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2010 prius- is there a separate warning for TPMS faults than low pressure indicator?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by wpease, Sep 28, 2023.

  1. wpease

    wpease Junior Member

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    Hi
    I've had long running problems since 2022 with the pressure gauge indicating low pressure even when all tires seemed to be at adequate pressure. Between June 2022 and December 2022, went to tires plus (They were recommended by my mechanic and as the dealer charged about 2000$ and these charged about 500), got all 4 TPM Sensors replaced. In December again had the sam symptoms- new tires, all at the right pressure or above, and the tire pressure gauge was lit. They replaced one faulty sensor at that time, but the symptoms have occurred three more times.
    Most recently-today- the Tires plus person says the low pressure gauge is not the right indicator for a TPM sensor issue.
    Is there a separate warning light for the 2010 prius that indicates a TPM sensor fault (as opposed to a baseless low tire pressure warning?)
    thanks
    Nalini
     
  2. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    If the light just comes right on and stays, it is telling you about the tire pressure.

    If it starts blinking, blinks for a minute, then stays on, it is telling you about a problem in the system.

    It's in the owners' manual.

    tpms.png
     
  3. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    One minute of TPMS flashing at startup indicates one or more of your TPMS sensors are not working. The number one cause is a bad sensor battery.

    Another test is use of Techstream or other TPMS scanner to look for non functional sensor ids.

    In the pic below, note ID2 is not reporting valid data. ID5 is the spare but is not configured because the “Main Tire” parameter is set for 4 tires, not 5. prius tpms ID2 OUT 2023-03-08_22-46-53.jpeg
    Note sensor battery status is also read. In this example ID3 was low and about to fail.

    When Toyota TPMS sensors are changed they have a unique serial number / ID Code which must be written into the vehicle ecu.

    It is possible to clear the TPMS fail code with a scanner but it will return after ~20 minutes of driving.

    Some aftermarket LED headlights, Cameras, GPS devices etc can create enough rf interference to block the rf (radio frequency) TPMS sensor signal, sometimes only after 20 minutes or more of continuous driving. Often the front sensors will be blocked more because the TPMS receiver is in the back. Tire shops usually don’t understand this problem and the rf sensor operation often works using their rf test devices.

    A low pressure indication will create a steady TPMS light when you start driving unless it drops significantly. In that case it records immediately even if not driving.

    ID1-4 can be in any location, front or back, on gen3s. To determine where ID2 is you can monitor the pressures with Techstream and then lower one tire pressure at a time by 10-15 pounds. You then see that change on the scanner and repeat as necessary for each tire. Or you use a specialized TPMS RF wireless scanner and directly read each sensor with the rf scanner next to the tire. This is the method many shops use.


    Bonus
    Which sensors are on the front?

    IMG_2986.jpeg

    één en vier zijn heter omdat ze aan de voorkant zitten
     
    #3 rjparker, Sep 28, 2023
    Last edited: Sep 28, 2023
  4. wpease

    wpease Junior Member

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    thanks. As to which in front, at a guess-ID1 and 4?
    did you mean one minute of the low pressure gauge (you;d written TPMS) flashing after startup? there is no TPMS gauge on the 2010 dash ..I checked the manual. Each time mine came up though it stayed steadily lit.
    i dont have the gear to check the readouts you show
    Id gone to Tires plus but Im afraid might have to head back to the dealer if this happens again. How long might aftermarket TPM sensors last?
    thanks again
    Nalini
     
  5. wpease

    wpease Junior Member

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  6. wpease

    wpease Junior Member

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    thank you! When I posted my car with manual was in the shop and i checked it first thing after i picked the car up --but, Im pretty sure there was no flashing even when the shop replaced one of their after market add ins. I will watch carefully for it next time though.

    Is there anyway on the Prius 2010 to reset the tire pressure sensor? There was a figure in the manual implying this could be done but I have not been able to spot any button that might be used for this.
    Thanks again
    Nalini
     
  7. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    TPMS light

    Pushbutton to the right of the obd2 connector under the dash. With ignition On press until the TPMS light blinks three times. This adjusts the “Initial Threshold of Low Pressure” per sensor. Usually about 75% of current pressures.

    It won’t reset a bad sensor.
     
  8. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    People always want that button to be some kind of a problem reset. It's really a button for teaching the car what pressure to remember you like in your tires.

    So, a common story is:

    • you have some problem with your TPMS
    • you wonder if the SET button is some kind of problem reset
    • so you press it, teaching the car that whatever pressure your problem TPMS might be reading right now is the pressure you want
    • now you have two problems.

    ptb.png
     
  9. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    Assuming Gen3 is about same as Gen2, you can get the TPMS light to go off (temporarily) just giving fake ID numbers or mistaken ID numbers. The car needs about 20-25 minutes continuous operation to reset computer to snoop out that an TPMS ID number is not giving fresh tire pressure data. Then the TPMS light goes on and will stay on next time you start car. Bottom line is that it can be confusing but it sounds like you either have a bad TPMS, or if its new, a bad TPMS ID number inserted into the car's computer (eg; via Techstream), such that the TPMS is not talking to the car's computer.
     
    #9 wjtracy, Sep 29, 2023
    Last edited: Sep 29, 2023