TPMS Question

"Jcarr" (jcarr) 11/29/2016 at 15:00 • Filed to: None

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So the Camry that we bought this weekend has TPMS, which is something I’ve never had in a vehicle before. The light has been on since we bought it and the info center is telling me that each tire is low by about 7lbs (recommended pressure is 35, it’s reading 28/29). None of the tires look or feel low to me, and my trusty mechanical tire gauge is telling me that they’re all 34/35. I’ve done the TPMS reset procedure as outlined by the manual a handful of times now, but the light won’t go off and the readings stay the same.

Is it possible that the tires really are low and my mechanical gauge is just off?

'Wägen, EPA LOL > Jcarr 11/29/2016 at 15:02

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Edit: Check the spare! I had a coworker whose system was on because of a sensor in the spare.

'Wägen, EPA LOL > 'Wägen, EPA LOL 11/29/2016 at 15:04

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Reading comprehension level: I can’t even.

Jcarr > 'Wägen, EPA LOL 11/29/2016 at 15:04

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That wouldn’t explain the other four reading 28/29, though.

Andrew Pascarella > Jcarr 11/29/2016 at 15:04

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Is it flashing or just on steady ? Flashing typically means a failed sensor. Batteries in the sensors only last 6 years or so at best.

CalzoneGolem > Jcarr 11/29/2016 at 15:05

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TPMS is bullshit. Just accept that the light will always be on.

McMike > Jcarr 11/29/2016 at 15:05

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After checking the spare, get another gauge. I have a few lb difference between a few of mine.

Takuro Spirit > Jcarr 11/29/2016 at 15:05

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YOU NEED A DIGITAL GAUGE AND A COBB SHORT SHIFTER AND IM PRETTY SURE ITS A LAMBO DUDE LOLOLOL GTFAC

Andrew Pascarella > 'Wägen, EPA LOL 11/29/2016 at 15:05

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Ah, yes some cars have Spare tire TPM sensors.

'Wägen, EPA LOL > Jcarr 11/29/2016 at 15:05

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They all read 28/29?! I thought it was just throwing one for you... No ideas man.

Jcarr > Andrew Pascarella 11/29/2016 at 15:06

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Solid on, which indicates that one or more is low. The info center gives a reading for all 4 corners so I can see what the pressure is in each.

mazda616 > Jcarr 11/29/2016 at 15:06

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Get a digital tire gauge. I’m betting the mechanical gauge is a bit off.

Jcarr > CalzoneGolem 11/29/2016 at 15:06

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Jcarr > Takuro Spirit 11/29/2016 at 15:07

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Duh, Cobb. Why didn’t I think of that??

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Jcarr 11/29/2016 at 15:08

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Your trusty mechanical gauge could be off. I had mine tested at a Bridgestone booth at my last track day, and it was reading 3lbs under actual pressure.

Jcarr > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow 11/29/2016 at 15:09

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I’ll try that first. It’s a bit old anyway.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Jcarr 11/29/2016 at 15:10

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Get a digital tire gauge. As little as 1.6 psi difference will ruin your burnout.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Jcarr 11/29/2016 at 15:13

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Take it to the dealer and let them fix it. 

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Jcarr 11/29/2016 at 15:13

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Could be but my experience with TPMS is that it’s horseshit.

My citroen won't start > Jcarr 11/29/2016 at 15:14

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Just go to any gas station and ask one of the employees to calibrate your tires.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Jcarr 11/29/2016 at 15:14

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I haven’t done anything to confirm this or not but apparently my Mini doesn’t use pressure sensors for its TPMS. Apparently it just looks for a tire to be rotating faster than the others (tire diameter decreases when you let the pressure out) to determine if a wheel is low.

EDIT: research confirms the Mini TPMS is based on rotational speed.

Jcarr > My citroen won't start 11/29/2016 at 15:17

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I’m going to guess you haven’t been to many American gas stations.

vicali > CalzoneGolem 11/29/2016 at 15:19

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Get the tape..

My citroen won't start > Jcarr 11/29/2016 at 15:24

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Shit, I forgot about that.

