TPMS all 5 Stopped Providing Reading

[rscoleman]

So about 2 weeks ago when first cold front hit Texas my TPMS system stopped displaying tire pressure for all 5 tires. 2016 original sensors, tires were put on about 58K miles back. Has anyone seen all 5 go offline at same time. I am about 5 to 8 K from new tires.

 

[KLF]

This is the stupidity of the factory system. If one sensor quits, the entire system stops functioning. So now you have to use a special tool to find out which one has stopped working.

But, at 10 years old, it's probably time to just replace them all $$$.

 

[Adrenaline6]

If you are using OBD Fusion, you can read the code and see which sensor number has failed. Unless you remember what number sensor is where, you won't know which one it is unless you mess with tire pressures to rule which one is which. You can then clear the trouble with OBD Fusion and the TPMS pressure reading system will start working again temporarily. Of course, the one sensor will never show what pressure it is since it is offline. Once you drive long enough, it will go back into trouble and stop working again.

 

[mmm635]

So about 2 weeks ago when first cold front hit Texas my TPMS system stopped displaying tire pressure for all 5 tires. 2016 original sensors, tires were put on about 58K miles back. Has anyone seen all 5 go offline at same time. I am about 5 to 8 K from new tir

There should be a small black button underneath the dash on the driver's side, near the OBD port - main/2nd. If this button exists on your model, then try switching between the main set and 2nd set tpms sensors. It may have been switched accidentally.

 

[KLF]

There should be a small black button underneath the dash on the driver's side, near the OBD port - main/2nd. If this button exists on your model, then try switching between the main set and 2nd set tpms sensors. It may have been switched accidentally.

Interesting, I'm not aware of any LC/LX having this feature, but I would love to be corrected. I had this in my '07 ES350, it was super handy, but the button was in the glove box.

 

[TheIcemanCometh]

Head down to your local big tire store. They should have readers which can ping individual sensors. I did that for my Tacoma, they installed OEM sensors in three wheels that I bought during one of Mr T's sales.

 

[rscoleman]

Thank you all I now understand how it works and that is half the battle. I just going to wait 5K or more miles for tires to need replacing and as this change will be all 5 tires I will get 5 new sensors and should be good to go for another 9 years. No I just have to figure out what tire. I currently running Nitto Terra Grappler G2 and have been quite happy with them. Looking at Terra Grappler G3. I am replacing all 5 as spare is still the factory tire and it being 9+ years old it has to go. Now question is do I use NTB like in past or go to dealer as I would prefer Toyota TPMS sensors. I get some price quotes and see what makes since.

 

[TheIcemanCometh]

If you are waiting watch for one of Mr T's online sales to pick up OEM sensors. One can often get them for 25% off. Also if you are replacing all five tires I would suggest doing a five tire rotation. Nothing worse than replacing a spare that has never been used.

 

[Katkon]

OP - also in TX. Had literally the exact same thing happen to me a few months ago. Also a ‘16. No tires displayed pressure. Tried resetting multiple times and eventually got a blinking low tire pressure warning light which indicates a fault.

Took it to the dealer and they said that one of the TPMS sensors had stopped working - and when one stops; they all stop reading tire pressure.

So they replaced the sensor and reset the system; and everything is OK now.

Note: it was surprisingly expensive - believe close to $400 which seemed outrageous. Sensor isn’t expensive - but diagnosis, labor to replace and then remove, rebalance tire and replace/test…. that’s what they charged.

Note: there is a chap online who suggests that this is a somewhat common occurrence on Toyotas and that fix isn’t necessarily to replace a sensor but to ensure all are communicating with the vehicle properly. There is a device that can be used to set/reset TPMS sensors. Forget the channel and device name. But if you google tire pressure sensor issue for Toyota Tacoma (or tundra?) you’ll see the video.

If this happens again I might go down this route first. The device he speaks of is not terribly expensive.

 

[bloc]

Thank you all I now understand how it works and that is half the battle. I just going to wait 5K or more miles for tires to need replacing and as this change will be all 5 tires I will get 5 new sensors and should be good to go for another 9 years. No I just have to figure out what tire. I currently running Nitto Terra Grappler G2 and have been quite happy with them. Looking at Terra Grappler G3. I am replacing all 5 as spare is still the factory tire and it being 9+ years old it has to go. Now question is do I use NTB like in past or go to dealer as I would prefer Toyota TPMS sensors. I get some price quotes and see what makes since.

You'll need to do some digging to confirm the correct part cross reference, but Pacific Industry makes the sensors for toyota, and Denso reboxes these. Fakes are on amazon but typically rockauto's Denso/PI sensors are legit. Same quality but much cheaper than Genuine Toyota, even on one of their sales.

If you do this record the sensor ID on each one prior to install for your notes. Those ID's will need to be programmed into the vehicle but you'll want to have a record of them. Tire shops don't deal with these specific ones much and can struggle to get them to transmit.. the trick is to inflate to pressure, deflate back to zero, then inflate to final pressure. This is a different waking process than the sensors most tire shops use but is correct.

 

[mmm635]

Interesting, I'm not aware of any LC/LX having this feature, but I would love to be corrected. I had this in my '07 ES350, it was super handy, but the button was in the glove box.

My 04 GX470 and 2020 LX have this feature. I figured the 200 series would be similar. However, on page 38 (2016 Owners Manual) it shows a reset button for the 200 LC in the same location. Try resetting the system.

 

[doru]

My 04 GX470 and 2020 LX have this feature. I figured the 200 series would be similar. However, on page 38 (2016 Owners Manual) it shows a reset button for the 200 LC in the same location. Try resetting the system.

That button on 200 has a different function. It resets the base tire pressure used for monitoring, not the entire system. It does not reset sensors or make a non-responsive sensor work again.