Tire pressure sensor valve damaged

[MurrayTheCat]

I had a new set of tires installed today on my 04 SE at Costco. In the process they broke one of the valve cores trying to remove it to deflate the tire. They said it was corroded and was not their fault. I had them use the spare rim so they could finish the job. The tire is holding air, it just broke the tabs that are used to unscrew the valve core. Do you think it is ok to leave it alone, or should I replace it. Can the valve stem be replaced alone, or is it part of the sensor? The dealer was closed, any idea of the current cost? Can one be replaced and reprogrammed without having to mess with the other 4?

 

[WaterMan]

damaged tire sensor

Did they give you the broken tire sensor? If not...demand to have them return it.
The sensor and valve stem are one unit on these cars...and they are ~$200 each.

We, meaning me and a Firestone dealership, learned about tire pressure sensors the hard way.
They are extremely sensitive...and any one monkey fisting them will damage them. I had replaced my stock tires with Revos at Firestone (because they would give me credit on the existing Dunlops). Well, three of the sensors were damaged.
Firestone made an agreement to replace the sensors...and my local dealer trained the Firestone guys on how to replace them. It didn't cost me anything...except two days for my 4 Runner to be in the dealership (and Firestone did pay for a rental)...but it did cost Firestone over $800 dollars.

The sad thing is the 4Runner will only signal that there is either a low pressure or error in the tires...not which one is low. You have to get out and measure them yourself...or take it to the dealer to determine the fault.

But definitely get the old sensor back and take it to the dealer. How would a sensor located inside the rim get corroded? Sounds to me the tire changer guy damaged it...regardless of how careful he was. And you could have more than one damaged.

 

[MurrayTheCat]

The sensor itself is fine, it is just the valve core that he broke trying to remove it. the valve and sensor, which are currently on the spare, seem to be working fine it is just that the valve core is not removable at this point because the tabs inside the stem broke off. I may just leave it, If is starts to loose air, I will be notified on the dash

 

[PMac]

When I got my tires changed, I noticed that the sensor light was on when I left the shop. I went back and they said there was nothing wrong as far as they could tell. I took it toyota and had them fix it and they gave me the damaged sensor and said it was obviously damaged when they changed the tires. I took it back and showed them and demanded they pay for the cost. At first they tried to tell me it wasn't their fault but I held my ground. If the sensor light wasn't on when you went there, and came on after you left, they did something. I would make they pay for it.