a cash cow, like subscription services. I can understand why you don't feel like "feeding the cow".

I can't spot a tire that's 10 PSI low. 20 PSI low? Yes, but by that time you're wearing the tire quickly.

* = As the Autel MaxiTPMS screenshots above attest, the TPMS sensors provide temperature and PSI information, but the RAV4 does not implement presenting that info to us. It's got this big video output device, but won't let us see the information. Ugh.
 
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Most vehicles are from 2012-2014MY all brands
  • have already used direct TPMS;
  • did not inform the driver about the numerical values of pressure and temperature in the tires and this was not required* for them;
  • the malfunction indicator of this system turns on when the tire pressure falls below the permissible value.

Actual TPMS data is available using the Techstream program
tpms_rav4ev.jpg
https://alflash.com.ua/2019/to_rav4ev/tpms_rav4ev.jpg and/or chinese fake scan tolls.

An alternative could be a device of this type
https://img.freepik.com/premium-pho...checking-tire-car-transportation_53089-50.jpg

* On the ’07 LS460L/460, in addition to the tire air pressure warning message, the current tire air pressures for each tire (which includes standard spare tire) can be displayed on the multi-information display.

Update.
 
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On the ’07 LS460L/460, in addition to the tire air pressure warning message, the current tire air pressures for each tire (which includes standard spare tire) can be displayed on the multi-information display.
Yeah, our 2006 Infiniti M35 Sport could display individual tire pressures on the main display . . . six years before the 2012 RAV4. And that M35 still had a DVD to store data for the Nav system (though it was the last year: next year they moved to automotive-grade HDD, but still . . . spinning platters. How quaint.).

The Infiniti was the car we sold to buy the '18 M3, which we sold in '22 with 20k on it: good riddance.

I am disappointed that Toyota declined to display the info to drivers, even though it's available. Shrug.
 
Yeah, our 2006 Infiniti M35 Sport could display individual tire pressures on the main display . . . six years before the 2012 RAV4. And that M35 still had a DVD to store data for the Nav system (though it was the last year: next year they moved to automotive-grade HDD, but still . . . spinning platters. How quaint.).

The Infiniti was the car we sold to buy the '18 M3, which we sold in '22 with 20k on it: good riddance.

I am disappointed that Toyota declined to display the info to drivers, even though it's available. Shrug.
The basic problem is that the tire pressure system that knows the actual pressure values is on the low speed serial LIN bus, not the CAN bus. If it was on the CAN bus, then it would be simple software to display it on the infotainment screen. Toyota doesn't have any bridge between LIN and CAN in the RAV4 EV.

I have an OVMS in my RAV4 EV but it's located in the back of the car. If the Tesla bus was more accessible near the front OBD connector, I might have bought the TPMS add-on card and put in the effort to get it working. It just wasn't worth all the effort just to get 4 tire pressure numbers.
 
Update: 18 months later the bargain HERA brand TPMS sensors* (<$50 for (4)) are failing. Two went offline in the past month. I've replaced them all today with Autel MX-Sensor 300030, $31 each (~$125 for (4)) after tax, free shipping from O'Reilly. Autozone carries the same part for $5 more. I do not trust Amazon for brand-name stuff anymore, too many counterfeits in their logistics these days.

The MX-Sensor is a "universal" sensor that can be programmed for both 315Mhz and 433Mhz, and to work with the RAV4 EV (a suitable programming tool is req'd, such as the Autel MaxiTPMS noted upthread).

You program them before installation (or after installation, as long as the tires contain less than 10 PSI; 4" max programming range) and you can either clone the IDs from your old sensors (if they still communicate), avoiding having to tell the car that it has new sensors, or your programming tool can assign random new IDs to the sensors, and then the tool updates the car's TPMS module via OBDII. I used the latter, since I didn't have all working sensors that I could read to clone.

If you have recorded the old sensor IDs somewhere, you can manually input them to the programmer and assign the old IDs to the new sensors that way, but as the MaxiTPMS handles updating the RAV4 EV's TPMS module so well, I didn't bother using my recorded IDs.

* = Neither the link to the product, nor a link to the seller of those HERA sensors are valid links today, so no chance of chasing a warranty: they've taken my money and ran for the hills. Such is the Amazon experience.
 
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Costco replaced my sensor when they replaced my tires. I may not have gotten the same model/make the vehicle came in with - rolling resistance issues?

I once thought that Costco had replaced mine, on my Sienna when I bought a set of tires there, but when one sensor failed later and I questioned them about warranty, they pointed out that what they had actually sold me was a "TPMS Sensor Kit" for each wheel, about $12. It has the rubber seal for the valve stem, and an aluminum washer. The theory is that they might start leaking, so they sell you on replacing what is basically a fancy o-ring.

I was disappointed in learning that I hadn't gotten more. I've learned a lot about TPMS since then.
 
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