As much as having a car payment now kinda sucks

"Logansteno: Bought a VW?" (logansteno)
07/10/2017 at 17:46 • Filed to: None

It really is nice to finally have a car where the biggest issue (knock on wood) is a TPMS sensor with a dying battery.

It’s been 3 months and I’m still not over how pretty the blue is

The Safari and M3 were, well, the Safari and M3. The S10 leaked oil like a sieve and the front end would never align properly. The Silverado is actually something I can just put oil and gas in and not worry about something breaking every week. Which is what I wanted in the first place when I sold the BMW.

Plus I’ve wanted a big blue Chevy truck since I was 5 years old in about January 2004 when my dad got his.

DISCUSSION (17)

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/10/2017 at 17:51

What’s the source of the battery drain?

Takuro Spirit > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/10/2017 at 17:55

TPMS sensors have watch style coin batteries that die over time and are not (usually) replaceable.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Takuro Spirit
07/10/2017 at 17:58

Well that’s an odd design!

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/10/2017 at 17:58

Although I have no idea how the ones in my Taco are powered...

benjrblant > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/10/2017 at 17:59

TMPS or tire pressure monitoring sensors are inside the wheel. Each one contains a small battery and should be changed every few years. This is done with the tire is dismounted.

Edit: Takuro beat me to it.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/10/2017 at 18:08

As Takuro said, there’s a little coin battery that lasts about 7-ish years in the sensor. Coincidentally, the truck is 7 years old. I have a replacement sensor sitting in my tool box at work but haven’t had the energy/will to do it.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/10/2017 at 18:09

Oh shit, I should probably have the ones on my wife’s car replaced when I get new tires...

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/10/2017 at 18:12

The telltale they’re bad is the car constantly says there’s a low tire/ the light goes on and off constantly. Probably wouldnt hurt to have them changed next time it needs tires.

Wacko > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/10/2017 at 18:27

If it was well made and would last long they wouldn’t get your money every few years. On my parhfinder they are about 100.00$Cnd each

In 20 some years when you start buying these cars you’ll see

hike > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/10/2017 at 19:10

Are you do for tires soon? The actual sensor isn’t that bad, but it’s a little bit annoying to have to dismount the tire.

Takuro Spirit > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/10/2017 at 19:14

Planned obsolescence. Its what keeps people like me employed. That said, Magneti Marelli has a KILLER deal on TPMS sensors that fit all makes and models of cars and light trucks.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > hike
07/10/2017 at 19:48

The tires are pretty much brand new, of course. I’ll eventually get the gusto to pull my truck in after work and do it real quick.

for Michigan > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/10/2017 at 20:02

Amen to that.

My last car was a paid-for, dirt cheap Civic that I spent every day off wrenching on to keep it on the road so I could maintain an income. I may have a car payment now, but I do not miss “If I don’t get this fixed, I have to call off work tomorrow.”

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > for Michigan
07/10/2017 at 20:07

Thankfully none of my cars were ever “its broken to the point I can’t get to work/school” but they were constantly needing the most random things that cost oddly high amounts of cash.

for Michigan > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/10/2017 at 20:10

I was a delivery driver, so if it couldn’t handle ~90 miles of city driving, it wasn’t fit for work. Thankfully my store had a company car because I used it to deliver several times when my Civic was inoperable.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Wacko
07/10/2017 at 20:17

The thing to do is put all 4 in a sealed tube somewhere in the vehicle rather than the tires. That way you can bodge a battery change instead of buying new sensors. The system is largely useless anyway, at least imo

Shoop > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
08/02/2017 at 17:39

My sierra had the same problem after about 8 years. I have thoroughly ignored it, but now that it’s the only light on my dash, I may get them replaced if I can get them cheap.