Tyre Presure Sensor Warning Pesky Light.

[rav4man123]

Hi folks,

Firstly id like to say thanks to the guys who helped me with my emission light problem. Its sorted now and going great.

Now can anyone tell me how to bump off the completely ball bursting flashing tyre presure warning light?

The fact that its flashing means that its not operational but all the tyres are fine and there is no spare.

its a pain in the backside and i just want to zap it out completely or reset it if possible so if anyone could point in the right direction i would be very gratefull.

cheers

[Davrav]

Hi folks,

Firstly id like to say thanks to the guys who helped me with my emission light problem. Its sorted now and going great.

Now can anyone tell me how to bump off the completely ball bursting flashing tyre presure warning light?

The fact that its flashing means that its not operational but all the tyres are fine and there is no spare.

its a pain in the backside and i just want to zap it out completely or reset it if possible so if anyone could point in the right direction i would be very gratefull.

cheers

Are the wheels on the correct, coded corners? If they have been swopped around you will continue to get the warning I believe

[MarsKy]

You're not Billy from Whitburn are you?

Anyway, I was going to suggest Anchorman should create and pin a "T180 Tyres/ Wheels/ TPMS/ Support Ring" thread (like wot Bothy suggested), as they seem to be take up most of the forum's threads. Just add to that thread to keep the forum tidy?

I might even do a write-up of the Bridgestone setup and options - get Big Kev to do the proof-reading and use his unique thesaurus.

Now, on some other Toyota forums (fora?) it says you can't do it directly. But they have produced a hardware by-pass to do it. But I don't know if the TPMS is the same system, as it's an American website (if only I could find the link...)

However, a recent post by Monitorlizard (T180 Tyre Replacement Options Stupid run flat tyres + specialist tools ) says getting rid of the light is "dosable" by a dealer.

If Monitorlizard could expand on this, and/ or knows the cost, it would go some way to keeping a lot of people happy (me included - snow tyres and alloys without TPMS get fitted tomorrow).

[rav4man123]

Hi,

as far as i know the tyres havent been swopped about. the light was reset at the dealer last week and was fine untill today the swine.

Im not billy from witburn im up the west coast of scotland. Il call the dealer again and ask if its possible and no doubt the robbing gits will charge me £65 for the inconveinence again.

I love toyotas ive had a load of them but these farty stupid gadgets are just taking the joy away from another wise cracking little rav t180.

run flats are ******s.

[MarsKy]

I don't have my manual to hand, but I think for Toyota, a steady light indicates low tyre pressure and a flashing light indicates a problem with the system itself (e.g. the sensors might not be fitted?)

Run-flats are sound in principle. But not cost effective in the long-run.

[shcm]

There's this on the fjcruiser forum:

http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forums/stereo-electronics-electrical/112388-how-disable-tpms-light.html

Which pull the instrument pack input up to 12V.

That was my initial thought with the RAV, but looking at the workshop manual on techdoc, It's not clear that it is quite that simple. It might be, but if it is, there are conflicting statements in the stuff on techdoc.

My thoughts now are that it just needs a single resistor down to ground, but I've not yet had the opportunity to get a DVM and/or scope on a T180 to confirm this or calc the value needed.

I know we had a toyota tech on here claiming that wheels have to stay in their respective position, or the light comes on, but I'm not convinced for this system. They probably do have to stay in position, for the toyota diag tester to identify a fault (such as a faulty valve) in the correct wheel, but I can't see how moving the wheel would affect this system otherwise. As I see it, it just isn't higher spec enough to identify wheel positions.

[Davrav]

There's this on the fjcruiser forum:

http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forums/stereo-electronics-electrical/112388-how-disable-tpms-light.html

Which pull the instrument pack input up to 12V.

That was my initial thought with the RAV, but looking at the workshop manual on techdoc, It's not clear that it is quite that simple. It might be, but if it is, there are conflicting statements in the stuff on techdoc.

My thoughts now are that it just needs a single resistor down to ground, but I've not yet had the opportunity to get a DVM and/or scope on a T180 to confirm this or calc the value needed.

I know we had a toyota tech on here claiming that wheels have to stay in their respective position, or the light comes on, but I'm not convinced for this system. They probably do have to stay in position, for the toyota diag tester to identify a fault (such as a faulty valve) in the correct wheel, but I can't see how moving the wheel would affect this system otherwise. As I see it, it just isn't higher spec enough to identify wheel positions.

I think this may be the link Marksy is referring to but for a different model:LINK

It sort of confirms your thinking.

