keep getting low tire pressure light ?

E

elykoj

New member
i have a 2005 4runner sr5 v6, and my tires keep randomly getting low air and causing the tire pressure light to go on in the dash. i have brand new tires on the truck and when my mechanic did them he said something about the valve stems being really bad and might need the replaced. are the sensors seperate from the valve stems or are they a kit for each wheel? it appears the sensors are doing the job cuz once i add air to tire the lights go off.
so is it just leaking air from the valve stems do you think? anyone have a price on those?
 
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Yes. You answered your own question. If, when you add air, the light goes off then it stands to reason the sensors are operating correctly.

Your tire can be mounted incorrectly to the stems.

Have the tire guy pull the tires off and reset them...or the stems could be bad.
 
Are your tires actually loosing air?
If so, go back to the tire dealer and have them figure it out. They might not have tightened the little valve core down after removing it.

If the tires are just off a touch, it may be due to the cold.
The cold weather will cause the air in the tire to compress and cause a light. One of our vehicles have TPMS, I run all of the tires a couple of psi higher to eliminate this issue.
 
Gerdo said:
If the tires are just off a touch, it may be due to the cold.
The cold weather will cause the air in the tire to compress and cause a light.
Click to expand...
:iagree: I run into this all the time ... if the light typically goes off after the temps warm up, that's probably your problem. Remember there is a sensor in the spare too ...
 
My spare always gets me.. I am too lazy to get up under there. Usually about 20 minutes into driving, the exhaust has sufficiently warmed up the tire that the PSI has bumped up over 26 psi.
 
i work at a dealership...

i am a manager at an Audi dealership and one of our mechanics actually did my tires.when he replaced them he actually put in nitrogen as well. it has gotten pretty cold here this week, and the same light went on in my honda civic as well this weekend. i am going to check pressures today at lunch and see which tire is low and by how much.

if it is the valve stem seal, is that seperate from the sensor? what does something like that cost and should i get from a dealer?
 
Before you added air what was the reading on the tire?? I don't understand the problem.

You should know if you're loosing air or not. A bad sensor would be one that's saying the pressure is low when it's NOT. Obviously it's NOT doing that.
 
Just checked pressures

3 of the tires checked out good at 32 psi. the right rear was at 26 psi. obviously low. I am gonna put it up on rack in a bit and make sure i dont have a nail in the tire or anything just to rule that out.

if there is no damage to tire, what should i assume it could be? valve stem seal bad, or possible rim?

should i try valve stem first and it its not that then assume its the rim and tire not sealing correctly? if so i can switch it out with the spare, but then how would i disable the spare to keep the light in the dash off? is that possible?
 
Found the culprit...

sprayed some soapy water on the valve stem after removing the cap and its bubbling... the core cannot be removed. I called Toyota and they said the valve stem has to be replaced as part of the sensor :wtf:. $85.00 roughly. they stated starting in 2006 you can just replace the valve stem, but prior to that its part of the sensor.. darnit. i take it this is a dealer only item?


When I have my mechanic replace this sensor, will i have to still take it to Toyota dealer to code this at all, or does it just figure it out itself???
 
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The valve stem is part of the tire pressure sensor. They are one unit. It could be the guts of the valve (which my tire shop replaces when I get new tires)...or a nail...or a puncture. Hopefully it's NOT on a side-wall.
 
Not tire

MikeInNH said:
The valve stem is part of the tire pressure sensor. They are one unit. It could be the guts of the valve (which my tire shop replaces when I get new tires)...or a nail...or a puncture. Hopefully it's NOT on a side-wall.
Click to expand...

As i stated, tire is fine. the stem is where the leak is. i sprayed soapy water in top of stem and it has a slow bubble, unfortunately the stem can only be replaced with a new sensor as well. the schrader valve cant be removed from the stem :dammit:
 
elykoj said:
As i stated, tire is fine. the stem is where the leak is. i sprayed soapy water in top of stem and it has a slow bubble, unfortunately the stem can only be replaced with a new sensor as well. the schrader valve cant be removed from the stem :dammit:
Click to expand...

Not true. The valve core can be easily remover to be replaced or to let all of the air out to re-mount tires.
Sherco Auto Supply

There are simple tools that can be bought at most auto parts stores to tighten them. Slime/4 way tire valve tool (2044-A) | Tire Valve Stem Core Remover Tool | AutoZone.com The valve just needs to be snug in the TPMS.

I'm still thinking that the tire store put the core back in but didn't tighten properly.

I carry, on the trail, the tool and replacement valves.
 
The valve core should be easy enough to tighten and/or replace. A 11mm deep socket over the actual metal stem and snugging it down if the leak is coming from there as well.

Juts stop at a auto parts store or bike shop and pick up a valve core tool.
 
Ahh haa

i asked my tech and he did try to get the valve core out of the stem but said it was corroded in there and couldnt get loose. he said now that i have the sensor he will try it again, that way if it breaks or still cant get it out he will just replace the sensor, but lets hope he gets the core out and i can send the sensor back to Toyota
 
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