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How to Use the TS508 to Relearn TPMS Sensors?

Discussion in 'Prime Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by DC Prime, Mar 28, 2021.

  1. DC Prime

    DC Prime New Member

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    I just bought a full second set of tires/rims/TPMS sensors from TireRack for my 2020 Prime so I can easily swap out summer/winter tires. I knew I'd have to reprogram the sensors after each swap. The dealership wanted $180 just to reprogram the sensors... But, based on posts here and elsewhere, I understood that I could do the relearn procedure myself using Autel's TS508 (I got the TS508wf which has a wifi option).

    However, though all the posts I've seen suggest the relearn procedure is pretty quick and easy, try as I might, I can't seem to get it to work. I don't know if its a problem with the TS508, with the sensors, or with the user (me)...

    I've updated the software on the tool. I go to "Advanced Mode" and select the 2020 Prime. I then chose the "Position Relearn" option. When the instructions pop on the screen, it clearly states, "A proper TPMS tool is required to learn new sensor IDs." This is what has me worried that I didn't get the right tool (despite several posts saying it was right). I go ahead and try the procedure anyway, but when I try to trigger the sensors, it doesn't work. It says "Receiving Data..." but after maybe 30sec, it comes back with a red X saying it can't read the sensor. I've tried it multiple times, to no avail. I've also tried using the "TPMS Diagnose" and "Program Sensor" options to see if I could read the sensors that way, but that doesn't work either, which makes me wonder if its the sensors. I have seen some internet posts where people had trouble with TireRack's sensors.

    Any ideas on what's going wrong/how to fix it?

    Thanks in advance!
     
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  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    So that would be twice yearly? Is it just me, or is this out of control??

    ^ Superfluous comment, but signs me up for the alerts on this thread, which really interests me. Sadly, that device on Amazon.ca is $365 CDN. :cry:

    it’d be interesting too, if there’s anything cheaper, with sufficient functionality.
     
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  3. DC Prime

    DC Prime New Member

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    I was able to find my TS508 on Ebay for quite a bit cheaper ~$120 plus shipping. If it can work, it'll save me quite a bit over the dealership (and, yes, that would have been $180 twice a year...).
     
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  4. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    What is your firmware update on your TS508? If you updated the firmware and your TS508 now has 2020 PP as a vehicle choice, it should work. However, when I used my TS508 on my 2020 PP, the most updated firmware did not have 2020 PP yet. Using earlier model PP (2016-2018) did not work, After contacting Autel support, I learned that software for earlier model PP was not compatible with the newer 2020 PP even though they use the same TPMS sensors. They suggested using the 2019 Corolla Hatchback. It worked. I have then tried several other vehicles and learned that regular Prius (2019-2020) also worked. This is the thread with my write-up of the use of TS508 on 2020 PP. 2nd set of Tires and Rims - TPMS Question | Page 2 | PriusChat

    This was the firmware version my TS508 came with:
    upload_2021-3-28_23-15-33.png

    After firmware update, I had this:
    upload_2021-3-28_23-16-21.png

    If your firmware is the same as mine, then try using 2019-2020 PRIUS. One caveat is that this vehicle selection has 5 TPMS ID#s. For the fifth spare tire TPMS which neither regular Prius nor Prius Prime has, you will have to cancel the reading to proceed to go to the next step.

    upload_2021-3-28_23-19-22.png
     
    #4 Salamander_King, Mar 28, 2021
    Last edited: Mar 28, 2021
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  5. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    I missed this part. Does your TS508 read OEM TPMS sensors ID but not TireRack's sensors? If that is the case, it is very possible that TireRack might have put the wrong sensors or unprogrammed sensors. I have used TS508 successfully on Toyota Prius Prime sensors and the other two vehicles I own, Honda CRZ and Nissan Pathfinder, but all sensors are OEM. I have never used TS508 on non-OEM sensors. In theory, it should also work on Autel's programmable MX TPMS sensors, but I do not know about its compatibility with other aftermarket TPMS sensors.
     
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  6. ETP

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

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    Same here! Have two new spare tires on two new Toyota Alloy rims (March Toyota Parts specials/ Rims were $161/TPMS $61/
    Yokohama Avid Ascend GT 195/65R15 91 H Tire
    $74). I bought two Toyota TPMS valve assemblies that were exact parts for 2021 as well as most Prius. When I got them mounted at Wal-Mart the nut on the TPMS was missing so they just put in regular valve stems.

    Can't believe they sold me wheels and TPMS with no top nut for the valve stem with no part number online for the nut

    Will never go back to Wal-Mart again for auto stuff as they took 2 hours trying to figure out how to get the tire bead to seal.

    Side note is the PP appears to have the same tires, wheels, TPMS, wheel nuts, center caps as most Prius.

    Never left by the road side dead again (LBTRSD).

    Spares stay in the garage for local emergency.

    Long trips, if that ever happens, the spare will be strapped in the back with the back seats down.

    Thought about rotating them into a tire cycle but will probably wait until my first side wall explosion.
     
