What happens when you disable the tire pressure sensors?

[ImagoX]

Hi all - I asked this in my Wheel Size thread, but I'll ask here since it's a related but separate question.

I'm getting new wheels and tires, but the Pacific pressure sensors add almost $500 additional dollars to the total cost. Tire Rack tells me that some people choose NOT to use them, and deal with any warning lights.

Are the sensors simply a low-pressure alert, or do they have another function? I can see the value of these on Run-Flat tires, as you may not notice such tires going flat, but I'm pretty anal about checking pressure before I drive, so having them seems like overkill to me. Also, what happens when you chose to air-down tires which are being monitored? Wouldn't you get an alert anyway? Last, can I salvage the sensors I assume are on my stock wheels/tires and re-use them on my new ones, and is this something I can do myself, or must the work be done by a tire shop?

Thanks in advance!

[christianmotox]

hey men, i have an 07 so it did not came with sensors, but before i had my Fj i had an 07 Jetta, it has sensors, and when i changed the tires to after market, all i did was install the sensors to the new wheels (i took it to the wheel shop, for this because both tires need to be unmounted), it was so easy all it has its 1 nut, you loose it, the whole think comes off, and you reinstall on the new wheel, again this was on my old Jetta so im not sure about the FJ., I think that it would be annoying to have the light on the dash

Hope it helps.

[ImagoX]

I hope switching them on the Toyota is as simple as on your VW. It's not clear form the stuff I'm finding online if the sensor is inside the wheel or part of the valve stem or what. A bolt-on/off piece would be the best thing, as I'm not thrilled with an idiot light always being on...

[FamilyJ]

What happens? Sensors connected to the wheel hub activate, immediately jettisonning the tires from the axle, thereby saving you from the fate of having low pressure...

Seriously though (that's why you're here, right?), I had these sensor on an '04 Toyota Solara. From what I read/was told by various sources (TOY Techs included), the sensors were attached to the rim on the inside of the tire, and sent back tire pressure-related info to a sensor in the car.

My experience with these sensors was hit and miss, drove to the dealership many times to have re-set after wheel balancing or just driving around. For me it wasn't worth it, even though it did go off one time when I did actually have a puncture in the tire, but I could tell that by looking at the tire.

[ballkillerxxx]

does the 08 models have these sensors?

[rutherk1]

ballkillerxxx previously said:

does the 08 models have these sensors?

Your 08 has TPMS.

This is what 99% of all TPMS look like

[ImagoX]

Is that the entire valve stem? Looks like it... So there's no way, shy of taking the tires to a tire place and having them dismounted from the rims, to de-install and salvage the stock sensors then? If so... drat.

FamilyJ previously said:

What happens? Sensors connected to the wheel hub activate, immediately jettisonning the tires from the axle, thereby saving you from the fate of having low pressure...

I was more wondering - is it just an idiot light, or is there something more annoying (a chime or similar)? I know that US safety laws are designed to protect consumers from their own obvious retardedness, and I wouldn't put it past Toyota to have put in an intermittent chime if the sensors are disabled. That would drive me bandannas...

[rutherk1]

ImagoX previously said:

Is that the entire valve stem? Looks like it... So there's no way, shy of taking the tires to a tire place and having them dismounted from the rims, to de-install and salvage the stock sensors then? If so... drat.




I was more wondering - is it just an idiot light, or is there something more annoying (a chime or similar)? I know that US safety laws are designed to protect consumers from their own obvious retardedness, and I wouldn't put it past Toyota to have put in an intermittent chime if the sensors are disabled. That would drive me bandannas...

They dont chime. And they are govt mandate.

What you can do it drill 4 more holes in your spare wheel and mount all 4 in there. You never have to worry about them again.

[sonjason]

I am curious to see an answer to this question also... I just ordered new wheels and tires and called 2 different dealers in regards to this... 1 told me that the installer could just remove the sensors and install them in the new tires - no big deal. The other told me they would need to "reprogram" the sensors for $75 additional... But I was under the impression the sensor is in the valve stem and could easily be removed and placed on the new. If not, will I have to pay $75 for reprogramming every time I get new tires installed? Sounds like BS to me.

[ImagoX]

Sounds like it to me as well - that's why I'm wondering.