Idea to fool the tire pressure sensors

Someone on here already came up with a solution using pvc tubes (DIY) and all. The real solution would be to use TechStream to remove the entries altogether I would think.

 

I just live with the TPMS warning light!

 

We talked about this a few months ago. I am going to build one when I need new tires. Here are a few other pics.

 

The sensors must be paired to the car. This is done at the factory or it can be done by the dealer.

If the sensors get below a certain point the light on the dash comes on. When you fill the tire back up it takes about 15 minutes for the car to figure it out. You can press the button under the steering wheel to reset the light on the dash faster.

There are two types of pressure sensors, absolute and relative. An absolute sensor measures pressure relative to an internal reference. A relative sensor measures the difference from one side of the sensor to the other. Example pressure from inside the tire compared to outside the tire.

The TPMS sensors use absolute sensors. That is why they still work in a pressure chamber like the ones in the picture above.

 

Why would you want to fool the TPMS system?

 

I think a lot of people who use winter tires mounted on wheels would like to be able to change without the TPMS light coming on. The only solution now is to take the car to the dealer twice a year and pay them $50 to $100 to plug their Techstream in and change sensor numbers, or put a piece of black tape over the light.

Toyota could have solved the problem by providing owners with a way to change the sensor numbers, or by making room in the software so it would use 4 out of 8 sensors vice just 4 as it is now.

 

Like Tumbelweed mentioned. I have snow tires and rims for my Prius. To add the TPMS sensors it would cost me $360 for the new sensors. Then twice a year it would cost $75 to have them reprogrammed. Over the 10 years I plan on owning the vehicle it would cost me $2,160.00

The sensors can take up to 15 minutes to report back that your tire is low or the sensors are not in the car. My old tires are in the garage. Most the time the warning light is off when I leave the house. It takes about 15 minutes before it starts blinking. If I make a lot of short trips it never comes on.

I am 43 years old and have been driving for 27 years. I have done just fine realizing when one of my tires is getting low.

 

Just put a small piece of electrical tape over the TPMS icon when you have the winter tires on. Remove it when change back.
It cost money to remove the TPMS from the summer wheel and remount the tires. Why bother.

 

To answer a previous question, the setpoint for the sensors is set by pressing the button under the steering wheel. In theory you should be able to remove the sensors, place them in the glove box at atmospheric pressure, and press the button to recalibrate them to atmospheric pressure.

Having not tried this, I don't know if there is a lower limit to the sensors. Perhaps the system will not let you reset all the way down to atmospheric pressure.

Tom

 

Could someone test this by letting all the air out of a tire, resetting the sensors and seeing if the alarm goes away? or do you actually have to drive the car before the reset takes effect?

 

I can't test this but wish I could. I am trying to figure out if I buy the TPMS programming tool from Ateq, if I remove all of the codes will the light go out?

I asked Ateq but haven't heard back;

ATEQ Corp.
35980 Industrial Rd. Livonia, MI 48150
Direct: 1-734-838-3112
Fax: 1-734-838-0644
Cell: 1-734-612-0355

www.tpms-tool.com

 

Yes, you can test it that way. You don't need to drive.

Tom

 

When I reconfigured my TPMS ECU for a 5th sensor, the TPMS light came on. It didn't go out until I also had the sensor actually installed inside the spare tire with pressure. So I don't think resetting the TPMS ECU, even with all sensors at zero PSI, is going to disable it.

I really think someone should just unplug a TPMS ECU and see what happens. It might work. On the other hand, it might get some other ECU really unhappy about the TPMS ECU going missing. And you may need a Techstream to get it all back working... As I said, someone else should try it... I've used up more than my quota of lucky stars...

More info on spare tire TPMS is in http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...roubleshooting/26135-tpms-summary-thread.html and in http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii-2010-prius-technical-discussion/73944-obdii-codes.html

 

I have been driving around with the light on, doesn't beep or anything. What is the big deal? Stick a piece of black tape on the yellow light?

 

The light sort of escapes around the black tape and you can see the light from certain angles (when you enter the car). It would be nice to be able to just turn it off!

 

Blame it on the morons who can't feel or check a flat tire

 

You have to check your tires? I thought if you filled them with nitrogen they could never go flat.





:doh:

Tom