Fairly recently my TPMS light went off in my truck. Since the batteries in the sensors were at least 11 years old, this was no surprise. Instead of buying new sensors or disabling/bypassing/living with faulted out TPMS system, I decided to just replace the batteries in the sensors. Before doing this project, I couldn't find any information on other people doing this, so I decided to post my experience and show how I went about doing it.
To do this you will need the following:
Step 2: Scrape out silicon behind battery retaining tabs.
Step 3: Using constant steady pressure, pry battery loose as shown.
Step 4: Using screw driver and side cutters, pry up and trim positive lead from battery.
Step 5: Pull battery up and trim off ground lead.
Step 6: Pull battery out and scrape off silicon in battery area.
Step 7: Solder ground lead on new battery and lay battery flat.
Step 8: Solder positive lead on battery making sure that leads will lay flat when cover is attached.
Step 9 (optional): At this stage you can pressurize all the sensors to verify the fix is working. In my case, I made a little pressure vessel with a 4" PVC adapter, 4" NPT plug, some 3/4" clear PVC sheet, 1/4" NPT PVC bushing, ball valve, and air hose quick disconnect fitting. I just hooked up the air compressor with the regulator set at 30 PSI and set the vessel (with sensors inside) under my truck. After turning on the truck and waiting a few moments, the TPMS light turned off, showing that the new batteries worked. What I did was probably overkill. The vessel doesn't strictly have to be air tight, just tight enough for the air compressor to be able to maintain 30 psi for a minute or so.
Step 10: Apply a glob of silicon over the battery and squeeze cover back on. Then, using the soldering iron, melt the nubs flat and into the cover.
Then wait for the silicon to dry and reinstall.
To do this you will need the following:
- TPMS sensors
- Replacement batteries (http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail...0A-FAN/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMv39IHh0uX/%2bLxyC2TJO6QQ)
- Silicon sealant (I used RTV ultra black)
- Soldering iron
- Small flat head screwdriver
- Side cutters
Step 2: Scrape out silicon behind battery retaining tabs.
Step 3: Using constant steady pressure, pry battery loose as shown.
Step 4: Using screw driver and side cutters, pry up and trim positive lead from battery.
Step 5: Pull battery up and trim off ground lead.
Step 6: Pull battery out and scrape off silicon in battery area.
Step 7: Solder ground lead on new battery and lay battery flat.
Step 8: Solder positive lead on battery making sure that leads will lay flat when cover is attached.
Step 9 (optional): At this stage you can pressurize all the sensors to verify the fix is working. In my case, I made a little pressure vessel with a 4" PVC adapter, 4" NPT plug, some 3/4" clear PVC sheet, 1/4" NPT PVC bushing, ball valve, and air hose quick disconnect fitting. I just hooked up the air compressor with the regulator set at 30 PSI and set the vessel (with sensors inside) under my truck. After turning on the truck and waiting a few moments, the TPMS light turned off, showing that the new batteries worked. What I did was probably overkill. The vessel doesn't strictly have to be air tight, just tight enough for the air compressor to be able to maintain 30 psi for a minute or so.
Step 10: Apply a glob of silicon over the battery and squeeze cover back on. Then, using the soldering iron, melt the nubs flat and into the cover.
Then wait for the silicon to dry and reinstall.