    #6 ETP, Mar 29, 2021
    Last edited: Mar 29, 2021
  7. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    What you need is the TPMS service kit. Yes, it should have been a part of the TPMS sensor, but I would not be surprised if Toyota uses separate parts numbers for them. The TPMS service kit consists of an outer nut, washer, valve core, grommet, and cap. They are considered to be consumable just like tires, and they need to be replaced when tires are dismounted and re-mounted as in the case of a new tire installation (not when wheels/tires are installed as in the case of tire rotation). It is cheap and most of the tire place has generic parts for this, but seems to be Walmart tire shop do not stock this particular model. Yap, a Walmart tech told me that they did not have one when I had my Gen3 tire changed. It is cheap, I bought a case (10 in a box) for less than $20 with SH.

    BTW, why did you buy two spare tires/wheels? And why on OEM wheels and OEM TPMS??? Would have been much less expensive to get a generic steel wheel without TPMS. As a full-size spare, you can drive it indefinitely unlike 50 miles limit on compact spare tire, but you can repair the tire on the OEM wheel that came with the car at your convenience and replace it later.

    XS 17-20216AK - Roadrunner Distributing Roadrunner Distributing
    upload_2021-3-29_7-56-31.png
     
    #7 Salamander_King, Mar 29, 2021
    Last edited: Mar 29, 2021
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  8. DC Prime

    DC Prime New Member

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    My firmware version is a bit higher. Sensor version: v6.18 and vehicle version: v1.69. And the vehicle selection list does include 2020 for the Prime. So, it "should" work.

    At a minimum, it sounds like I have the process right with the TS508. The directions weren't great, so I wondered if there was some initial step I was missing.
     
  9. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    So, does your TS508 read OEM TPMS sensors ID but not TireRack's sensors? You do not have to do the re-learn procedure for checking, just use Quick mode to check if your TS508 is waking up the sensor and reading the data from it. If it reads OEM sensor, but not the one from TireRack, then it is likely the TireRack sensors are either incompatible or defective.
     
    #9 Salamander_King, Mar 29, 2021
    Last edited: Mar 29, 2021
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  10. DC Prime

    DC Prime New Member

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    Hopefully good news! I haven't tried the full relearn procedure. But, I did as suggested and tried scanning the original tires (not sure why I didn't think of that...). Sure enough, using the 2020 Prime setting, it couldn't read the sensor. I switched to Prius 2020 setting and it scanned right away. Prius 2020 setting got it to scan the new sensors too!

    After work, I'll try the full relearn procedure and report back. Fingers crossed!
     
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  11. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Sound like Autel screwed up the software protocol on the 2020 PP. Yap, try using 2020 PRIUS for re-learn. Just make sure that if it asks for the 5th TPMS, then you will have to trigger the reading up in air away from the other 4 wheels and then cancel it to proceed to the next step.
     
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  12. ETP

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

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    BTW/dealer search turns up nothing for service kit.

    Thanks for the tip. I was thinking of putting the two new tires and wheels on the back when the first OEM blows a sidewall. Known problem with the Dunlaps.
    These new rims are much nicer than the factory alloy wheels and look great without a wheel cover.
    Toyota Prius Prime 15 10-spoke alloy wheels - PT94547160 | Rohrich Toyota, Pittsburgh PA

    Over did everything if they are truly only spares.
     
    #12 ETP, Mar 29, 2021
    Last edited: Mar 29, 2021
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  13. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Oh, you splurged on 10 spoke alloy wheels. Yes, they are nice. I thought about them but could not justify paying extra money for my winter wheels. Ended up getting generic aftermarket alloy wheels and Xice winter tires as a set without TPMS. Cost less than $450 total for all four wheels and tires including SH and mounting and balancing from Discount Tires.

    But, wait a sec... You said you bought only two wheels??? If you wanted a better look, then why not all four???
     
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  14. ETP

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

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    Stop it/your are killing me/:LOL::cry::ROFLMAO:
     
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  15. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Now, come to think of... I have discovered the same thing myself.
    TPMS Service Kit | PriusChat
     
  16. ETP

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

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    All I have is the nut behind the steering wheel.

    BTW is this electronic reader the best deal so far or is there something else we should consider?
     
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  17. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Not sure what "nut behind the steering wheel" you are referring to? I was commenting about the TPMS service kit not being listed with the OEM parts number. This was true either for Toyota or Nissan. I believe those parts are "consumable" parts that may not exist as separate OEM parts. Buy in any case, if you buy a brand new OEM TPMS sensor from a dealer, they should be including everything required to install into the wheel. But they don't. :mad:
     
  18. ETP

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

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    Have a good link?
     
  19. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Here is one.
    Autel New Generation TPMS Diagnostic Tool TS508 - New | eBay

    I got mine from eBay too. But mine was with 8 Autel MX sensors. Have not used the sensors, but it's nice to have extra sensors when I need to change the tires on the wheels that currently have no sensors in them.
     
  20. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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