Tire Pressure Monitor System Problem

[black2kmax]

I just bought a new SR5 4X4 two weeks ago and have had problems with the light for the TPMS flashing since the first few hundred miles. When I bought the truck I requested that they swap rims and tires with another truck on the lot so I could get the Michelin tires. They agreed and everything was OK until about 250 miles when the light first came on. I took it back and they tried to reset the system but they could not get it to stay off and asked me to bring it back the next day. They told me that they forgot to switch the spare tires and that the sensors were a matched set and that is why they was a problem. It made sense and the light was out for two days but then it came back on again yesterday. I am taking it back in again tomorrow and they say that they must reprogram the sensors to my car since they came off of another truck from the factory.

I know there have been other threads on this topic but does this make sense? I really don't want to keep having to take my truck back until they figure out what they are doing.

 

[Good Times]

Check to make sure that the psi on all the wheels (including the spare) is the same. I've read that if the spare is not the same the sensor will trigger it.

If all the tires have the same psi then I would go back to the dealer to have the system checked explaining to them that all 5 wheels have the same psi and it still blinks.

The system is suppose to trigger if one tire drops 5psi from all the others (or something like that) so that could be the case.

Good luck

 

[dancojgl]

they say that they must reprogram the sensors to my car since they came off of another truck from the factory.

This is exactly correct. Have them fix it like they should have the first time.

Also, have them give you the proper sized spare tire. If you put the mismatched spare tire on the vehicle, it will mess with the vehicle's speed sensors and make your traction control/ABS system think you've got a slipping wheel...

—Dan

 

[black2kmax]

Thanks for the info. I will be taking it back in today... hopefully this will be the last time. I feel like I brought this on myself by having them switch the rims but I never thought about anything like this.

 

[dcampen]

I feel like I brought this on myself by having them switch the rims but I never thought about anything like this.

While it is true that this wouldn't have happened if you hadn't requested the wheel swap the root cause of the problem is the sloppiness and incompetence of the dealership personnel. So, did you finally get the correct spare? I would be very annoyed at having had to make 2 (or is it 3) trips back to the dealer because of their gross incompetence.

 

[black2kmax]

During the second trip to the dealership I was lucky enough that the other 4Runner was there having leather interior installed so they swapped the spare tires. I am sure that the other owner does not know about the tire swap. Oddly enough the other 4Runner is not having any problems...yet. My light did not come on until about 200 miles.

As of right now my car is still at the dealership and they are trying to figure out how to recalibrate the sensors to my truck. They called me last night and wanted to know if I would like to pick it up and bring it back later. I told them to keep the truck until they get it fixed. I am really starting to get upset with these guys. I know that in their mind this is all happening because I had them switch the wheels. While that may be true how hard is it for them to reset the damn system?

 

[dcampen]

As of right now my car is still at the dealership and they are trying to figure out how to recalibrate the sensors to my truck.

What a bunch of morons!

They called me last night and wanted to know if I would like to pick it up and bring it back later. I told them to keep the truck until they get it fixed.

I would want a loaner car in the mean time.

I am really starting to get upset with these guys.

You should be. At this point I would be insisting that I will only talk with top level management of the dealership.

I know that in their mind this is all happening because I had them switch the wheels.

Perhaps so but only because they are a bunch of incompetent morons.

While that may be true how hard is it for them to reset the damn system?

Not hard at all. You should be complaining to Toyota Corporation. I certainly wouldn't ever bring my truck there for service.

 

[black2kmax]

Well my 4Runner is back and the light is out. I really hope that it stays off this time.

 

[dancojgl]

Hopefully, this will be the end of your problems with the new truck, and you can begin the truly wonderful experience of 4Runner ownership!

—Dan

 

[rabeet]

When that indicator turned on for me one night, I thought hm, how reliable can it be?

I had one wheel 1.5 pounds off of 32. Pretty amazing, really.

 

[black2kmax]

The light started flashing again after about 100 miles. I have made an appointment at another dealership to see if the can fix this problem. I called the other dealership and let them know that they will never see my truck again.