1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

TPMS sensor replacement

Discussion in 'Prime Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by ETP, Mar 20, 2021.

  1. ETP

    ETP 2021 Prime(Limit),Highlander HYB Plat,B52-D,G,F,H

    Joined:
    Apr 12, 2009
    2,799
    1,170
    0
    Location:
    Auburdale FL
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    Related question! I am buying two spare OEM aluminum wheels and Yokohama tires for my new Prime to keep in the garage for local issues. And throw one in the back for long trips.
    I bought an extra sensor from the dealer as all this stuff is on sale this month. If I install the sensor on one of my spares will I need to do anything else?
    Or should I have Walmart program the extra code in the computer when they mount the one spare tire on the extra wheel? Ummm That could be an issue!!!!
    Dealer said to just use a normal valve stem and offered one free but was trying to hedge my bets.
    I bought two rims incase the OEM tires are as bad as everyone says and I need to replace two at some point in time. Over kill for sure but I have already had a very bad experience with a 2019 Prius limited on tire failure (unusual road hazard as it looked like a 20 penny nail bent in two places) and no spare and of course the dealer did not have OEM tires of any kind.
    Drove it two blocks to Tire Kingdom (some air) and the manger secured my car while he ordered the correct tire with next day service.

    At least I found a reliable local place for ER situations!

    After thought! Anyway to remove the guts to a the valve stem sensor and put it in another OEM valve stem sensor?
     
    #1 ETP, Mar 20, 2021
    Last edited: Mar 20, 2021
  2. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2020
    3,241
    1,351
    0
    Location:
    NJ-USA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    You might want to ask your question in the correct forum. I have no idea how Toyota handles TPMS on a 2021 vs. the Gen2.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #2 mr_guy_mann, Mar 21, 2021
  3. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2015
    10,963
    8,839
    0
    Location:
    New England
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    There was a comment in a different thread mentioning the newer Toyota Prius (including PRIME) having slots in ECU for TWO sets of TPMS IDs (total 8), but I have not confirmed this. In my 2017 and 2020 PPs, there were only 4 slots. It was not possible to program ECU with the extra TPMS ID for spares. If that holds true for 2021, then you will either need to have a TPMS programming tool or Techstream when you install the spare wheel with an unregistered TPMS sensor. Of course, you can visit a dealer or any tire shop to have it programmed each time you change the wheel, but it will cost you.

    If you can break the beads on the tire, it is possible to replace the valve stem DIY, although I have never done it myself. However, you will need to balance the wheel and tire if three are any weight differences between before and after the sensor installation. Most DIYers do not have the equipment to balance the wheels. For ~$15/wheel, any tire shop can install a TPMS sensor and mount and balance a wheel and install and program it on your car.
     
    #3 Salamander_King, Mar 22, 2021
  4. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,491
    14,100
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    All you need is a short and heavy board like a 2X12 or something. Mark the tire & rim so they can't shift just in case. Remove the valve stem core. Lay the wheel/tire assy. on the driveway. Put the board with one end on the tire near the rim and the other on the pavement. Have someone guide you as you drive a car up the board. The bead should pop right off. I've even done with which pick-up tires. Hardest part will most likely getting the tire back up on the bead.
     
    #4 jerrymildred, Mar 29, 2021
    Salamander_King likes this.
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,673
    38,210
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Just for novices (myself included), I believe that means unscrew the innards of the valve, and there is a gizmo you can buy for doing that. Think I have one, somewhere...

    anyway, doing that let’s the air out, fast.
     
    #5 Mendel Leisk, Mar 29, 2021
    jerrymildred likes this.
  6. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2015
    10,963
    8,839
    0
    Location:
    New England
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Yeah, I have had enough pneumatic wheelbarrow tires which lost air, and the bead separated on its own. Even though the tire did not have a puncture, the bead would not seal again to inflate it back. I have changed most of those tires with flat-free solid core tires.
     
    #6 Salamander_King, Mar 29, 2021
    jerrymildred likes this.
  7. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,491
    14,100
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    There are tricks like the rope tourniquet around the tire's circumference, leaving the valve stem core out and blasting it with the chuck on the end of the hose sans the tire inflator fitting, etc. But some of the smaller tires like wheelbarrows and lawnmowers can be really hard to seat.

    [edit to add;] Some new tires have their beads slap solid against each other and they do not want to spread out since the air doesn't blow between them.
     
    #7 jerrymildred, Mar 30, 2021
    Salamander_King likes this.
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)