Tire Pressure Monitor, where is the sensor?

[EDIT: FYI, THIS IS THE OTHER SYSTEM TOYOTA USES. THIS SYSTEM IS NOT, I REPEAT NOT USED ON THE PRIUS. JUST TO CLEAR UP ANY CONFUSION. READ ON IF YOU LIKE.]

none of the above.

TPM works through the ABS system, counting the revolutions of each wheel and checks it against a stored vaule. if there's a change that persists for more than a minute or so, it alerts you.

handy info for when you do this:

there are 2 ways to reset the system. one is a reset: used when you add air to a tire or if you take one single tire off for say a tire repair. when the light is on, you press and hold the tire button until the light goes out. however, when rotating or replacing tires, the system has to be reinitialized. after the reset procedure, press and hold the tire button again. the light will blink 3x and go out. then the car has to be driven about 45-50 miles for the computer to re-learn the new vaules. you have to do it when you rotate your tires because of the difference in tire wear.

that's how all the toyota cars work.

the trucks work using a sensor in the valvestem. you can tell those because the valvestems are metal, not the regular rubber. there is no reset button for those.

there's a bunch of extra stuff you didn't expect to hear but i hope it's helpful. once i get hubby talking he just goes on :lol:

 

I have detailed pics from the owners manual on this system.

I can email them to you guys but they are 1.7MB-2.XMB in size so can't post them here (5MB limit right?).

Just PM me with your email if you'd like.

My Sienna has the "old" system and looks like the 06 Prius has the "new" system.
When looking at my Prius today (it's at my dealer 50 miles away), I did see what looked to be some metal along with the rubber on the valve stem.

And, the manual (thought about snagging it and taking it home , does say it's equiped with a digital sensor/transmitter "that complies with" blah blah, blah, some laws.

Aaron

 

I'm picking up our '06 Prius in about 2 weeks. I've been shopping for snow tires and winter wheels. This issue with sensors for TPMS has me confused.

Are there any restrictions on the type of winter wheel or snow tire because of TPMS?

Will the local tire shop be able to do the work, or will it take someone more knowledgable to deal with the sensors?

Do I need to move the sensors, or could they just be left on the stock wheels for non-winter use? Would that be a waste?

Can a person purchase an additional set of sensors for winter wheels? Would that be ridiculously expensive?

Thanks for the feedback!
-Jim

 

Yikes, I think you may be in for a long haul on this issue Jack06.

When you get the pics I just sent ya, you'll see that there are a lot of things that will cause the system to not work, even at all.

Good luck!

Aaron

 

Galaxee,

I do not believe this is correct. Each wheel has a TPS that transmits the pressure to a receiver.

I am about to buy new wheels and winter tires... and I will be ordering 4 sensors as well. I have no idea how much they cost yet.

/Jim

 

I believe galaxee is correct on the older systems because my Sienna has that. And, the new system has a digital sensor/transmitter.

In each valve stem.

 

Aaron,

Thanks for the pics. The material was very interestng and helped to fill in some of the blanks. I guess I still have the same basic questions though, plus a few more:

Are there any restrictions on the type of winter wheel or snow tire because of TPMS?

Will the local tire shop be able to do the work, or will it take someone more knowledgable to deal with the sensors?

Do I need to move the sensors each fall and spring, or could they just be left on the stock wheels for non-winter use? Would that be a waste?

Can a person purchase an additional set of sensors for winter wheels? Would that be ridiculously expensive? Is "registering" them with the TPMS controller something only the dealer could do? Can you have all 8 "registered" with the system, or would you need to reprogram the controller each fall and spring?

I have to call the service manager at the dealer today, so I think I'm going to see what he has to say.

Thanks again,
-Jim

 

You're welcome Jack06.

Good luck with getting your answers as I don't have a clue for ya!

Aaron

 

yes, i stand corrected. previously, toyota had only put the valve stem sensors in their truck lines and we based our assumption on that.

this is the first car line that has the valve stem sensors.

 

Wow, that fact alone would make CAN-VIEW worth it to me.

 

What is "CAN-VIEW"?

 

Question: is the "resetting" of the tire sensors -- i.e., when air is added to a tire, or the tires are rotated -- the same under the 2006 Prius, as it was in the older Toyota sensors?

I.e., are Galaxee's instructions for resetting the tires still valid?

 

that's only for the ABS based system. it will be different. i can get DH to explain those if someone doesn't post info by tonight.

 

Thanks Doc!