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TPMS or no TPMS?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by timespell, Mar 25, 2020.

  1. timespell

    timespell Member

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    Like many here, we have had TPMS problems. In my situation presently, I have 2010 rims on my car. Just love the style better because they look better and cleaner. Previously, I had 2nd generation rims, but they looked like crap with road salt corroding the finish. I had a set of rims and tires from my 2004 in the cellar, but they did not have the TPMS sensors. So I put them on and of course the TPMS light went on. Before thinking, I got rid of the wheels I replaced. So, I didn't want to spend a lot of money of buying and installing new Sensors on my wheels, not to forget the cost of programming them. So basically got use to the TPMS light always on.

    Now, when I got the 2010 wheels, which have TPMS sensors, of course the light stayed on. I tried the reset button under the dash, but to no avail. I had just gotten new tires installed on my car at Pepboys. So a few days latter I took the car back and asked if they would be able to reset the TPMS sensors to my car. They tried but failed. They told me that the sensors on my car would only work with with 2010 prius on.

    OK--now the question: Does anyone here know if it is possible to reprogram the 2010 sensors to work on my 08 Prius?
     
    #1 timespell, Mar 25, 2020
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Would a dealership service department answer that question, over the phone? Worth a try.
     
    #2 Mendel Leisk, Mar 25, 2020
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  3. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    Looks like you're golden - Tire Pressure Monitoring System Sensor - Toyota (42607-33012)
     
    #3 SFO, Mar 25, 2020
    Last edited: Mar 25, 2020
  4. timespell

    timespell Member

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    I just called them and they said that if the part #s are the same, then they should work. But of course the charge to do so would be $120. :(
     
    #4 timespell, Mar 25, 2020
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  5. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    They are lying. Toyota used the same TPMS sensors on all of the PRIUS models starting from 2006 Gen2 to the current 2020 PRIUS and PRIME. They are all same 315MHz sensor made by Pacific.

    That being said, it is possible that your sensors in your 2010 wheels are not OEM, but if it worked on 2010 Prius, it should work on 2008 model. My guess is one or more of sensors are dead.

    Screenshot 2020-03-25 at 3.50.20 PM.png
     

    Attached Files:

    #5 Salamander_King, Mar 25, 2020
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  6. timespell

    timespell Member

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    And they said even if they couldn't reprogram them it would still be $120.
     
    #6 timespell, Mar 25, 2020
  7. timespell

    timespell Member

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    Yupper, I was thinking the same that one or more are dead! I should have checked to see if my spare has a sensor! That might make the difference!
     
    #7 timespell, Mar 25, 2020
  8. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Whatever you do, don't take your car to a dealer for any TPMS sensor issue. They charge way too much. Believe me, I spent over $800 for 4 sensors on my first car with direct TPMS (2008 HCH). The same work can be performed at any local tire shop for ~$50/sensor. The only thing is that most tire shops do not stock Toyota OEM sensors, so you may have to special order through them. Alternatively, first, you can take your car to a tire shop to find out which sensor(s) is(are) bad, and buy the sensor(s) online cheap and let them install it later.
     
    #8 Salamander_King, Mar 25, 2020
  9. timespell

    timespell Member

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    Yes, Dealerships charge way too much. With their equipment, they could probably do the job in less than 20 minutes and charge you $120 for an hour!
     
    #9 timespell, Mar 25, 2020
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  10. timespell

    timespell Member

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    And how do you do that?
     
    #10 timespell, Mar 25, 2020
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    The compact spare tires don't have sensor. OEM full size spares (certain markets) probably do; they're shown being used in the rotation pattern. I think there's room for five in the car's memory?
     
    #11 Mendel Leisk, Mar 25, 2020
  12. timespell

    timespell Member

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    Thanks as that solves one possible problem as my is compact!
     
    #12 timespell, Mar 25, 2020
  13. RobertK

    RobertK Member

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    If the 2010 sensors are original they are at the end of their life anyway. 10 years or 100k miles is considered a good life for TPMS batteries. I'd probably just wait until the tires are ready to be replaced and let the tire shop do the work. I let Costco do mine the last time I bought tires. The sensors were $45 each with no installation charge since they had the tires off the rims already.
     
    #13 RobertK, Mar 25, 2020
  14. timespell

    timespell Member

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    "mine" sorry
     
    #14 timespell, Mar 25, 2020
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  15. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    Looks like you're golden - Tire Pressure Monitoring System Sensor - Toyota (42607-33012)
     
    #15 SFO, Mar 25, 2020
  16. timespell

    timespell Member

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    Thanks and good advice. They have cheap ones on ebay. I have a 2nd generation parts mechanic out my way who buys prius' and parts them out mostly on line. And he also works on them. I just text him to see what he has and what he can do! He charges around $50 per hour!
     
    #16 timespell, Mar 25, 2020
  17. timespell

    timespell Member

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    I believe the car the 2010 rims came from had fairly low miles. The guy just wanted to upgrade to more fancy rims! I bought the set for only $75. But the tires needed replacing.
     
    #17 timespell, Mar 25, 2020
  18. Rmay635703

    Rmay635703 Senior Member

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    My tpms haven’t worked in years, I just check the tire pressure manually
     
    #18 Rmay635703, Mar 25, 2020
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  19. timespell

    timespell Member

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    That is what I have been doing. But if I can get mine reset on the cheap, it would be worth it. But just like you, I have been driving with mine on for several years before I decided to get the 2010 rims.
     
    #19 timespell, Mar 25, 2020
  20. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    If you have techstream, and know the tpms id for each of the sensors, you might be able to pair them yourself on the cheap.
     
    #20 SFO, Mar 25, 2020
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