Tire Pressure sensor settings? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

SailorMan · 08-11-2007, 06:23 PM

Man, I do love how they have dumbed down the owner's manuals. Either that or I need bifocals, because I can't find at what pressure the tire pressure sensor system will activate. I've read that it's passive, that's fine but how much a pressure difference is needed to set the sensor off? I've got the feeling that with modern steal belted tires its going to be more than a few pounds. Especially since when I picked the car up from the dealer a few days ago I had pressures ranging from 34.5psi to 32psi. Is this system the equivalent of idiot lights/gauges? And I guess the descriptions
Thanks for any info.

chuckles · 08-11-2007, 09:19 PM

it is a passive system.....does not work on air pressure!
works off abs wheel speed sensor! ie number of turns (rpm)
if 3 wheels are turning at a noraml rate of speed and one is turning really fast, ie a low tire pressure the light will come on......a really cheap system but i like not as sensative a the direct system

SailorMan · 08-12-2007, 09:04 AM

NSS-Back to the question, since the tire RPM is an analog for tire pressure, what tire pressure delta will cause the system to light the indicator? I suspect this is a pretty useless system that just adds weight and complexity and will only activate at pressures that will have already caused damage to the tire. Thanks for any details.

chuckles · 08-12-2007, 12:20 PM

that is pretty much right...just the way i like it....nufin beats the good old tire pressure gauge....if u had the direct system everytime the outside temp changed a great deal your car would start beeping at you....

chuckles · 08-12-2007, 12:21 PM

oh one more thing in the year or so i have owned my xrs my light has Never come one once! it is very quiet!!!! :0)

adamderry · 08-12-2007, 01:54 PM

My tpms came on when my tire was 6 lbs. lower than the rest, if that helps at all.

SailorMan · 08-24-2007, 07:01 AM

After going through the local service guys on up to the regional Toyota rep I finally verified what 'adamderry' said- 6psi. Not totally useless but not a great help either. I was also told that disconnecting the battery did not cause any type of code lose for the radio or vehicle disable system. The service manager said just preset stations would be lost but most importantly there should be no problem starting the car.

Georgenfla · 09-08-2007, 02:59 PM

I really hate those pressure sensors. I guess the reason is because I check pressures the first day of every month, yeah thats anal. The thing that gets me is that the price of those sensors jack up the price of the car, and you can not opt out of it. By the way, my light has never come on either.

chuckles · 09-09-2007, 09:56 AM

there are no sensors in the corolla or the matrix. Just the higher end cars have the direct system and the sensor your talking about.

murrman · 12-24-2007, 04:40 PM

This light is a pain. Mine comes on all the time now and I've checked all the tires and they are the same psi. It seems that it goes on only after driving for approximatly the same distance on the highway.

How do I disable this idiot light? I dont like a display that reminds me of christmas.

bbarnard · 01-30-2008, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckles

there are no sensors in the corolla or the matrix. Just the higher end cars have the direct system and the sensor your talking about.

I bought a 2008 Matrix and they all come with the direct pressure sensor system you are talking about.. - There is a tire pressure sensor in each tire attached to the valve.

Miss Whit · 01-30-2008, 12:27 PM

It's true, the Corolla and the Matrix do NOT in fact have a tire pressure sensor in the valve stem. The pressure light works from the ABS. It's not as sensitive as the valve stem sensor so your tires may be out a few more pounds before it triggers the light to come on. If your Matrix or Corolla is not equipped with ABS suchas mine... there is no tire pressure indicator. Check your tire pressure regularly!

toysrvmanager · 01-30-2008, 12:42 PM

TPMS systems can be frustrating, depending on the model you have determines the type of system used. If yours is the passive speed sensor system you can also trigger the light with uneven tirwear or if you had a blow out and replaced only one tire. Remember it does not mean that you don't need to check your pressures regularly as maintenance. Most have that 6 pound threshold to deal environmental changes. 6 pounds can make a tremendous change in tire temp and fuel mileage yet the light is not on