How reliable are tire sensors?

[Chik a Boom]

Had tire picture on dash, signifying something not right with tires.
Found screw in back left tire. Took to local discounted tire service, which has decent reputation in our small town. Tire repaired, picture on dash gone.

Two days later, drove 100 miles or so, short out of town trip to big city. As I was heading back, tire picture on dash returned. Stopped at discounted tire service on way out of town before back on highway to head home. All tires checked, said they were fine as far as air pressure goes. Still have dash picture. Gentleman returned with a scanner that he held near each tire; all gave the "okay" beep except the one that had been repaired. Their consensus was that the sensor had been knocked off or loosened by the previous fixers; tire was fine and I could make the 90 miles home okay.

Back in my small town, go to original tire shop and asked about repairing the sensor in the tire, as I still have light on dash. Ok, but have to order the part. Nothing done so return home with tire picture on dash still.

Next day I drive-NO picture on dash.
Did it give up? Fix itself? Fall back in place? Do I return to tire shop? What would you do?
Any wisdom appreciated.

 

[zzzippper]

No wisdom to add to this or any other topic but I've got nearly the same experience. I've had a tire repaired but the light didn't come on until I drove from Denver to St. Louis. I've had the tires checked twice and the computer reset only to have the light come on the next day. Since the tires check out I just drive with the light on. I figure it is a sensor (or worse, a computer) but I'm sure the expense is more than I want to pay for a dummy light.

 

[4barrel]

The owners manual will tell you where the reset is. Offer the shop shipping charges if any to stay on good terms.

 

[Mack_C85]

My wife's car will give us fits when weather changes. Increases and decreases in temperature will effect the tire pressure and cause the sensors to go nuts. If the pressure is close to the switch limits and it gets cold overnight...tire light is on in the morning.

 

[The Big D]

In my experience...

...they are very reliable. Accurate, too.

Only one I know to have failed was on my Mom's 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee. One sensor went belly up after about ten (10) years.

Have owned about 6-7 vehicles with sensors. Some (the older ones) simply 'reported' low pressure. Currently my Jeep and my Corvette report real time readings.

They are very, very accurate.

Be safe.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

Read your Owner's Manual, some TPMS systems need to be reset after pressure changes. There is usually a reset button somewhere. Newer systems reset automatically.

My VW doesn't have any sensors in the tires, it's some gizmo on the wheel that senses wheel rpm. A low or flat tire will cause a change in wheel rpm and that's what lights the light.

My new Hyundai shows the actual pressure in each tire...that's pretty cool.

 

[DWalt]

Our Mazda 5 has the tire sensors. Low-pressure symbol on the dash lights up even when pressure checks out as being OK. No work on any of them has been performed. We just ignore the light. I got by just fine for over 50 years without such tomfoolery, would be happy without it. Just something else to go bad.

 

[dave holl]

I rely on sensors to indicate a significant loss of pressure due to a slow leak. Being a little "old school" I still check pressures with a tire gauge periodically.
Each sensor has a battery with a long life (approx. 5yrs) and the sensor must link with the vehicle, so blips are prone to occur, especially if the battery is weak, or if the sensor has been knocked around.
Tire stores will diagnose malfunctions and can replace them without removing the tire from the wheel. Cost is reasonable.

 

[islamoradamark]

I got tired of that old sensor when i bought new oversized tires i had them sensors taken out im old school. if I did not have them in the seventies, eighties or the nineties I dont need them now what a pain

 

[crsides]

I had the dreaded light go on. Tire dealer checked and replaced all four tires, $12.50 each. It was the spare. go figger. I get a light now, I get out and look at the tires. The light is on for my wife's lexus and my cadi truck. Tires are fine.

Charlie

 

[blackdeuce]

I have several vehicles with TPMS. Some of them go off when the pressure is just slightly low and sometimes for no apparent reason. I've gotten so that I often ignore them.

My parents have a Toyota that was giving them fits. Turns out that the spare tire has a TPMS and it was low. I'm not sure that I would have thought to check the spare.

