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Sensor for low tire pressure

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by jch, Dec 15, 2009.

  1. jch

    jch Junior Member

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    First I am new to Prius- bought 2008 (non touring) from Hertz
    Afew days ago I had new Bridgestone winter tires mounted by Firestone (Rochester NY) when I left the low tire pressure indicator was on.
    I called the Firestone store and was told the light should go off after it recalibrates after about 20 miles. I was told to come back in if the light still was on.
    A hundred miles later I returned to the store and was told by the store mgr said what the clerk said was not ture and I would have to go to a dealer and have the sensor reset.
    I called a Toyota dealer and was told that they would have to run an $80 diagnostic and the repair could cost up to $300.
    I was going to go back to Firestone and confront the mgr that the mechanic likely cause the issue by damaging one of the sensors (dealer said this was a possibility)
    Since this vehicle is a different brand of cat I figured I better learn more about this sensor before I start pointing fingers. I have found forums very helpful so here I am (clueless) asking for help from you folks. thanks in advance- much appreciated
     
    #1 jch, Dec 15, 2009
  2. morguex

    morguex Junior Member

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    JCH,

    I don't know if it's true for the 2009, but my 2010 Owner's manual has a very simple procedure for resetting the TPMS.
     
    #2 morguex, Dec 15, 2009
  3. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Welcome to PriusChat! For starters, you'll get more responses if you posted it in the troubleshooting forum (I've already moved it for you).


    Are the tires being mounted on separate rims or on the same rim? Note that only 4 sets of sensors are allowed to be paired with the car at any time so if you have them mounted on separate rims with tire sensors, they need to be paired and that you'll have to take to the dealer to do IIRC.

    If they're mounted on the same rim, then no pairing is needed. However, I would suggest checking your tire pressure vs. what you had previously before switching tires. The sensor doesn't self-calibration. YOU have to set the tire pressures you want and then YOU have to press the "SET" button under the steering wheel to tell the computer that this is the pressures you want it to use as a benchmark.


    IOW, if your previous tires were set at 40PSI (just as example) and now the store mounted the winter tires and set the pressures to 28 PSI all around, then the light will definitely come on because there's > 25% loss.
     
    #3 Tideland Prius, Dec 15, 2009
    Fireplug likes this.
  4. Oddest_raindrop

    Oddest_raindrop New Member

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    The other thing is that if the tires are low and the light is on you add air and with in the first minute if the pressure is correct the light will go out with out any other procedures.
    The button under the dash is only needed if a new pressure is to be set. I had my tires set at 42 and when they got to 35/36 the light came on.
     
    #4 Oddest_raindrop, Dec 15, 2009
  5. jch

    jch Junior Member

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    Thanks to everyone for your excellant advice and for getting me to the correct forum.
    I will be trying what was suggested
     
    #5 jch, Dec 16, 2009
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