TPMS Sensor Replacement Question

Spike22 · Jun 27, 2023

On my 2011 V6 Limited, the TPMS light has been on for some time. I checked the pressure on all 4 tires + the spare and all were good. I didn't want to take it into a shop to diagnose and replace all the sensors and charge me through the nose. I was stumped however, as to how to identify which sensor was bad (without an expensive diagnostic tool). Solved that today. Started up the car and one by one I knocked each sensor a few times with the handle end of a hammer and observed if the warning light was still on. When I got to the RF tire and did the same, the warning light shut off. If it's a dead battery, I must have just knocked the last bit of juice out of it so the TPMS could read it.

This is my question: If I replace the the one bad sensor, do I need to reset the TPMS or will it reset on its own? I know my year/model does not have a reset button like some.

@2011rav4 · Jun 27, 2023

You need to register the new TPMS sensor. You can do that with Techstream or have a tire place do it.

Spike22 · Jun 28, 2023

@2011rav4 said:
You need to register the new tpms sensor. You can do that with Techstream or have a tire place do it.

Sorry, not familiar with Techstream. What is that?

ravenuer · Jun 28, 2023

Your RAV is 12 years old. I'd replace all 5 of them.

Salmon · Jun 28, 2023

That is good advice. The batteries don't usually last that long so the other sensors can't have a lot of time left.

uga · Jul 1, 2023

With Techstream is it possible to just turn off the TPMS notifications on the cluster ?

Blogson · Jul 1, 2023

Disabling the TPMS light is not listed in the Customizable Features list. One can use the black electrical tape method and sticking on the dash to hide the light. Also Dr. Dyno has devised a method for permanently disabling it - suggest using the Search Forum method to locate the thread, and also if I recall years ago another user - solidfish - had also devised a disabling method.

431002 · Jul 2, 2023

Not a rav4, but our 2007 Sequoia keep having the tire light coming on. Finally took it back to Discount Tire and asked them if they could tell me which one was bad. The tech pulled out a sensor tool and identified 3 of 5 bad. I had them replace all 5. This cost me about $60/sensor which they ordered from Toyota. The part that surprised me is there was no labor charge - came with the tire service.

It does make me think about a few things. I know these sensors became more important after the Ford/Firestone debacle, but to be honest, maybe we're overcompensating for such a minor issue? Consider my question rhetorical. I'd like to know how many cars are on the road with those tire indicators on

ravenuer · Jul 2, 2023

Probably a lot, but how would we know?

TPMS Sensor Replacement Question

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