Tire Pressure Warning Light

[Aja]

This is driving me crazy... I recently had my tires rotated and balanced. Ends up the place did a crappy job balancing them and driving on my way home the tire pressure warning light came on. I ended up taking my 2004 Solara to Toyota to have it done correctly. Ended up I had 2 bad front tires. So, I got two brand new front tires and they did balanced them. Car seemed to ride fine -- well the next day the tire warning light came on again. Took it back to Toyota to have them double-check the tires and we re-set the warning light again (yes, we held the set button and the light would blink 3 times). They say everything is fine and don't know why the light keeps coming on... They say I might have to replace the actuator assembly for $1000.. I just don't think the sensor is bad when it all started when I had my tires rotated the first time. Sometimes the light stays on and then at times it goes off and then comes on again -- doesn't seem to be a real set pattern with it.. .. Any ideas, suggestion... Thanks.

[ToyoSolV6]

when they changed your tires, they didnt break off your sensor right?

[Aja]

I can't say for sure -- but I wouldn't think so -- especially since I took it back the next day for them to re-check the tires and everything.

[System_Crash]

Get your'e-self a digital air gauge from auto zone and set all the tire psi 1 psi above whats stated in the door sill and THEN reset the light and I bet you it won't come back on.

[Biggi_e]

Get your'e-self a digital air gauge from auto zone and set all the tire psi 1 psi above whats stated in the door sill and THEN reset the light and I bet you it won't come back on.

i bet you it will, knowing how many of the gen2's have issues with this it will keep comming up. i myself have issues with mine too!

[Aja]

Its worth a try..

[NightRider]

Yea just try it damnit! I had this same problem when I got my new tires put on and I just did what "System_crash" did and it has never back on.

[Aja]

Ok, the tires were alittle over-inflated - so they are all at 32 psi and I re-set the tire warning light system.. we will see what happens...Thanks for your suggestions.

[Black Bob]

when they changed your tires, they didnt break off your sensor right?

The early Gen 2's don't have the TPM sensors in each tire--that's the new technology. Our Gen 2's are monitored the old fashion pseudo-mathematical way--it measures tire rotation. It's just technology that was rushed too soon to market. Everytime you reset it is designed that you get on a straight road for a period of time to commit the STEADY" rotation calculations to memory, resetting it and driving around turns just screws up it's setpoint. Other things that will set it off temperature changes (one tire parked on ice and the other not), dirt roads, gravel roads, yadda-yadda-yadda. My TPM warning light goes off at least twice a year for no reason whatsoever too.

[crispone]

You may also need to try RUNNING THE TIRES UP TO TEMP AFTER air pressure is SET... say 10-20 miles of driving, THEN stop, place in neutral, hold button and set.

If you ONLY ever calibrate your button JUST AFTER you have inflated, or with COLD tires/air... the sensor usually DOESN'T calibrate correctly.


My experience has been that it is not so much the AMOUNT of air, as the BALANCE (pressure differential) from tire-to-tire and the proper "driving temperature" step BEFORE calibration that affects how well it "holds" the set.

Also, correct me if I'm mistaken... but doesn't the 'lara sensor detect ROTATIONAL VARIANCE from wheel to wheel and NOT absolute PRESSURE? If it WERE absolute pressure, then you would "lose" this feature when you went to aftermarket rims, no? My system works FINE with aftermarket RIMS, but was equally finicky until I began to WARM THE TIRES to operating temp. first.

PS: I ALWAYS use a BETTER QUALITY GAGE than at the tire pump and set pressure at 41psi, THEN adjust. No issues until a real COLD SNAP, car SITS for extended period, or I PEEL OUT a whole lot in a short amount of time.


G/L!


-crisp

[crispone]

when they changed your tires, they didnt break off your sensor right?

The early Gen 2's don't have the TPM sensors in each tire--that's the new technology. Our Gen 2's are monitored the old fashion pseudo-mathematical way--it measures tire rotation. It's just technology that was rushed too soon to market. Everytime you reset it is designed that you get on a straight road for a period of time to commit the STEADY" rotation calculations to memory, resetting it and driving around turns just screws up it's setpoint. Other things that will set it off temperature changes (one tire parked on ice and the other not), dirt roads, gravel roads, yadda-yadda-yadda. My TPM warning light goes off at least twice a year for no reason whatsoever too.

HA! We were thinking and posting at the SAME TIME!


-crisp

[Aja]

I give up.... I have done everything mentioned and it was good for about 60 miles and then this morning that dam light came back on... And it freaks me out when it does come on because then I think there is something wrong with the car.. and about once a month I drive to NJ (about 3 hr drive) and I'll be a nervous wreck. But other then this problem I love my Solara... Its a 2004 and I just hit 82,000 miles on it -- hope it lasts for another 82,000.....

[Black Bob]

One other thing that Crisp touched on, make sure you're not using the gas stations connected guage. 11 times out of 10 it's wrong plus the repeatability is bad. Other than one of the tires slowly leaking or you live in Cleveland where it's -20°F on Monday and 65°F on Tuesday I would say the sensor/box/module(?) is all out of whack. Mine get's stupid every now and then but it hasn't reached the annoyance level......yet. Also, they sell aftermarket tire pressure monitors that uses better technology where there is an actual sensor in each tire. Also, there are high end ones that tell you exactly how much pressure is in each tire. There has been discussions in the past about somehow removing/blacking out the TPM dash warning light and going with these aftermarket kits--who knows, it might be cheaper than replacing the stock sensor/box/module(?).

[GzNutz]

The early Gen 2's don't have the TPM sensors in each tire--that's the new technology. Our Gen 2's are monitored the old fashion pseudo-mathematical way--it measures tire rotation. It's just technology that was rushed too soon to market. Everytime you reset it is designed that you get on a straight road for a period of time to commit the STEADY" rotation calculations to memory, resetting it and driving around turns just screws up it's setpoint. Other things that will set it off temperature changes (one tire parked on ice and the other not), dirt roads, gravel roads, yadda-yadda-yadda. My TPM warning light goes off at least twice a year for no reason whatsoever too.

This would explain why my light would come on after brief wheel spin in the snow. Just a restart of the car would clear the light though.

[dronek1975]

on my 2004 V6 SE i had to replace all 4 valves because after winter here in Chicagoland i wasn't able to take off metal valve stem covers to put more air into the tires so i visited local Discount Tire shop and have them replace all 4...day after that while driving on a highway i noticed TPMS light ON, since then it's ON all the time which drives me nutzzz. my Kumho's are due for replacement so once i get a new set of 17's i will look into it. By the way...what brand of tires would you guys recommend? I have stock 17s that came with the car. I'm looking into Kumho and Good Year on tirerack.com (~ $100 per tire) 0f course don't want to pay arm and leg for tires as i just purchased a home so have lot of expenses coming up. Heck maybe someone from NW suburbs of chicagoland knows about good inexpensive tire place. I'm in Schaumburg.
What's the procedure of resetting TPMS thingy, i want to try see if it will go away.
Thanks