Low tire pressure light flashing -TPMS

I have a low tire pressure light intermittently flashing on the dash. All of my tire pressures are 34psi so it looks like either a faulty TPMS or a low battery on the TPMS.

I figure if I'm having a tire shop go in there already I might as well just replace the sensor rather than diagnose whether it's a TPMS battery or not. Toyota TPMS is roughly $60. Is OEM worth it or will aftermarket be fine?

 

Sometimes this happens when the spare tire has low pressure. Check it first before spending money.

 

Most likely one or more sensors have low battery. Aftermarket is fine, though the shop still needs to locate the failed sensor(s) and program new ones.

Alternatively just ignore the light and check pressures manually on a fixed schedule. For those who go off-road and air down/air up often, the TPMS system has no value.

 

I thought the spare didnt have one because you can only program 4 to a vehicle? I know that's how the tacos are & i believe the 4runners are the same

 

I have had that problem with a 1995 Nissan Frontier 4WD, my wife's RAV4 AWD, and my 2019 SR5Premium. Both OEM and aftermarket on the 4Runner. They've recalibrated and checked both the OEM and aftermarket on all three vehicles. Were replaced on the 4Runner when I changed wheels. Just visually check it occasionally and Discount Tire will check pressure for free (before and after trips).

 

But despite getting new ones, your light is still on?

 

So knowing that you have a tire going down from a puncture before it has an impact on safety is of no value? I’m not sure I agree with that. Airing up after you’re off road, you can get a puncture 5 minutes later and I’d rather know about that sooner rather than later to stop and address. Seems like a good value to me.

 

^Not sure how many years you've been driving, but I've driven enough vehicles without TPMS systems. You don't need a warning light to tell you that a tire is losing air - the vehicle will start pulling to one side and handle funny. With some punctures, you know right away because the bolt head is still protruding from the tread and causing a vibration.

 

I’ve been driving for nearly 30 years and have owned at least 10 vehicles without TPMS so your condescending attitude wasn’t necessary. I disagree with your opinion, the difference is I don’t say my opinion applies to everyone else like you did.

 

^The TPMS system was never intended to alert drivers of punctures. That's a fact, not an opinion. Look up the DOT rulemaking documents that mandated TPMS systems in the US. The TPMS system is intended to address lack of maintenance, as the majority of drivers don't check tire pressures several times a year. Those who go off-road and air down/air up often, are already maintaining tire pressures more frequently than manufacturers' recommended best practices.

 

And that fact (which isn’t as black and white as you think it is) has nothing to do with whether or not TPMS provides value in the case of a puncture, nor that it provides convenience that I can monitor the pressure in my pressures while driving. So again, there is value even if you don’t think it applies to you since you’re so awesome.

 

^I never said the TPMS system has no value to you. I said the TPMS system has no value for those who go off-road and air down/air up often.

 

And I say it does, even for those who do those things.

Here’s an excerpt from the NHTSA:

Puncture is the most common reason for a blowout. However, there are also many cases where a tire is punctured, loses air, and then fails later after being driven a distance under-inflated. In these cases, a TPMS would provide information of the low tire pressure before the tire failed.

https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/fmvss/TPMS-2005-FMVSS-No138.pdf

 

Yes, strange. That's also what I thought. But this did happen with my 2010 F Cruiser. Light came on dash. Checked all 4 tires with a good gauge. All right on 34-lbs.
So I checked the spare tire. Sure enough it was low. Filled it up, light went off.

 

well the spare tire is a lower pressure .....also the tire spare tire of the valve leaking .......

 

Interesting how a perfectly valid question turned into a TPMS war.

Have we had a sudden influx of T4R.org refugees?

 

T4R.org popups drive me crazy

 

This Thread might be a good time to ask this: Subject: 2021 4R TRD/OR/Premium, 20K miles, stock tires and rims.

The tire light came on the dash. Not blinking, just stayed on. The monitor seems to fluctuate anywhere from 31-lbs. to 33-lbs. Then the light will suddenly go off. But the readings on the monitor still show 32-33-lbs. I checked all four with a gauge and they all read at 34-lbs. The monitor seems like it's struggling to get a consistent reading.
Maybe my hand gauge is off ! The spare is unknown. What do you guys think ?

 

the 2016 4runner factory tires 50K miles today ... the tires 36 psi ... did the gauge psi ....then the spare tire under the vehicle 36 psi ....also the treads are 4 tires great ... 7K-10k miles rotations X ...

 

Now, just today, took the 4R to get a wash and the monitor is reading 34-lbs. for all 4 tires, and no light on dash. Sometimes it will show one tire low. Other times it might show three tires low. Now it's back to normal. There also seemed to be a difference with the outside temperature. Really strange.

 

Thanks for your comments. I've forgot to check the pressure when cold. Thanks for the reminder. Also, I believe I need a better quality gauge.

 

Yes, after new sensors, multiple pressure checks (Discount tire and my two different gauges that I have-actually 3 different gauges of 2 kinds)

 

Dang, that sucks.

 

Ummmm there are a lot of TPMS tools on the market that can activate, relearn, reset, program almost any TPMS sensor, OEM or aftermarket. The scanner has nothing to do with the brand that manufactured the sensor. I have an Autel MaxiTPMS that has worked to reprogram OEM and aftermarket sensors for GM, Mazda, BMW, Honda and Toyota so far without any trouble.

 

This makes sense, thanks. I went through TPMS hell the first time I got new tires. Local shops demonstrated they don't know what TF they're doing.

 

I think maybe you are confusing programming of the sensor to the car and programming the sensor itself to have a different ID. I have the Autel TS508 and while no it can’t change the ID on any brand sensor, it can program the existing ID from any sensor to your vehicle to be recognized.