TPMS module issue on a 2018 4Runner

[JAXJeremy]

The other day the TPMS light came on. Checked the tire pressure and everything was good. Went for a drive, light started blinking and then it went solid and then went away. It came back again the next time I drove it. This continued a few more times. I'm thinking there's a problem with one of the sensors.

I've owned my 4R since it was new and have what I'm sure are the factory TPMS. Tires were replaced for the 1st time back in March and I never had the TPMS light come on other then when the tire was low at one point and adding air turned it off.

Anyway, I took it up to a tire place and they were checking the sensors. The tech said it was weird because first one of the sensors would read, then it wouldn't, it looked like the problem would move from tire to tire. He actually showed me while he was reading the sensors with the tool.

I have 4 factory sealed Toyota TPMS sensors that I was going to ask them to program and swap out, but they told me they're machine couldn't program the Toyota ones..

Decided to take it home and lo and behold the TMPS light is off..I'll admit my ignorance to the whole TPMS system..I'm very much mechanically inclined but this is not in my wheelhouse. I would hate to have to replace all 4 sensors. Looking for suggestions.

Thanks in advance.

 

[fkheath]

The other day the TPMS light came on. Checked the tire pressure and everything was good. Went for a drive, light started blinking and then it went solid and then went away. It came back again the next time I drove it. This continued a few more times. I'm thinking there's a problem with one of the sensors.

I've owned my 4R since it was new and have what I'm sure are the factory TPMS. Tires were replaced for the 1st time back in March and I never had the TPMS light come on other then when the tire was low at one point and adding air turned it off.

Anyway, I took it up to a tire place and they were checking the sensors. The tech said it was weird because first one of the sensors would read, then it wouldn't, it looked like the problem would move from tire to tire. He actually showed me while he was reading the sensors with the tool.

I have 4 factory sealed Toyota TPMS sensors that I was going to ask them to program and swap out, but they told me they're machine couldn't program the Toyota ones..

Decided to take it home and lo and behold the TMPS light is off..I'll admit my ignorance to the whole TPMS system..I'm very much mechanically inclined but this is not in my wheelhouse. I would hate to have to replace all 4 sensors. Looking for suggestions.

Thanks in advance.

According to the owners manual, if the tire pressure warning light blinks for one minute, then comes on steady, indicates a malfunction in the TPMS system. The owners manual says to see your dealer then.

 

[Humble Leader]

the most likely cause of this is a faulty, going bad, or dead battery in one of the sensors. if you just installed the tires and they were fine previously, the sensors weren't programmed

the blinking and solid light happens when the TPMS module can't see a sensor or multiple sensors. usually the cause is described above and unless you have the toyota software you can't fix this.

a more unlikely solution is the TPMS module that has gone bad and needs replacing. I don't think I've come across anyone that had to replace their TPMS module (the actual computer component) though

 

[JAXJeremy]

According to the owners manual, if the tire pressure warning light blinks for one minute, then comes on steady, indicates a malfunction in the TPMS system. The owners manual says to see your dealer then.

the most likely cause of this is a faulty, going bad, or dead battery in one of the sensors. if you just installed the tires and they were fine previously, the sensors weren't programmed

the blinking and solid light happens when the TPMS module can't see a sensor or multiple sensors. usually the cause is described above and unless you have the toyota software you can't fix this.

a more unlikely solution is the TPMS module that has gone bad and needs replacing. I don't think I've come across anyone that had to replace their TPMS module (the actual computer component) though

Here's some additional information. Tires were replaced 6 months ago. No issues with the TPMS light until a day ago, so I'm assuming they were programmed correctly at the time of the tire install.

Now here's the strange part. Just came back from running a few errands and no TPMS light. I can't imagine the problem resolved itself. Have to think the battery is on it's way out in one of the sensors..Here's a thought, I think the car battery may need to be replaced, could that possibly cause the issue?

 

[Humble Leader]

Here's some additional information. Tires were replaced 6 months ago. No issues with the TPMS light until a day ago, so I'm assuming they were programmed correctly at the time of the tire install.