 

[VaTom]

My wife's car will give us fits when weather changes. Increases and decreases in temperature will effect the tire pressure and cause the sensors to go nuts. If the pressure is close to the switch limits and it gets cold overnight...tire light is on in the morning.

Exactly! Driving will heat up the tires and cause an increase in pressure. I have observed as much as 4 psi. My first car with them is a 2016 Toyota Camry. The display on the dash shows the exact psi in each tire. Takes some getting used to.

My wife's 2015 Toyota Sienna Van has the sensors but not the read out for psi??

 

[italiansport]

Another CYA lawyer induced "Safety" feature on automobiles and about as useful as any of the other idiot lights on a car. We drove most of the 20th century without this "feature" and most knowledgeable drivers kept a tire pressure gauge in his car and used it frequently.
We did video production work for one of the lawyers who was instrumental in getting these installed as he specialized is suing tire manufacturers and winning big settlements even when gross negligence on part of the owner was apparent.
I laugh every time I look at the warning on Ruger pistols which was another lawyer inspired idea.
Jim

 

[rwt1405]

I have found the ones in my vehicles to be very accurate.

I will also mention that two years ago they helped save me some real potential problems, as I was about to get on I-95, when I noticed the light go on & the pressure decreasing rapidly for one of my tires, which allowed me to pull into a lot (just before the entrance to I-95) and find a large screw in the tire and to replace it without having been on the highway.

If you have ever had a tire "blow out" on you, at highway speeds, you will understand how important that is (especially with my Jeep Wranglers).

 

[Marine Corps Air]

+1 for Lee in Quartzsite.

In June 2013 I had a Michelin steel belted radial tire separation on I-285 in Atlanta while driving at 70+ mph. The TPMS warning light came on and I headed for the pull off area, mui pronto! Afterwards when we were having the car repaired at the Toyota dealer, we were informed that if we had continued to drive with that TPMS light on for a few more seconds we could have had real problems. No damage to the car body or tire rim, thankfully, the dealer just replaced the tire and we were back on the road to Austin.

Every car manufacturer is different. I'd contact the dealer and ask for a recommendation if the dash light cannot be reset. From my flying days, I trust those "idiot lights" and don't ever ignore them.

This information may also be of value in re-setting the dash light:

Google

 

[cowart]

On my 2009 Hyundai, the TPMS light comes on every fall when the weather cools off. I have a air small compressor with a built in pressure gauge, and use it on all 4 tires. Problem solved every year.

 

[snake803]

They're NOT!!!!!!
JIM...........................

 

[Wee Hooker]

I've owned 5 vehicles with them. All were as reliable as a hammer UNTIL the battery goes dead in one or more (7-10 years into it.). Then you have an idiot light on the dash telling you something is wrong when there isn't. Next you get to spend $100-$200 to find and replace the bad one (that works only some of the time.) Meanwhile the wife whines daily that her car is broke and maybe she needs a new one.....
Resultantly, the best solution I've found to a failed tire sensor is to put a piece of black electrical tap over the warning light.


p.s. IMHO, tire sensors are like the 45 GAP. A solution to a non existent problem that will be regretted given enough time.

 

[H Richard]

I use a tire gauge. Yes, I do have the sensors, and I have to keep reminding the service staff to check the spare (full size) up under the car. I'm 75 and I'm not going to be crawling under the car myself. The Maint. people can reset or if you have a certain number of start up and shut downs of the car, it will reset itself. I think it was 12 cycles on my Toyota.

 

[Bullet Bob]

I have had TPMS sytems in my last 5 cars, and they've been great.

I couldn't read all of the OP because I'm too old to read without paragraphs or breaks, but it sounds like the shop didn't reset the sensor. Some systems will reset themselves after the pressure is corrected and there's a stop/start/drive cycle (the exact reset varies among manufacturers).

I still check mine manually every month, because I don't want to have to add air pressure just as I'm getting ready to go somewhere.