I do like the idea of stuffing the sensors in a small wheelbarrow wheel and keeping it inflated in the car. Nice bit of lateral thinking

[MarsKy]

My thoughts now are that it just needs a single resistor down to ground, but I've not yet had the opportunity to get a DVM and/or scope on a T180 to confirm this or calc the value needed.

That's the hardware setup I remember seeing. Someone made up a switch to allow it to be turned-on/ off when changing back to the OEM setup.

I know we had a toyota tech on here claiming that wheels have to stay in their respective position, or the light comes on, but I'm not convinced for this system.

I rotated my tyres months ago, TPMS has never came on.

The sensors/ valve are bl**dy expensive to buy and install, if going through Toyota (£775 I was quoted). But it's not a sophisticated system. My Toyota dealer hates them though, "I'll give it a try" he says, as they keep breaking the valve stem when fitting them.

[shcm]

I rotated my tyres months ago, TPMS has never came on.

Thanks Marsky, that's what I'd expect. I think the point is probably that when the valves are coded into the TPMS ECU, they each get put in their own "position ID" memory location in the ECU. It makes no difference to the detection of a low pressure tyre, but probably takes the dealer longer to find a faulty valve or valve with low Battery etc, if the wheels (and therefore valves) have been swapped around from their "coded" position in the ECU. That's probably why they like the wheels staying in the same position on the vehicle.

I could be wrong, but can't see any other explanation.

[local hero]

I rotated my tyres months ago, TPMS has never came on.

Thanks Marsky, that's what I'd expect. I think the point is probably that when the valves are coded into the TPMS ECU, they each get put in their own "position ID" memory location in the ECU. It makes no difference to the detection of a low pressure tyre, but probably takes the dealer longer to find a faulty valve or valve with low Battery etc, if the wheels (and therefore valves) have been swapped around from their "coded" position in the ECU. That's probably why they like the wheels staying in the same position on the vehicle.

I could be wrong, but can't see any other explanation.

Please excuse my ignorance, but never having seen this system, does it simply flash up an error code which tells you that you have a faulty tyre? does it not identify which tyre has lost pressure? The reason i ask is that Hoovie fitted an aftermarket kit to his 4.2 and that itemised each individual wheel + i am pretty sure it gave a constant readout on a little screen eg.. FL 36psi FR 35psi RL 32psi RR33psi I also believe there was a facility for monitoring the spare as well I don't think it was terribly expensive either Stew

[shcm]

Stew, I believe there is just a single warning lamp, nothing else, but T180 owners should confirm!

Yep, nowhere near as informative as Hoovie's aftermarket solution.

[MarsKy]

Stew, I believe there is just a single warning lamp, nothing else, but T180 owners should confirm!

Yes - a steady light for a tyre problem, a flashing light for TPMS system problem.

That's what I meant when I said it wasn't sophisticated :D £775 for a relatively simple TPMS.

[MarsKy]

Actually, I think the real reason the TPMS is there, is a nod to American legislation and future European legislation, which is more concerned about the environment and emission/ fuel savings if everyone were to run about with the correct tyre pressure. Safety comes second, which is probably why the system is "simple" and the thing takes so long to come on after a puncture.

Having said that, there are simpler and cheaper warning systems - I used to have the valve caps which showed your tyre pressure. Crude, but they worked.

[wardude]

I hate the TPMS. I was gonna just get new tyres fitted when they need changing and get the support ring taken off etc etc. However one of my valves is a bit corroded and i aint paying £120 for a new one so was gonna get rid of them all, pop normal valves on and just live with the tyre light staying on. However I have been told that come next year a car will fail its MOT if any dash warning lights are on. What do i do now then??? !Removed! Toyota

[stewyinpagham]

As the valves are coded to the cars ECU one wonders if the ECU could simply have 'no codes' entered?? I'm sure that the Jap bean counters didn't create a separate ECU just for T180?

[MarsKy]

There is wisdom in this here forum - sometimes you just need to search for it

See ormi's old post

[shcm]

Yes, that's what I remember. The IDs don't automatically relate to a particular wheel position though. As I read it, Toyota are just trying to inforce a procedure so that they do relate to a position on the vehicle, to save the dealer time/money.

[RAV4Len]

I had TPM on my Skoda and they worked off the ABS system/wheel rotation.