Now here's the strange part. Just came back from running a few errands and no TPMS light. I can't imagine the problem resolved itself. Have to think the battery is on it's way out in one of the sensors..Here's a thought, I think the car battery may need to be replaced, could that possibly cause the issue?

it would be easy to test the car battery. if your car has been sitting for a while and the last time you drove it was a long enough trip to allow the alternator can charge it fully (probably a few miles), do you get 12.6-ish volts using a multi meter? if you do, battery is fine

likely a sensor issue. it could be one of the sensors was damaged slightly on install and now is breaking down or just needs to be replaced. if you have a limited edition trim with full size spare and it's 2014+ you do have a sensor in the spare - maybe that one is the trouble maker

 

[rwh963]

my light has been on for a long time on my '07 4runner. original valve stems. just changed tires, decided to not put in 5 new sensors. why spend several hundred four a nanny light. i can live with the light on, and periodically check the pressure.

 

[message]

Ran into similar issues and the dealer options were more than I wanted to pay in terms of replacement sensors and programming costs.

I decided to take a chance based on amazon reviews and purchased replacement Denso/Pacific sensors.
In turn I used the ATEQ Quickset Tool to both get my current sensor IDs and program the new IDs.
So far everything is working perfectly with no issues, however I should note the software provided is NOT great, but it works, and the price was right.
<br>

 

[JAXJeremy]

What sucks is I have 4 brand new Toyota sensors, unopened. Would be great if I could get these programmed myself, but it doesn't look like that's possible. Guess I could see whether the dealership would do it.

 

[ArthurKotb]

When you buy new tires the sensors do not have to be reprogrammed. The ECU already has the ID for each sensor. When you have new sensors installed then those have to be written to the ECU. (I think I've heard newer T4R ECUs can read the IDs, can even have 2 sets so you can have snow tires with the sensors.

I have a 2004 T4R bought in 2003, beginning of the model year. I just replaced all 5 of my sensors with Denso sensors from Amazon. I had 1 bad sensor, making the indicator flash. I had 1 sensor still reading good, 3 others were 'low' but working. I checked with about 3 tire stores and got the same story. They didn't have the Toyota Techstream software (very expensive) to program the Denso sensors. They WOULD install their own brand.

The next time it's flashing, to determine which one is the problem without any tool other than a tire gauge and access to a compressor, lower the tire pressure in one tire to below 20 psi. Turn the key on and see if the indicator is steady. If so, air up the tire and move to the next one. Continue to do this to each tire (spare too) and eventually the indicator will continue to blink. That's the tire with the bad sensor.

I checked with the dealership and they wanted $400 per tire for 5 sensors installed. I checked with a local tire store and asked them if I bought the Denso sensor, would they put it in the tire and not program it (It's really the ECU that gets written to, not the sensor). He said if I bought the tire(s) from him he wouldn't charge me. I bought the tires elsewhere (dealership) so I let him do it and he charged me $35 to break down the tire, install the sensor and then balance the tire.

I purchased a tool that will read the sensor(s) and then write all of them to the ECU. That was $200, but cheaper than the dealership. I had a little trouble getting it to work for my 2004 model but the support team for the tool was VERY helpful and I just had to select a newer model year and the tool worked perfectly. I had the tire store replace all of the other sensors, I read them all and wrote back to the ECU. No flashing, all sensors read 'good'.

My total cost for tool, TPMS installation and Denso TPMS purchase from Amazon was $500. If you want to go a cheaper route, just have them install whatever they can program.


Amazon.com: Autel MaxiTPMS TS501 TPMS Relearn Tool, 2022 Upgraded Automotive Scan Tool of TS408, TS401, Activate/Relearn All Known TPMS Sensors, Program MX-Sensor [315 & 433MHz], TPMS Diagnostics & Reset : Automotive Tool

Amazon.com: Denso 550-0103 TPMS 315-MHZ Sensor for Factory Alloy Wheel Options , Black : Automotive Denso sensor

 

[ArthurKotb]

What sucks is I have 4 brand new Toyota sensors, unopened. Would be great if I could get these programmed myself, but it doesn't look like that's possible. Guess I could see whether the dealership would do it.

Go back where you bought the tires and ask them to install the sensors. Maybe they will do it for free. Tell them you don't expect them to program them.

Go to the Toyota dealership and tell them you are getting the flashing and ask them to read the IDs again and write back to the ECU. You may have to pay for half an hour of labor. It shouldn't cost more than that.

 

[JAXJeremy]

Go back where you bought the tires and ask them to install the sensors. Maybe they will do it for free. Tell them you don't expect them to program them.

Go to the Toyota dealership and tell them you are getting the flashing and ask them to read the IDs again and write back to the ECU. You may have to pay for half an hour of labor. It shouldn't cost more than that.

Great suggestion..Unfortunately, the place where I had the tires installed won't install parts you bring to them, but there is a tire shop that will. That may be the best route to go.

