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Low tire air pressure technology is unreliable

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kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 5764 NW Oregon
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2006-09-15          135209


Our 2005 Toyota Highlander has a problem with the low tire pressure light coming on all the time even when there is no air pressure problem. I know it uses a simple technology that infers problems based on wheel rotation as measured by the anti-lock sensors but it sure doesn't seem reliable. Maybe driving on a gravel road confuses it. I'm about ready to tape a piece of electrical tape over the stupid warning light. Anyone else have problems with these things and come up with a solution?



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DennisCTB
Join Date: Nov 1998
Posts: 2707 NorthWest NJ
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2006-09-16          135213


Hi Ken,

I had a Toyota with the low tire pressure system. Have you followed the directions in your manual for resetting it? Any time you remove the tires I believe you have to do that process or else the system gives a false low reading.

Dennis ....


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kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 5764 NW Oregon
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2006-09-16          135216


I have to reset it (the hidden button under the dash) after every tire rotation, flat repair and every 3-4 days even if the tire pressures haven't changed. It's a major irritant. ....


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DennisCTB
Join Date: Nov 1998
Posts: 2707 NorthWest NJ
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2006-09-16          135219


The Toyota dealer told me the reset should be done after the car was sitting in the garage overnight, is that in the manual, as I don't have it anymore.

I do remember having problems with mine until I did that process.

On the the Honda Pilot have not had any problem so far which I believe works a little different having special wheels as part of the system.


Dennis ....


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kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 5764 NW Oregon
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2006-09-16          135220


The manual doesn't say anything about sitting overnight but I'll give it a try. Nothing to lose by trying. Thanks Dennis. ....


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earthwrks
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 3853 Home Office in Flat Rock, Michigan
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2006-09-18          135262


KW are you sure it uses the tone-wheel system versus a transmitter inside the tire?

What's the chance--if it does use a tone-wheel---that the pickup coil is dirty with mud or debris, or possibly loose in its bracket (if applicable)? Might be a broken wire, or loose connector too that got snagged on weeds or brush??? ....


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DennisCTB
Join Date: Nov 1998
Posts: 2707 NorthWest NJ
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2006-09-18          135274


I also heard Pressure washers can do damage to those systems as well. ....


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unit5alive
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 250 Latrobe Pa
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2006-10-20          136137


Our nissan 350z has the sensors , if the tires go 3 psi low you would think the world is coming to an end , displays flashing tire pressures , tire symbols flashing, buzzers going off for a minute then every few minutes . ....


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earthwrks
Join Date: Dec 2003
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2006-10-20          136141


I know when I worked at Nissan/Infiniti Corp. HQ in the early '90's they were dead set against any unnecessary electronics going into their cars--- not from a direct cost standpoint but from a reliability issue. That said, what is called in the Law as "state-of-the-art" when it comes to safety-- if one mfg. such as Ford puts something in their product that another mfg can do just the same and that other mfg doesn't do it and someone gets hurt or property damaged, the mfg can be sued. ....


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Peters
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 3034 Northern AL
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2006-10-20          136149


Maybe its an EPA thing? Or the tire manufactures? If you have a bad bead and a slow leak. The siren would certainly make you think twice about buying a new tire. ....


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kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 5764 NW Oregon
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2006-10-20          136153


EW, I didn't see your earlier response to this. It uses the anti-lock rotation sensors for low pressure detection. Is that what you meant by the tone wheel system? ....


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earthwrks
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 3853 Home Office in Flat Rock, Michigan
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2006-10-20          136155


Yes the early systems I've seen had one tone wheel on the differential ring gear. Later versions have a tone wheel at each wheel. It's a ring-gear shaped apparatus that spins with or as part of the hub. As the tire pressure reduces the tire rotation speeds up. Hopefully I haven't mixed that up with the tone wheel that can be on engine flywheels for TDC??? ....


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kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 5764 NW Oregon
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2006-10-20          136157


I'm not sure what method the Highlander uses for rotation sensing. I swore off working on Toyota's since our Corolla so never bought the service manual for it. ....


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