Swapping TPMS sensors to new tires...

iLLWiLL

iLLWiLL

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2 weeks ago i bought some oem 18" Limited wheels and tires off ebay.

i could have sworn the ebay seller claimed the wheels/tires package came with TPMS (i no longer have the emails) ... but i may be mistaken. Apparently this is causing my TPMS dash light to blink (indicating a malfunction)

i emailed the seller and they responded "... the TPMS are about $150 each and only provided by the dealer. 2nd if you car is equip with the sensors, you need to switch them over. but we only supply with valves mounted and balanced."


so i need to swap the censors out of my old tires, and put them into the new ones? Is this an easy task? How is this done?

TIA
 
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Simple process but time-consuming. Deflate and unmount each wheel/tire, remove non-TPMS sensor, install TPMS sensor, reinflate/mount wheel/tire. Sometimes the system has to be reprogrammed if they have been removed for a long period of time but just try disconnecting the battery and they should pick them up automatically. Just don't let the douches at the dealership get water inside your wheel and ruin them like they did mine...
 
The sensors are integrated into the base of the OEM valve stems on your original 16's. You will need to obviously take them off your 16's, unmount your tires from your current 18's, transfer the original valve stems from the 16's to the 18's, and remount you tires back onto the 18's. I know, a major PITA.

OR if you have Toyota OEM sensors currently on your 18's just have the TPMS ECU reprogrammed to them (but that entails a stealer visit and some $). Either way, PITA.
 
i'm testing it out and...

i got one of my old tires deflated......but how the hell do i unmount the tire from the rim? Do i need to pry it apart with like a flat screwdriver or something? :confused:
 
might want to take it to a shop. will end up costing u more if you damage ur wheels.



iLLWiLL said:
i'm testing it out and...

i got one of my old tires deflated......but how the hell do i unmount the tire from the rim? Do i need to pry it apart with like a flat screwdriver or something? :confused:
Click to expand...
 
iLLWiLL said:
i got one of my old tires deflated......but how the hell do i unmount the tire from the rim? Do i need to pry it apart with like a flat screwdriver or something? :confused:
Click to expand...
Car shops use a machine that mounts or dismounts a tire. There's a steel band built inside the rubber that's located around the inside edge of the hole in the tire. It's called the "bead". You'll never budge it with hand tools - you'll just wreck your wheels.
Here's a cross-sectional picture:
http://www.answers.com/topic/bridgestone-tire-cross-section-png
 
I believe that Toyota sells separately, the rubber gaskets, etc that are used in mounting the TPMS. You might need one if the rubber gasket is compressed and does not seal properly.

Rick
 
would it be cheaper to take it to a place like America's Tire Co rather than the dealer? And, would they do just as good a job putting on the sensors and tires?
 
I think the danger with a regular tire shop is that they may not have any regulations about saving the tire stems. The dealer should be responsible for any damage to the stems.
 
They know what to do. The ones I talked to actually were more concerned about ruining the sensor than anything- they didn't want to break one and be held liable. Most tire companies, at this point, have dealt with them and know how to handle them properly.
 
ok...don't think i'll be taking it to America's Tire Co -- they want $25 to dismount/mount EACH tire. So...that's 4 old tires + 4 current tires, at $25/each = $200 :mad:

wonder how much the stealer would want for the job...
 
iLLWiLL said:
ok...don't think i'll be taking it to America's Tire Co -- they want $25 to dismount/mount EACH tire. So...that's 4 old tires + 4 current tires, at $25/each = $200 :mad:

wonder how much the stealer would want for the job...
Click to expand...

Mine [dealer] charged me like 40 dollars total BUT they screwed it up! I was going to pay the 110 dollars at Big-O tires. They actually seemed concerned about the sensors...
 
tomhaney1 said:
I was going to pay the 110 dollars at Big-O tires. They actually seemed concerned about the sensors...
Click to expand...
i just called a DIFFERENT America's Tire Co, and they quoted $110 ... go figure. Two stores can't even give me a price within the same ballpark...

110 sounds alot more realistic/reasonable...



EDIT: My local Big-O only wants $80 to do the job :D
 
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iLLWiLL said:
i just called a DIFFERENT America's Tire Co, and they quoted $110 ... go figure. Two stores can't even give me a price within the same ballpark...

110 sounds alot more realistic/reasonable...



EDIT: My local Big-O only wants $80 to do the job :D
Click to expand...

I think America's are independent franchises. Regardless, they are going to charge you as much as they can- whatever salesperson you talk to is going to charge you as much as they can get out of you. I assume they work on commission as well. I used to get my tires for dirt cheap by going back and forth between companies until they beat each other's prices. :D
 
tomhaney1 said:
I think America's are independent franchises. Regardless, they are going to charge you as much as they can- whatever salesperson you talk to is going to charge you as much as they can get out of you. I assume they work on commission as well. I used to get my tires for dirt cheap by going back and forth between companies until they beat each other's prices. :D
Click to expand...
lol. That makes sense now...
 
tomhaney1 said:
Simple process but time-consuming. Deflate and unmount each wheel/tire, remove non-TPMS sensor, install TPMS sensor, reinflate/mount wheel/tire. Sometimes the system has to be reprogrammed if they have been removed for a long period of time but just try disconnecting the battery and they should pick them up automatically. Just don't let the douches at the dealership get water inside your wheel and ruin them like they did mine...
Click to expand...

Conclusion to this thread --

i took my old tires and current tires to Big O ... and they took the sensors from my old tires and put them into my current ones for $80


the sensors had been sitting in my old tires unused for 2.5 weeks. Luckily, i did NOT need to reprogram the TPMS, as the malfunction light went away :bigok: thanks to all...
 
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