TPMS Sensor Fault
Thread Starter
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Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 87
Likes: 11
From: North Central Ohio
TPMS Sensor Fault
For the past few weeks, I have been getting an intermittent TPMS sensor fault message. It stays on for a bit, then goes off. It was associated with the driver's side rear wheel. I had the tires rotated as part of an oil change service, and the fault still shows on the same wheel location (driver's side, rear). The other tires read the new, correctly corresponding tire pressure. If this is a wheel sensor fault, should it not have moved to it's new location (which would be driver's side front)? I was going to replace the sensor, but now I don't know if that is the problem, and if it is, which sensor to replace. Any ideas?
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,687
Likes: 12,812
From: Wyoming
I too would expect the fault to follow the sensor. Since it didn't, either you haven't put enough miles on it after the rotation or you have a BCM issue. To rule out the BCM, I would run the sensors through a relearn process and see if that helps. I have a tool that does that for me, but you can do it without the tool if you can find the steps to initiate the process. My tool will provide the battery status. Any shop with a similar tool can do the same. Typical life of a TPMS sensor battery is 7 to 10 years. The batteries are not (usually) replaceable.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 179
Likes: 25
From: Tucson, AZ
I agree that if it were that specific sensor then it should have moved locations on your truck. I was pretty disappointed that I had one go bad at five years on my 2017. All my other vehicles that have TPMS have gone roughly 10-11 years before the batteries started to die. I just replaced all four. Visit any tire shop and they should be able to check them for you. Good luck.
Thread Starter
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Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 87
Likes: 11
From: North Central Ohio
OK, moron check. I decided to follow @HRTKD recommendation to retrain the sensors. I first checked to see if the tire pressure was what it should be. Apparently the guy who rotated tires didn't change the pressures to what their new position called for. The fronts had rear pressure, and the rears had front pressure. So, apparently, he also failed to retrain the sensors, as the dash display showed them in their old positions. I tried to retrain them, but the first wheel to be trained is the driver's front, which is where the wheel with the bad sensor was rotated to, so it failed to train. It's beginning to look like it may be a wheel sensor after all. I may have to take it to my tire dealer, but I do have some interest in being able to do it myself as there are 3 other wheels that will go bad in the future (near or far). @HRTKD , what tool do you have to check/reset them?
Thanks again for putting me on the right path (I hope)
Thanks again for putting me on the right path (I hope)
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,687
Likes: 12,812
From: Wyoming
I use the Autel MaxiTPMS TS601. I don't work on tires for a living. I just got tired of not being able to take care of my TPMS system myself. When I bought it I had four vehicles and eight sets of wheels/tires/TPMS. Each vehicle had summer/winter sets.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 87
Likes: 11
From: North Central Ohio
Well, that looks quite interesting, but $269 is a little too rich for my blood. If I was a younger man and anticipated having many years to use it, maybe, but at my age...
Maybe I just need to take it to the tire shop.
Thanks again for your help.
Maybe I just need to take it to the tire shop.
Thanks again for your help.
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Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,687
Likes: 12,812
From: Wyoming
Yeah, it isn't inexpensive. It'll take a decade (or two) to recoup the money I save not making trips to the tire shop.
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Thread Starter
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Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 87
Likes: 11
From: North Central Ohio
Final follow-up (I hope). Took it to the tire shop, and the suspected sensor was not putting out any signal. He replaced it and for $60 all is right with the world. I could have saved myself a lot of frustration if I had verified the assumed things, like the proper pressure was in the proper tire, instead of just accepting the dash reading. Anyway, thanks again for your help.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,456
Likes: 4,953
Warranty ran out about 35,000 miles ago.
Could claim it on the extended warranty, but that is a $100 deductible, think I can get it fixed for less than that.
Could claim it on the extended warranty, but that is a $100 deductible, think I can get it fixed for less than that.
4th Gear
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
For the past few weeks, I have been getting an intermittent TPMS sensor fault message. It stays on for a bit, then goes off. It was associated with the driver's side rear wheel. I had the tires rotated as part of an oil change service, and the fault still shows on the same wheel location (driver's side, rear). The other tires read the new, correctly corresponding tire pressure. If this is a wheel sensor fault, should it not have moved to it's new location (which would be driver's side front)? I was going to replace the sensor, but now I don't know if that is the problem, and if it is, which sensor to replace. Any ideas?