T180 Runflat Mystery

[Ladyowner]

I own a T180 with the original donut runflats. So far no problem. I have a brand new wheel with sensors and tyre, bought from Toyota two years ago and kept in case of puncture. Yesterday that happened so I took spare into dealer so they could change wheel for me (am feeble female) and repair/replace damaged tyre so I would still have a spare.

They put brand new wheel on car then told me the tyre pressure warning light would stay on as new wheel has 'rubber valve' and would not register with pressure sensor. They said I need a different valve for £130 which they would order and fit.

Miffed, got in car and drove off. No tyre pressure warning light appeared and no sign of it all day. Returned to dealer who insist that there must be a problem as light should stay on with this new wheel so I still need further investigation/new valve.

When I bought new wheel I assumed it was correct with all its bits and would be ready to fit and go.

I am not sure what to say to them about this. They want to deflate all tyres, reinflate and test sensor light is working correctly. It has been and alerted me to puncture in first place.

This is going to cost a fortune. Plus they warned me that if they break inner ring when removing tyre I will have to pay for new one.

What should I do? Could I deftate a tyre myself to test sensor is working? Hope you guys can help.

[philip42h]

OK ... so it appears that your spare has a standard (rubber) valve rather than a TPMS (metal) valve - it's easy to tell the difference visually once you know what you are looking for. A BSR runflat should be fitted with a TPMS valve so question: is your spare wheel fitted with a runflat tyre and the "donut"? It's worth knowing the answer but you don't actually care that much. A Toyota space saver spare would also have a standard valve (not TPMS).

The TPMS will alert very quickly if the pressure drops below the pre-set level but the system may take several hours / days to register that the wheel / TPMS valve isn't there at all. That's why you haven't had an alert [yet] - just give it time.

Don't bother to test or get a TPMS valve fitted - just get the original tyre repaired / replaced and back on the car, and the spare back to use as a spare! Note, if you simply put the repaired wheel in the boot it will report that the wheel is good and at pressure and 'confuse' the pressure warning system.

[Ladyowner]

Thanks for the prompt replay Philip. I was sold the tyre as a runflat with donut so assumed it was same as those on car.

Both rear tyres would need replacing soon so wanted to use the new wheel/tyre I have and only buy 1 new tyre. TPMS valve is cheaper than another new tyre. If new wheel is not a runflat with donut then I am going to be even more fed up with dealer.

[philip42h]

Bridgestone make the Dueler 687 in two forms - as a standard tyre and as a run-flat for use with the BSR system. The later has a 'doughnut' symbol on the side-wall. You should be able to find this on the three run flats that you have and then look for the same on the spare. Otherwise, the only way you would be able to tell is to have the garage remove the tyre and look for the BSR.

If it is a run flat, it should have had a TPMS valve fitted; if it's not, it need not. As an aside, Toyota have since abandoned the BSR system and now fit the RAV 4.4 with Bridgestone Dueler 687's without the BSR system but with TPMS. If you look at other threads on this forum you'll find that many owners have abandoned the BSR system simply because of the difficulty of getting replacement tyres.

Anyhow, as you say, if you want to make use of the spare in conjunction with the tyre pressure warning system you will need to get a TPMS valve fitted and then have the dealer reprogramme the ECU to remove the old TPMS valve and recognise the new one. Each time you swap wheels you will need to go through this process. [Which is why I'd be inclined to use the spare as a spare and simply get two news tyres - more expensive but less hassle.]

Oh, and if you want to, you can test the TPMS by deflating each tyre in turn - the warning light will come on when you get down to somewhere between 20 and 24 psi.

[Ladyowner]

Thanks Philip. Looks like dealer sold me a wheel without the BSR system. The invoice lists 'supply spare alloy wheel and fit run flat tyre and ring to it'. Support ring was £95 so total for wheel was £765 inc vat and fitting. Now they want me to pay for another valve. New tyre has donut on side, as do the other three. Not sure whose mistake this is.

[philip42h]

OK, sounds as though you are missing only the TPMS valve. What you have is overkill for a spare, but you'd probably need the TPMS valve fitted to use it as a standard wheel ...

[Conrod]

I was looking around the Internet and found this, a member from the RAV4 Drivers Cłub has offered help...

http://forum.http://www.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/forum/79-rav-4-club//topic3007.html

[Ladyowner]

Thanks Philip and Geoff. Armed with Phil's facts about tyres I went into dealer today, again. Girl on desk said they wouldn't pay for new valve and I had no cause for complaint as I had a spare wheel, albeit without proper valve. I eventually saw the service manager who, eventually conceded that I was right. The wheel should have been supplied with the correct valve. They will fit this tomorrow at their expense.

So, a result I suppose. But it leaves a bad taste. Both the girl on reception and the manager refused to look at the data supplied by Phil which I took with me. They said 'we take no notice of forums'. I pointed out that it should have been their job to find out the facts about this wheel, not mine. Not even an apology though.

Am now looking at non-Toyota/Hyundai trade-in possibilities. Good cars, shame about the service.