Gromulus
New member
OK, let me just start off by saying that I REALLY, REALLY Hate these tire pressure sensors. I know that all the new vehicles are going this route but as a careful adult driver I can and do monitor my tire pressure. Thanks to Firestone with the Exploder incidents a few years back for this one.
Last summer I had a sensor go bad and the dealer replaced per warranty. He sad that his cost was $150/sensor and my cost would have been $225/sensor - not including labor. Evidently it is a time consuming effort.
Last Thursday I was doing my monthly tire pressure check when I noticed that I could not remove the valve caps from the stems - on any of the four tires. I have nice chromed steel stem covers that I have been using since I got my Runner. I use them on all my vehicles. I was really pissed, thinking that the month before my dealer did a tire change with my regular service and the service guy probably put the caps on too tight. I took a wrench to one of the caps and the top end of the valve stem came stripped off - being fused to the cap. Only the Schrader valve pin was showing. Knowing that I had probably ruined the sensor on that tire, I didn't even try the others.
I took the Runner into the dealer on Saturday and explained the problem. He said that the cause was corrosion of the steel valve caps on to the stem. I told him that I never had this problem before and that the manual doesn't address it either. He said it does happen with steel and aluminum valve stem covers and that only the black plastic ones should be used. He advised against me driving the vehicle with the exposed stem and ruined sensor. He said they would keep the Runner and fix it Monday. With four potentially bad sensors, it could take a while. I talked to the Service Manager and told him that my wife is in the market for a new vehicle and that she is considering the new Camry. He said everyone says that when they have a problem but I assured him that we really are in the market for a new car. He said that even though my Runner was out of warranty at 41,000 miles, he would remove the covers from all five tires and replace the already ruined sensor. I would have to pay for any others that were ruined - to the tune of almost $300 each! I reluctantly agreed.
Today the service rep called me say the vehicle was ready. I had two bad sensors. Tonight I went to pick up the Runner and the invoice due was $0!. They did pick up both sensors out of good will. To say the least I was very surprised and elated!. I am going to write a letter to the delareship and personally thank the Service Manager and service rep. This is one of the reasons I have been a customer of this dealership since they started in the early 90's.
My wife has narrowed down her choice to the Accord EX V6 and Camry XLE or SE V6 - both with NAV. With the new Camry model just coming out, it will be hard to get as good of a deal as I we can get on the 2006 Accord, but the Toyota service will go a long way in helping us decide,
I still hate these pressure monitors. This is the only problem I have had with my 04 in over 41K. Does anyone know if there are any potential problems running with bad (or no!) sensors? One of the mechanics wasn't sure if it would cause other computer errors. Even if a new sensor is used, it's ID must be reprogrammed into the computer. What a PITA!
Last summer I had a sensor go bad and the dealer replaced per warranty. He sad that his cost was $150/sensor and my cost would have been $225/sensor - not including labor. Evidently it is a time consuming effort.
Last Thursday I was doing my monthly tire pressure check when I noticed that I could not remove the valve caps from the stems - on any of the four tires. I have nice chromed steel stem covers that I have been using since I got my Runner. I use them on all my vehicles. I was really pissed, thinking that the month before my dealer did a tire change with my regular service and the service guy probably put the caps on too tight. I took a wrench to one of the caps and the top end of the valve stem came stripped off - being fused to the cap. Only the Schrader valve pin was showing. Knowing that I had probably ruined the sensor on that tire, I didn't even try the others.
I took the Runner into the dealer on Saturday and explained the problem. He said that the cause was corrosion of the steel valve caps on to the stem. I told him that I never had this problem before and that the manual doesn't address it either. He said it does happen with steel and aluminum valve stem covers and that only the black plastic ones should be used. He advised against me driving the vehicle with the exposed stem and ruined sensor. He said they would keep the Runner and fix it Monday. With four potentially bad sensors, it could take a while. I talked to the Service Manager and told him that my wife is in the market for a new vehicle and that she is considering the new Camry. He said everyone says that when they have a problem but I assured him that we really are in the market for a new car. He said that even though my Runner was out of warranty at 41,000 miles, he would remove the covers from all five tires and replace the already ruined sensor. I would have to pay for any others that were ruined - to the tune of almost $300 each! I reluctantly agreed.
Today the service rep called me say the vehicle was ready. I had two bad sensors. Tonight I went to pick up the Runner and the invoice due was $0!. They did pick up both sensors out of good will. To say the least I was very surprised and elated!. I am going to write a letter to the delareship and personally thank the Service Manager and service rep. This is one of the reasons I have been a customer of this dealership since they started in the early 90's.
My wife has narrowed down her choice to the Accord EX V6 and Camry XLE or SE V6 - both with NAV. With the new Camry model just coming out, it will be hard to get as good of a deal as I we can get on the 2006 Accord, but the Toyota service will go a long way in helping us decide,
I still hate these pressure monitors. This is the only problem I have had with my 04 in over 41K. Does anyone know if there are any potential problems running with bad (or no!) sensors? One of the mechanics wasn't sure if it would cause other computer errors. Even if a new sensor is used, it's ID must be reprogrammed into the computer. What a PITA!
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