No help to me when I had a double blow out in the Lake District and it did not

even register :)

[Monitorlizard]

Hi MarsKy,

relating to the TPMS problem.Having spoken to the service manager at my local Toyota dealer,Telford,about changing my Duellers to winter tyres,I asked him if there would be any problems relating to the internal ring & also warning lights.He said that it would not be an issue to remove the ring & that he could disable,(not dosable,my typo),the TPMS light.So it`s certainly an option,if done by the right people.I think that now RFT are not fitted as standard,Toyota want to distance themselves from the things,they will no doubt eventually get rid of the machines,& if people still use RFT,will be told to change.

[MarsKy]

Hi MarsKy,

relating to the TPMS problem.Having spoken to the service manager at my local Toyota dealer,Telford,about changing my Duellers to winter tyres,I asked him if there would be any problems relating to the internal ring & also warning lights.He said that it would not be an issue to remove the ring & that he could disable,(not dosable,my typo),the TPMS light.So it`s certainly an option,if done by the right people.I think that now RFT are not fitted as standard,Toyota want to distance themselves from the things,they will no doubt eventually get rid of the machines,& if people still use RFT,will be told to change.

LOL. I took "dosable" to mean turning the light of was do-able, not disable.

Excellent news though. I'll need to speak to my service manager after Christmas. Maybe get him to speak to Telford's if he pleads ignorance.

I can't believe they can't disable the light. There must be T180s in Germany, and they have to go to winter tyres, so they probably wouldn't put up with the warning light.

And I doubt a software engineer would design an ECU program not to give them the option of disabling the light.

I suspect that un-registering the sensors might give the signal to the ECU that there's no need for the warning light. Just speculating though.

Personal preference would be to install a switch to turn the light off when running without the tyre sensors.

[wardude]

Just rang a Toyota dealer up here and they say the tyre light CANT be disabled. I also asked how much it would be for a new tyre valve and sensor as mine is corroded. You ready for this.....£166 plus VAT

[MarsKy]

Just rang a Toyota dealer up here and they say the tyre light CANT be disabled. I also asked how much it would be for a new tyre valve and sensor as mine is corroded. You ready for this.....£166 plus VAT

Yes - I was quoted £125 for sensor + £40 fitting + VAT on all that.

At some point, may be around the 7 year mark, the batteries will die and all 4 sensors will be looking to be replaced.

All to tell you one of your tyres has lost significant pressure. It tells you this an hour after it happens, and it won't tell you which one. You wonder if some department at Toyota devises these cunning systems to eke out the money from your pocket?

Need MonitorLizard to find out whether disabling the light is by software, hardware, or black tape over the light!

[local hero]

Just rang a Toyota dealer up here and they say the tyre light CANT be disabled. I also asked how much it would be for a new tyre valve and sensor as mine is corroded. You ready for this.....£166 plus VAT

Yes - I was quoted £125 for sensor + £40 fitting + VAT on all that.

At some point, may be around the 7 year mark, the batteries will die and all 4 sensors will be looking to be replaced.

All to tell you one of your tyres has lost significant pressure. It tells you this an hour after it happens, and it won't tell you which one. You wonder if some department at Toyota devises these cunning systems to eke out the money from your pocket?

Need MonitorLizard to find out whether disabling the light is by software, hardware, or black tape over the light!

Marksy, don't know if this is any good but worth a try even with shipping LINK Stew

[MarsKy]

Marksy, don't know if this is any good but worth a try even with shipping LINK Stew

USD 35 v GBP 125!

Anyway, I've added the URL to my RAV4 folder for future use (snow tyres are on - don't want to take them off too soon). Many thanks.

As an aside, I asked Toyota for the price of their reversing camera which you see on eBay for GBP 50. They wanted GBP 450, excluding wiring and fitting - just the camera. Needless to say the discussion soon ended.

I know the dealers have overheads to account for, but they are pricing themselves out of the odd jobs and purchases which could keep them ticking over.

[Jamesbelfast]

Replacement tyre sensors are available from around £35 to £50 each - in fact my local tyre dealer can supply and fits them but he won't programme them onto the car. Don't quote me but I get an inkling he may source them from Schrader.

Also the system can be disabled. How do I know - because my mate is involved in the design and manufacture of these pesky things. The problem being not all dealers know of such or are determined to keep the golden goose laying the golden eggs.

Also some dealers know how to disable the darned things but won't for insurance reasons.

If you intend to either remove or disable the sytem it may be worth contacting your insurer first. No point in giving them an excuse to refuse to pay out now is there.

The TPMS sytem is an excellent idea but repairs of such need to be opened to a wider network and not kept the entirely in the hands of dealers.:)