Here we have one guy to pump the gas, one guy to man the credit card machine and at least 3 employees in the convenience store.

You do have the air pump machine thing on most pumps right?

Jcarr > My citroen won't start 11/29/2016 at 15:25

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Yeah, most gas stations have that, just not anybody working there who knows anything about using it. I actually have my own air compressor in my garage.

My citroen won't start > Jcarr 11/29/2016 at 15:27

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The one where the digital read-out says the desired pressure and you just push a button?

Jcarr > My citroen won't start 11/29/2016 at 15:28

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No, most places just have a simple compressor. I think my problem is that my gauge is off.

My citroen won't start > Jcarr 11/29/2016 at 15:32

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Huh, Brazil is finally better at something!

But really, I don’t trust the TPMS. The first week I got the Passat the light came on even though the tires looked fine, I had to calibrate the tires twice.

Today I went to the garage and the left rear tire was visibly low, TPMS didn’t give a fuck.

Jcarr > My citroen won't start 11/29/2016 at 15:34

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Mo technology, mo problems.

Busslayer > Jcarr 11/29/2016 at 15:36

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Try adding more air to each tire and see if the light goes off.

deekster_caddy > Jcarr 11/29/2016 at 15:41

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Make sure they have TPMS valve stem caps on them. A TPMS cap has an o-ring inside it to seal and protect the valve core from corrosion. TPMS sensors do get old, and the batteries fail - but that’s an all or nothing kind of thing. They should read correctly if they are reading at all. Typically 7-8 years battery life in a TPMS sensor. New sensors are about $50/ea if you don’t shop around, if you are a good shopper you should be able to find a set of 4 for a little over $100.

Tekamul > Jcarr 11/29/2016 at 15:46

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When you go through the reset procedure, are you leaving the key in the “ON” position long enough? Apparently it can take a few minutes for it to complete, even after the blinks.

Jcarr > Tekamul 11/29/2016 at 15:48

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Yep, left it on for plenty long each time.

Onceicaughtafishalive > Jcarr 11/29/2016 at 15:51

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We have a 2012 Camry SE that we have owned since new with the TPMS and so far it’s readings have matched those from my gauge when filling them with a little extra air.

You will ultimately be annoyed with the system because it can’t tell you which tire is which. This means that if you do end up with only one tire reading low you will have to check them all until you find the right one (this process will repeat after having the tires rotated).

Jcarr > Onceicaughtafishalive 11/29/2016 at 15:56

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Ours is a 2016 and gives a reading for each tire, thankfully. That would be annoying.

BobintheMtns > Jcarr 11/29/2016 at 21:34

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Not sure about camry’s, but my VW’s tpms will click on if there’s more than a 1.5 lbs pressure differnce between any of the tires too... Are all your tires exactly the same pressure? (you mentioned they were all 34-35.... I’d get them all at 35)

gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun > Jcarr 11/30/2016 at 01:44

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A mechanical tire gauge? One of those sliding bar ones? $5CDN says it’s sticky and not working right, if all four tires are reading the same low pressure. If you don’t have a second one to check it against, swing by a tire shop, pretend you’re dumb, and ask someone to check your tire pressure with their gauges.

Onceicaughtafishalive > Jcarr 11/30/2016 at 16:26

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Oh, i should clarify, our screen tells us each tire’s pressure but it’s just in a straight line across the screen. Because of this you can clearly see that a tire is low and what it’s pressure is but you won’t know where it’s located on the car without checking them all. Hopefully they have updated the system in the newer ones to show you the pressure based on the tire’s actual location on the car.

52ndstate > Jcarr 11/30/2016 at 16:54

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It was a splurge, but I change tires frequently enough to make it worth it. The Autel TS601 MaxiTPMS tool is spectacular for reading, diagnosing and programming TPMS. There are some less expensive options out there as well if it’s something you want to add to your garage. Even if you live somewhere that year round all season tires are fine and you don’t need to replace them for tens of thousands of miles, if you do your own rotations this will ensure your car is reading the correct wheel.