RunnerJeff
New member
I've got my tire pressure light blinking on my 4Runner. All my tires are filled up to where I need them and above what the manual states. Does anyone have any idea what this means?
Thanks
Thanks
Blinking Tire Pressure Light
- Thread starter RunnerJeff
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stevec5000
New member
The blinking light means the receiver can no longer communicate with all the pressure sensors anymore because the batteries in them are dead! If you take it to Discount Tire or somewhere like that and have them check the sensors on each tire with their hand held scanner you will find that one or all of them aren't working. That's what just happened to mine. I figured I don't need them anyway so I just disabled the warning light.
stevec5000
New member
If the pressure is low the light will just come on. It blinks when it has lost contact with the sensors.
RunnerJeff
New member
Thank you. That's what I thought but I wasn't for sure. I do go travel a lot though and when i'm on the road I need the light engaged. I'll take it to the shop I have and see what they can do!
Thanks!
stevec5000
New member
Replacement sensors are pretty expensive at most shops but you can get them on ebay for around $75 each then you have to unmount the tires to put them in and get them programmed to work with the vehicle.
4x4v8
New member
How? Mine bugs me too. Well, that, and the other 4 lights that I have on. hahaha...
chaz
New member
BlackWorksInc
New member
Just a slight correction to this statement, if the light blinks (usually it will blink for a minute to a few minutes and then go solid once the vehicle is started) it indicates a fault code is stored in the TPMS module, about 9/10 times it indicates that it has lost communication with a sensor; due to damage, dead battery, ect. But there have been one or two cars I've seen where the issue ended up being a module or CAN Bus issue.
Solid light indicates a pressure issue that needs to be addressed (i.e. low pressure)
Should be able to get some OEM sensors online, cheaper than Dealer (last time I check I think they're like $120 from our parts dept?)
stevec5000
New member
Except there's no need for a switch so you can just pull the connector off the receiver and ground the pin for the warning light by plugging a piece of wire in the correct hole and connecting the other end to a screw to ground it. Then tape it up, stick it up out of the way and you're done.
Sensor has a problem
Assuming the sensors are ok, you might need to have them reconfigured. Sometimes deflating them, waiting 15 min and then inflating them again could reset the sensor. It could be a batter issue. Sensors run on batteries, and they will eventually die. The final option is that the sensors malfunctioned. If that's the case, you need to have them replaced. Changing them at the dealer could be expensive, so I recommend buying them online and then having them installed at your local tire shop. Look in Amazon, Ebay or even titantpms.com.
Assuming the sensors are ok, you might need to have them reconfigured. Sometimes deflating them, waiting 15 min and then inflating them again could reset the sensor. It could be a batter issue. Sensors run on batteries, and they will eventually die. The final option is that the sensors malfunctioned. If that's the case, you need to have them replaced. Changing them at the dealer could be expensive, so I recommend buying them online and then having them installed at your local tire shop. Look in Amazon, Ebay or even titantpms.com.
This is really the way to go? Never any issues!
Bluesky 07
Senior Member
If you're a Costco member, their sensors run $45 each + $14 each for installation, but they waive the installation fee if you're buying tires when you have them replaced. I just priced this out over the weekend so it's current. I only asked because I was curious about the cost; I bypassed mine when the light started blinking a few months ago. I ended up buying my Michelins from Discount Tire and they didn't say anything about the TPMS since the light wasn't on.
While we're on this subject, I ran across this during my tire search while checking into the legalities of tire installation with an inop TPMS system. Just in case a shop tries to tell you it's illegal for them to install tires if your TPMS isn't working. From the article (emphasis is mine):
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Can a tire service provider replace an inoperative TPMS valve stem sensor with a standard rubber snap-in valve stem and still comply with the make inoperative provision?
NHTSA's response: As long as the TPMS part was inoperative before the customer brings the vehicle to the repair business, “a motor vehicle repair business would not be violating 49 USC 30122(b) by removing an inoperative or damaged TPMS sensor and replacing it with a standard snap-in rubber valve stem....” However, a motor vehicle repair business that goes on to make any other element of the TPMS system inoperative — by disabling the malfunction indicator lamp, for example — would violate the make inoperative provision.
“This is exactly why our training programs have always stressed the importance of checking the status of the TPMS prior to service,” Mr. Rohlwing said. “If a valve stem sensor is not functioning prior to servicing the tires and wheels, then the retailer cannot violate the make inoperative provision because the system was already inoperative. This increases the importance of documenting an inoperable TPMS prior to any work being performed on the vehicle, especially now that the batteries in the sensors are starting to die.”
===
While we're on this subject, I ran across this during my tire search while checking into the legalities of tire installation with an inop TPMS system. Just in case a shop tries to tell you it's illegal for them to install tires if your TPMS isn't working. From the article (emphasis is mine):
===
Can a tire service provider replace an inoperative TPMS valve stem sensor with a standard rubber snap-in valve stem and still comply with the make inoperative provision?
NHTSA's response: As long as the TPMS part was inoperative before the customer brings the vehicle to the repair business, “a motor vehicle repair business would not be violating 49 USC 30122(b) by removing an inoperative or damaged TPMS sensor and replacing it with a standard snap-in rubber valve stem....” However, a motor vehicle repair business that goes on to make any other element of the TPMS system inoperative — by disabling the malfunction indicator lamp, for example — would violate the make inoperative provision.
“This is exactly why our training programs have always stressed the importance of checking the status of the TPMS prior to service,” Mr. Rohlwing said. “If a valve stem sensor is not functioning prior to servicing the tires and wheels, then the retailer cannot violate the make inoperative provision because the system was already inoperative. This increases the importance of documenting an inoperable TPMS prior to any work being performed on the vehicle, especially now that the batteries in the sensors are starting to die.”
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mrpurplepenguin
New member
The TPMS sensor is part of the valve stem assembly; the actual sensor body lives inside the wheel/tire. See here. It's in the same location on all 5 of your wheels; they communicate wirelessly so no cables between sensor and vehicle.
SAC-CA-Runner
New member
I went on a road trip last week to CO and my light started blinking when I got to Telluride. Figured I would just deal with it till I got back to CA. Well, got back last night...turned on my car today and the light wasn't there. I'm thinking it had to do with elevation changing the tire pressure or something.
