tpms- 4 OR 5 SENSORS REQUIRED?
 

My son has after market wheels (KMC) with no sensors. I'd like to get the system to actually work. Do I need 4 or 5 sensors?

Thanks

Do you have four or five wheels? The spare does have a sensor.

I do have a spare but if the system would work with only 4 sensors I wouldn't spend the $50-$60 for the spare.

From what I've read, the TPMS light will turn on if any of the 5 sensors (including spare tire) show "low" pressure (not sure what PSI it activates at). My TPMS light is on, but personally I'm planning on getting an aftermarket TPMS system that displays the pressure of each individual tire, and removing the TPMS light bulb from the dash. There are easier ways to disable the TPMS light, but I'm planning on changing the dash to LEDs so I'll be taking it apart anyway.

I’m curious about the answer to the OP’s question, that hasn’t been answered here yet.

If there are only 4 sensors, i.e., no spare wheel/tire, will the TPMS system work?

I’ve read about people putting a 5th sensor in a pressurized canister, but I don’t know if that would be needed in a 2003-2009 4Runner.

This is not a answer to the 5th sensor question....but I would speculate that since the sensors need to be programmed into the TPMS that maybe if only 4 were programmed then it may work with just 4, but again that just a guess.

I have an 08. I believe you can just use 4 sensors. Reason being is when I used an Autel TPMS tool to relearn another set of OEM sensors on my truck it asked me whether I was using a spare or not. I chose yes and proceeded to relearn all 5 sensors. I would image it would work for 4 though.

fyi oe are denso/pacific for ~$30ea. pn 550-0103

Thanks, it looks like these are for allow wheels I sure hope they fit the KMC wheels I have. I'll first try 4 and see what happens.

Thanks again

I'm not finding the Denso sensor for $30 each, but Rockauto does have them for $31.79, which pretty close.

2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER 4.7L V8 Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Sensor | RockAuto

Also keep in mind any new sensor will still have to be programmed after being installed.

ya definitely keep us updated. when i last looked into this i was told 4th gens required 5 tpms. even putting all 0's for spare didn't work (this hack would work with 5th gens only because most years and trims except for limited just had 4 tpms). so alt was to put 5th tpms in pressurized canister or to just forget it and bypass system entirely (Write-up: How to Disable (Bypass) the TPMS)

also to program new tpms yourself as well as to perform other functions w car, def look into bootleg techstream. more info here: How-To: TechStream In 5 Minutes | IH8MUD Forum
also in case others end up exploring techstream, depending on cable you buy, after doing edits in techstream vsc trac and vsc off lights often light up. if so, you'll need to perform zero point calibration (on level ground) within techstream as well.

it's best to use all 5 sensors if your son rotates the spare too. it's pointless not to rotate the spare since it's alloy wheels too. you can use 4 sensors only if you want to save a few bucks.

Tire store said all 5 were needed, kinda happy they are as my spare kept losing air due to corrosion