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TPMS Light Delay

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by salguod, Jan 4, 2016.

  1. salguod

    salguod Member

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    It's been awhile since I've been around. Still got the Prius, my wife loves it, I tolerate it. :)

    Because the snow and ice performance is so poor and I was going to need tires anyway, I put winter tires on it this year. Found a set of brand new General Altimax Artics on new Gen III alloys on Craigslist for $475 and snapped them up.

    They do not have TPMS sensors in them, I was going to live with the warning light for 3 months rather than paying $120 or more for the sensors. Besides, they were already mounted and balanced.

    So, I put them on the car last night and drove the car for 5-10 miles to trigger the light so I knew what my wife should expect. No TPMS light came on. My wife drove it to work this morning (21 miles). Still no TPMS light.

    Is my system malfunctioning? How long should it take for the light to come on?
     
  2. walterm

    walterm Active Member

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    I recall my 2007 Prius took an hour before the light would come on when I had non-TPMS wheels. My wife's 2008 takes 15 minutes (I think).
     
  3. salguod

    salguod Member

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    Interesting, I'm surprised that it takes that long.

    I guess it should be on by the time she gets home then, assuming it's an hour cumulative.
     
  4. salguod

    salguod Member

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    So, 5 days and probably close to 250 miles later, the light finally came on last night. Heck of a warning system.
     
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    and only 400 bucks to replace, plus labor. i'd rather check my pressures.
     
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I switch over to snow tires without tmps sensors every fall, don't pay enough attention but it seems the lag wasn't that bad. Maybe just a bit into the first drive with the snows on, before the light went on?

    Given it's a 2007, likely the sensor batteries are on the cusp of failure too. If it was me and they failed, I'd just let them.
     
  7. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    mine comes on from the start...waiting for my wife to see the elec tape I put over it:whistle:

    I got another recent thread going in this topic:
    Anybody's TPMS lasted longer? (9.5 yrs here) | PriusChat

    So far we got one 2006 at 10-yrs old TPMS still OK...I assume the oldest 2006 is about 10.5 year old

    Conceivably warmer ambient temps could give more current so I want to see if Sunday we have 60F it comes back. If your Prius is Garage kept maybe it cools off and then the light goes?
     
    #7 wjtracy, Jan 9, 2016
    Last edited: Jan 9, 2016
  8. salguod

    salguod Member

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    I have no idea how old the sensors are, we bought the car in 2013 with 112K miles on it. The selling dealer had just put tires on it, I bet they rebuilt the sensors then.

    It doesn't really matter anyway, since the sensors are on the summer wheels in the shed.
     
    #8 salguod, Jan 9, 2016
    Last edited: Jan 9, 2016
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    "rebuilt" is basically a few new O-rings.
     
  10. salguod

    salguod Member

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    Still, there are no sensors in my winter wheels so the age of the originals is immaterial.

    Another question, when I put the summer wheels back on in the spring, I assume that the car will just (eventually) recognize them, right?
     
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yes. If you've got the regular tires in the garage, near to the car, it'll recognize them every time you roll in. Maybe that's why ours is a bit bewildered, lol.
     
  12. salguod

    salguod Member

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    They're in the shed in the backyard, not very close by. Probably 60+ feet away, I doubt it's picking them up.
     
    #12 salguod, Jan 9, 2016
    Last edited: Jan 9, 2016
    Mendel Leisk likes this.