TPMS Service Kit

This is not PRIME specific question, but it can well be for PRIME, so I am posting this thread here to get more attention than at Fred's House of Pancakes.

I bought a set of used OEM rims that came with working OEM TPMS sensors already in place for our Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid. I used the rims for winter tires (Xice). I bought tires on-line (Walmart) and took the rims to Walmart to have them mounted and balanced. Then, I installed the winter wheels onto the car and did own TPMS relearn using Autel tool which worked very easily. Well, all of that went fine and DW is enjoying safe yet very comfortable ride. The car has on screen tire pressure display, so I don't have to use the tire gauge to check the tire pressure so often.

That was a couple months ago. Since then, one of the tire has been slowly loosing air about 1 psi/week. I topped off the air three times by now. It is always the same tire less than other three. So, I took the car back to Walmart yesterday to have it looked at. The tech there came back saying it has slow leak from the TPMS stem. He said he will need a service pack to change the grommets, nut, and valve core. He noticed another TPMS is also leaking. They did not have OEM TPMS specific service kit in stock. If I changed to a new after market TPMS sensors they have, it would cost ~$50 tire with labor. His suggestion was to buy 4x TPMS service kit online and bring them to have all four tire remounted and rebalanced with new service kit installed for $48 total ($12/tire life-time tire balance and mount service).

According to manufactures of TPMS service kits, "Original-equipment specifications require that new grommets, nuts, valve cores and caps be installed every time a tire equipped with TPMS is removed and replaced on a wheel rim". The kit is not expensive, it is about $2 aftermarket, much cheaper than replacing entire TPMS sensor. I sourced OEM TPMS compatible service kit and just waiting for shipment to arrive. Picture below is such aftermarket TPMS service kit that works on PRIME OEM TPMS (Toyota Part No.: 42607-52020). I looked for OEM parts number but could not find it, either for PRIME or for Pathfinder. There may not be OEM kit.

Here is my question. Has anyone done TPMS service kit replacement (not the whole sensor)? Is it easy to DIY? From You Tube search, I found this video. It looks like to change the rubber grommets on the type of TPMS I have, the tire must be dismounted from the wheel. If that is the case, I am not even going to try DIY.

Any thought?

 

Thanks for chiming in.

So, if it is leaking from the stem due to a bad valve core, replacing just a core can be achieved easily DIY without needing special tools?

 

Yes, aftermarket TPMS sensors may come with a rubber stem. Maybe some OEM sensors as well. Many of those aftermarket TPMS sensors have a separable stem and sensor parts. On those, the stem portion can be changed without needing to replace the sensor.

I actually have 8 programmable TPMS sensors that came with my AUTEL TPMS TOOL. But the Pathfinder rims in question came with OEM sensors for free. They look better, so I kept them.

 

Thanks. At $12/tire, it may be best to just take the car back to Walmart. They may be not the best auto care shop in town but for just tire changes, I have used them for the last three changes. So far no complaint. There is no Costco nearby.