Older tire pressure sensors

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bowlofturtle

Joined
Jun 25, 2009
Messages
973
Location
Chicago
My father's 2009 Camry has a blinking light.

Google pretty much points to a sensor or two having a dead battery. I'm meeting up with a friend with techstream to confirm how many are dead.

Looking up sensors, rockauto has Denso sensors for about $35 each.

Assuming sensors have a 5-15 year life span. The 2009 is most likely on all original sensors, would you guys still just replace the bad ones or just do all 4.
 
I'd save the $10 each and buy the Schrader brand. That'll be a $50 savings for you right off the top.

Yes, verify that you have a spare sensor and go ahead and replace all five sensors if applicable. The sensors are already programmed but you're still going to have to pay a shop to install them and then relearn them to your car. This will be a rather expensive repair but you only do it once every ten years.
 
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I wonder how much a temperate climate, with hot, humid Summers combined with frigid Winters, (Chicago), takes away from their life? Especially when compared to a much more constant, mild and drier climate? (San Diego).
 
I ‘d do all four the next time you are buying new tires as long as you feel you can wait that long. I’m not familiar with the spare issue. Some old timers will say “darn blasted we never had them in 1962“ and will just be dispensing bad advice.They are a modern safety system. Having said that I guess you should replace them sooner than later and up your tire pressure checks while you wait for the opportunity.
 
billt460 said:
I wonder how much a temperate climate, with hot, humid Summers combined with frigid Winters, (Chicago), takes away from their life? Especially when compared to a much more constant, mild and drier climate? (San Diego).
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Good question. I lost one at about 9 years, so replaced all four when I bought new tires. I’m on year 13 now on the vehicle. My temps are similar to Chicago. I also bought a new set for my winter tires 3 years ago. I think the “randomness” of the failures dominate over ambient temperature issues.
 
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They can be replaced without breaking the entire bead. They only have to break the bead where the sensor is located. The last time I was at Discount Tire they told me that the wheels even remain in balance most of the time.
 
bowlofturtle said:
Assuming sensors have a 5-15 year life span. The 2009 is most likely on all original sensors, would you guys still just replace the bad ones or just do all 4.
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We considered doing all four on sweetie's 2007 Prius when two of her sensors went out, however, the tire shop suggested just replacing the bad ones. There'd be little savings by buying all four and sweetie would have a sunk cost greater than she was comfortable with at the time. But the biggest deterrent was that the remaining good sensors could still last years ... they go bad somewhat randomly. She chose not to spend the $$ and now, more than a year later, it's clear that was the right choice. YMMV
 
For the states like PA that do annual inspections I suspect the TPMS system would need to be fault free to pass ?
 
DBMaster said:
They can be replaced without breaking the entire bead. They only have to break the bead where the sensor is located. The last time I was at Discount Tire they told me that the wheels even remain in balance most of the time.
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This is regularly done on the patrol cars where I work I have seen it in person and thought they were kidding but apparently practice makes perfect. They just empty the tire of air by pulling the valve core out first then the kid sprayed some tire lube on the edge of rim and used a tire lever to pry tire edge down and another guy quickly undid the nut on outside and grabbed the sensor off the inside where the gap was. Installed the reverse way and aired back up. No need for rebalance they claim they have tried to and never seen the machine claim there was an issue unless the tire was very worn.
 
64bawagon said:
For the states like PA that do annual inspections I suspect the TPMS system would need to be fault free to pass ?
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That is not enforced in most corner shops as the tests are focused on actual tire inspection tread depth and then the emissions is only driven by the OBD2 computer which does not see the TPMS apparently. I would hope a legit dealership would fail you though.
 
I dont think people realize the actual long term cost of keeping all these electronics in working order on a 5yr plus car. Electronics love to sit in a nice 70 degree climate controlled lab but when you put them out in the cold, cruel world they no likey. ;)
 
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