 

[ArthurKotb]

Great suggestion..Unfortunately, the place where I had the tires installed won't install parts you bring to them, but there is a tire shop that will. That may be the best route to go.

That's what I did. It was a Firestone store and I went on a slow day. Guys were just sitting around in the shop so a few extra bucks for them. Hardest part was finding someone that would install them.

The Autel tool I use is real easy. You go to each tire, press a button to get a reading, go to the next tire. After all 5 are read you press the top right button on the screen and use the 'learn' step to write to the ECU. It took all of 7 minutes when I used the right vehicle setting. My son has a 2006 T4R and he has to replace his, so next trip up there I'll take my Autel.

 

[JAXJeremy]

Quick update, not sure whether the shop I went to did something that made the ECU relearn the TPMS, but the light is out and has been out since yesterday afternoon and I've driven several times. I know problems like this don't normally self-correct, so I'll keep an eye on it and if the light pops again I'll have it checked out. Thanks.

 

[Buz06]

When looking for wheels and snow tires I found a dealer down state (Nashua NH) advertising good prices online, when I called about the wheels they gave me a fair price for a set of sensors, I think they were around $65 which I thought fair for genuine Toyota parts. Everything went together and works well.
There is nothing worse than chasing an intermittent electrical issue.

 

[ArthurKotb]

Quick update, not sure whether the shop I went to did something that made the ECU relearn the TPMS, but the light is out and has been out since yesterday afternoon and I've driven several times. I know problems like this don't normally self-correct, so I'll keep an eye on it and if the light pops again I'll have it checked out. Thanks.

The ECU learns only when you upload new sensor IDs. Most likely your sensor is just getting jostled into working again. It may have some corrosion somewhere that's impacting it.

I drove 8 months with mine just flashing, eating away at me until I couldn't stand it anymore and bought new ones. Denso sensors are really good. Mine were original 2003, came with the car, and only one went out last December.

I thought about putting some tape over the flasher until I learned that the other four can still trigger the static light, indicating a low tire. In my previous reply I show how you can just lower tire pressure to find the problem sensor. If it's a steady indicator then it's one of the tires that has a working sensor.

A couple of nice things about owning that tool. I can check tire pressure and tire temperature with it. I press a button and it takes a few seconds to get a readout. It also shows the batteries' condition so when it comes time to buy new tires I can have them put in new sensors before I have a problem, like last time.

Keep monitoring. You have the knowledge now on what you can do and know that there's no rush to do anything.

 

[ArthurKotb]

When looking for wheels and snow tires I found a dealer down state (Nashua NH) advertising good prices online, when I called about the wheels they gave me a fair price for a set of sensors, I think they were around $65 which I thought fair for genuine Toyota parts. Everything went together and works well.
There is nothing worse than chasing an intermittent electrical issue.

$65 for 4 sensors? I would be very surprised if they were Denso. Amazon sells them for about $37 each. The store can install any brand of sensor and write the IDs to the ECU and they will work. I wouldn't worry about it. They'll probably last for a long time.

I have the old sensors from my wheels and they are identical to the new ones I bought. If I get another 19 years out of them I'll be very happy...and amazed. I try to keep my T4R all Toyota and I install and maintain what I can. A trustworthy garage is my choice for the rest.

 

[Buz06]

clarification

I paid around $65 each for those sensors. I had another dealer nearby who wanted closer to $100 each for them so I thought I did all right.
Maybe not.

 

[ArthurKotb]

I paid around $65 each for those sensors. I had another dealer nearby who wanted closer to $100 each for them so I thought I did all right.
Maybe not.

Well much better at $65 EACH. Looks like you did get a deal; congratulations.

The stores I spoke with said they needed the Toyota Techstream software in order to activate them. I found that wasn't true, at least for my T4R. Your shop must have found a better way. I know I certainly did. If I didn't have to buy the scan tool I would have come out at $70-75 a tire.

One of my kids has a 2006 with TPMS problems so I'll be able to help him when he gets the Denso installed.

 

[JAXJeremy]

Light came back on today..was on the highway, started flashing, then went solid. Wound up taking it to the place that did the tires and will have them get it sorted out. $138 to do one. Hopefully it's just one..

 

[JAXJeremy]

Got back from the tire shop..Guy showed me the machine and all of the TPMS are good..On a hunch he decided to scan for codes and C2124 popped. I understand that could mean my TPMS module is bad. Seems like it should be easy to replace. I'm more concerned how it could have failed after only 4 years..Anyone ever had to replace one?