Tire Pressure Monitors are a PITA

[Skyline]

I had a slow leak in one of my tires, and a tire store told me it was leaking from the valve stem. Because of the tire pressure sensor, I had to go to the dealer. So I dropped the offending wheel at the dealer, (they did not have the pressure monitor in stock, of course), and 24hrs later I get a call that they need to have the car in the shop so that they can reprogram the new sensor. I ask if I can wait for the car while they do this, and he says no, it will take several hours at least. Accorrding to the dealer, all 4 sensors must be removed from the car to be reprogrammed together, meaning all 4 tires must be removed, then remounted and rebalanced. Best of all, as this is such a big job, the dealer has no time to do this today, so I had to make an appointment a few days off to have it done. Since I have no spare now, I really can't risk driving the car untill it's fixed.

Is it just me, or is this really nuts? Thank goodness this is under warrantee or I'd really be going ballistic.

 

[Kmvreter]

Is it just me, or is this really nuts? Thank goodness this is under warrantee or I'd really be going ballistic.

This isn't nuts, your dealer service is! They should be able to either change out the valve core or the seal/grommet around the stem. Ask them why these won't work? Their fix sounds extreme (maybe they are milking the warranty costs?) They risk messing up your ride quality (make sure they remount the tires in the same orientation to the wheels relative to the valve stem.)

 

[sharp4runr]

At least you get a free balancing/rotation out of it

 

[DaveS]

Rebalancing would only make sense if the sensors were the type that measure wheel rotation speed like those on the Highlander and most other Toyotas - my understanding is ours directly measure pressure however - sounds like the dealer is getting things mixed up or as somebody else suggested, milking the warranty.. not sure how it takes "several hours" to rotate tires and check the balance on them anyway.

 

[Skyline]

The reason balancing is necessary is that they say all the tires must be removed from the rims so that the monitors can be removed for reprogramming.

 

[DaveS]

Now you are kidding me aren't you? The manual clearly states that the dealer can reprogram the system in the truck not on the wheels!!! Does anybody have access to TSBs - there is one that spells out to the dealer how to do this.. I cannot believe it involves unplugging all of the sensors from the tires!!

 

[Skyline]

Now you are kidding me aren't you?

I wish I was. Nuts huh???

 

[DaveS]

Next they will tell you the lug nuts have to go back on the same wheels or the system won't work!!

Don't let them forget the spare!!

 

[dancojgl]

Your dealer is nuts!

You don't reprogram the tire pressure sensors, you reprogram the vehicle to recognize the sensors' ID codes...

 

[Skyline]

Your dealer is nuts!

You don't reprogram the tire pressure sensors, you reprogram the vehicle to recognize the sensors' ID codes...