My TPMS (low tire pressure light) came on today. Pressures were fine. Started blinking rather than solid indicating failure of one of the sensors. It does however switch to solid lighting after a few minutes.


My truck is 6 years old and I was told the sensors usually last about 10 years. Has anyone else had failures and at what age?


Tire shop says the unit cost $60 and installation is included. I would assume that the other 3 will fail shortly.......

 

My 2009 did this last weekend. 45 minutes on the highway and temps were just at freezing....tire light flashed for a minute or two and then stayed on. Pulled off the next exit about 5 minutes later and checked the tires but they looked good but didn't check the pressure. Got back in the truck and the light was out and hasn't come on since.

 

My 2009 had a right rear sensor go out. Only 42K on the vehicle.

It first started to act up like CapeRR stated. The light would flash , go steady and eventually go out. Did that a few times. A few months later in finally did the flash/stay on. After that it showed the failure mode every time I started the truck.

Had the dealer replace it. Has been fine ever since. The other three are still going strong.

 

That's a hard one to call, some sensors (and other auto parts) seem to last "forever" while some new parts can fail quickly. If the truck was mine, I would change just the failing sensor, but if the tires were getting close to needing a change, I'd get 4 sensors, install one now, and the other 3 when I changed the tires.

 

Light on last Dec in the 09 - tire pressures ok. Tires got plenty of life left so resorted to old fashioned TPMS method. Sensor starting working again in April and died again in Aug. Working again in Nov but light's on again about a week ago. It's a nuisance - looking for an uncomplicated way to disable the TPMS warning light.

 

I believe you can use a programmer to turn that function off. I costs money but it would be simple.

 

I’ve yet to find a programmer that will turn off the TPMS warning light. Dealer techs admitted that none of their equipment enables them to do this. That may be due to federal transportation mandates for TPMS in the US even though there are no such requirements north of the 49th. The only fix I’ve been able to dig out of the interwebs is to kill the TPMS warning LED by gaining access to the LED circuit on in the instrument cluster. I’m still pondering that one.

 

Hey Mike,
Haven't spoken to you in a few years, LOL. I guess we have been on the G4 forum for about as long as anyone. I will replace the bad sensor soon, but will wait until at least one other fails for now. The tires have a long way to go before they are replaced. Thanks to all the others for their info.

 

I don't post a great deal. I do visit the site at least once a week.
Like I stated the other three are still fine. I did replace tires at around 40K.
Used the same sensor, but had the tire shop use new tpms kit (new valve stems mostly).

Have a Merry Christmas.