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How many sets of TPMS sensors?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by NewHybridOwner, Nov 14, 2019.

  1. NewHybridOwner

    NewHybridOwner Active Member

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    At the beginning of last winter I had Costco install snow tires on the original wheels (with the original TPMS sensors), and I kept my original (not OEM) tires. At the end of the winter, I bought a set of cheap alloy wheels from a local tire store (part of a regional chain) and supplied them with a set of Denso TPMS sensors (same as the OEM ones), and they installed the snow tires to these and reinstalled the original tires onto the original wheels.

    Now, not wanting to have to wait a couple of weeks for an appointment to get my wheels changed over again, I did the changeover myself. I was expecting the car's TPMS system to complain, since I assumed that it would no longer be detecting the original TPMS sensors. But still, 50 or so miles later, it is not complaining.

    I was under the impression that the Prius could store only one set of TPMS IDs. Am I mistaken? Or was it possible to clone the original IDs to the new sensors? Or are the new IDs automatically recognized? On the Denso Web site I see:

    "Quick, direct-fit installation (no cloning or programming)"

    and

    "Denso TPMS Sensors are direct plug-and-play with no programming or cloning needed - they're built to the specified vehicle right out of the box. With Denso, installation is a snap - the TPMS Sensor relearns just like an OE part, restoring the vehicle to its original condition. Direct monitoring with real time pressure signal transmission."
     
  2. NewHybridOwner

    NewHybridOwner Active Member

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    I jumped the gun: my wife has just texted me to tell me that the TPMS light is on.
     
  3. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    LOL but 50 miles is a long way. My PRIME with winter wheels (no TPMS sensor inside) detects summer wheels with TPMS stored in the shed 15 feet away from where I park my car and turns off the TPMS light every evening when I come home and park my car. In the morning when I leave, the TPMS light is off. It takes 15 miles (about 20 min) to detect there is no TPMS sensor and flashes the warning light and it stays on until I come home. Then repeat it again.;););)

    If you want to program ECU with the new set of TPMS, you will need TechStream or TPMS programming/relearning app or tool. I recently bought Autel MaxiTPMS TS508 to use it for our Nissan tire swap. Next time I change my winter tires I am going to install a new set of TPMS sensors for my PRIME.

    Screenshot 2019-10-14 at 12.29.54 AM.png
     
    #3 Salamander_King, Nov 14, 2019
    Last edited: Nov 14, 2019
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  4. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    It isn't the total distance, but rather the time of any single trip segment. It you operate for only short time segments all winter, it is conceivable that the TPMS light never turns on.
    The Gen3 Prius does store only a single set of IDs. Some car brands and models are plug-and-play to automatically recognize new IDs, but Prius is not among them.
     
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  5. NewHybridOwner

    NewHybridOwner Active Member

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    I am reasonably confident that I can take the car back to the tire store and have them re-register the new sensor IDs free of charge.
     
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  6. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Yap, that would be the least expensive. The question is, comes spring and you need to swap tires again, are you willing to pay to have the tire swapped and reprogramed?
     
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  7. NewHybridOwner

    NewHybridOwner Active Member

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    So far, on two different vehicles they've done the swaps free of charge because I bought the wheels there.
     
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  8. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Those are great tire shops. I use to buy tires from a local shop that offered free tire change over, but they stopped the offer a few years ago. Now, I buy tires online, have them mounted at Walmart, and swap them myself.
     
    #8 Salamander_King, Nov 14, 2019
    Last edited: Nov 14, 2019
  9. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    I have no technical information on the design parameters of TPMS sensors.

    I do know, however, that they have a definite life due to the fact that they are powered by a "long-life" internal battery. If I was designing them, they will be inactive when they leave the factory and be activated by a once-on stay-on pressure switch that does not allow the battery to be in play until they are installed. To maintain battery life, they are most likely not turn on, once activated, until the pressure within the tire falls below the set pressure.

    On that account, one the TPMS symbol shows on the dash, to preserve battery life and the life of the sensor, the sooner the pressure is set to turn off the sensor; the longer the TPMS sensor will last.

    Removing TPMS sensors effectively would quickly drain their batteries and render them useless, unless they can be stored in a pressurized container.

    As far as programming goes for both winter and summer tire sets, if Gen3 Prius models can only be programmed for one set, I'd find a tire dealer that can clone the sensors on the original set.
     
  10. ILuvMyPriusToo

    ILuvMyPriusToo Senior Member

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    In Techstream, the sensors continuously report the actual pressure in each tire so it isn't that they only turn on when the internal pressure drops.
     
  11. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    I don't think that's how most TPMS sensors off the car behave. If wheels with TPMS are removed and the car is registered with a different set of TPMS, those off car TPMS sensors effectively goes to sleep. An inactive TPMS sensor is not using any battery, and it will require activation by 125kHz ping from the activation tool when they are again needed to be registered with a car ECU. At least that's the way most of TPMS sensors work on Toyota cars that require OBDII re-learning. I think if the wheels with TPMS sensors are removed, and the car is not registered with a new set, the car sends a ping to sensors when they are nearby. This causes the activation of sensors in storage, but if not installed on a car, it will not communicate with the car after the car leaves. Thus not much drain on the battery. Some but certainly much less than having the wheel on the car all the time. The battery is designed to last 5-7 years on a car. Storing away from the car should not shorten that life span I would think.

    I have read that some TPMS sensors do not require ping from the activation tool and installing on the tire and inflating tire causes activation. Maybe some of the cars that have auto re-learning TPMS are this type. And for those TPMS sensors, maybe keeping it installed in the car might drain some battery, but again, it should not be communicating all the time since they are not on the car, so amount of battery use is likely to be much less than being on the car all the time.