TPMS problems after changing to winter tires

[vim]

Last weekend I put on winter tires for my Sienna 2008 car. This car has TPMS system, but my understanding there are no sensors on tires - it is done by ABS system (?).
Everything was OK, but today my TPMS indicator started to blink for one minute and then steady light. Documentation indicates that this is TPMS mulfunctions and I need to see dealer. I tried to reset TPMS - key in ON and then press and hold switch, but this did not help.
Of course I checked tire preassure, and all 4 tires where OK - 35/37PSI.

Anybody knows if my TPMS really gone bad or it just does not like my new tires with winter steel rims?

[Spidey]

I hate these things. Just another thing to go wrong and of course cost money when you have 2 sets of tires.

My truck has them and for 6 months of the year I have the light on. I cvheck my pressure regularly, as in every Sunday, so to me these things are just a waste of time

Dont know how these things work with your brakes. Unless there is a sensor inside the tire, it wont know what the pressure is

[Pete_Coach]

Did you change the wheels out as well (winter tires and wheel combination) or just put winter tires on the same rims?
If nothing else, it may have to be re-calibrated. This requires a special tool. It looks like you have a device in the wheel. Tis wil cost you a quiet a bit to have them installed on the winter rims.
http://www.toyotatpms.com/

[vim]

I changed tire and rim - separate set for winter. But my understanding that for Toyota Sienna 2008 they are using indirect method for TPMS. I found this method description here:

The other method of monitoring tire pressure does not require any additional hardware inside or outside the wheel. It is the "indirect" method. This approach makes use of the existing wheel speed sensors in the antilock brake (ABS) system. By modifying the ABS operating software, the ABS system learns the average speed at which each wheel rotates when traveling straight at a constant velocity, and detects low tires by comparing relative wheel speeds. The auto makers like this approach because it is a simple, cost-effective way to monitor tire pressure. But it has some limitations.

And it worked OK for 5 days after winter tire installation. Just this morning it somehow malfunctioned.

[CalgaryJeremyK]

There are sensors in the wheels. We also have an '08 Sienna and elected to not have the TPMS sensors installed. I agree the system uses the ABS but there is some type of sensor you need to have installed in the wheel is required for the TPMS to work. You also need to pay a dealership to reset your sensors each time you swap wheels if you have TPMS sensors and so because of that cost (usually 1 hr of labour to reprogram), plus the cost of the sensors, our winter tires are just on steel rims without sensors.

It also takes a few days for our TPMS light to go on initially, but after that it is generally on steady for the duration of the season with our winter wheels and tires installed.

[designer76]

Im wondering the same for my car
I have a lexus IS 250 AWD, I am planning on getting winter tires and steel rims, tires stores from local here want $300 for TPMS sensors
I called Lexus they are offereing winter tires/rims special for $3200 + HST...

I found on EBAY TPMS sensors (OEM Lexus) for $75.00 and am thinking of this route.

[mr_raider]

Im wondering the same for my car
I have a lexus IS 250 AWD, I am planning on getting winter tires and steel rims, tires stores from local here want $300 for TPMS sensors
I called Lexus they are offereing winter tires/rims special for $3200 + HST...

I found on EBAY TPMS sensors (OEM Lexus) for $75.00 and am thinking of this route.

The Is250 uses TPMs sensors in the valve stem. The car can have 2 sets registered in the computer, and the user can toggle them back and forth. But the initial programming requires a Toyota or Lexus dealer tool.

I bought my winters, rims and TPMS sensors, whole set for 1300$ US on tirerack.com. They give you Lexus compatible TPMs and write the TPMs codes on a piece of paper for you.

Call them ahead of time and make sure you clarify this is for a Lexus order.

[smacd]

We just go without sensors on our winter wheels on our Venza. One small, steady, warning light for the winter. Come springtime and the change back, all is well.

[Spidey]

We just go without sensors on our winter wheels on our Venza. One small, steady, warning light for the winter. Come springtime and the change back, all is well.

Thats what I do, mines just a light, and for the cost to make it right, not worth it. And besides it doesnt affect a thing

[wing0]

Some people just use electrical tape to cover up the light. To me, it's probably more important to have TPMS during winter time because of temperature affecting PSI.

[CaptSmethwick]

OP: Check here: http://www.toyotatpms.com/. I deduce from what I've read here (and on that link) and what I've heard from colleagues and neighbours, your TPMS is a sensor/transmitter located in your valve stem (see here: http://www.aa1car.com/library/tire_monitors.htm). Clearly, your system doesn't take readings all that frequently (if it worked fine for 5 days) - perhaps it's reading intervals are distance-based?

So, you either live with it or spring for sensors to be mounted inside your wheels.

FWIW, I bought lightly used OEM alloy wheels through ebay for both of our vehicles to use as winter wheels - and they both came with TPMS. As a consequence, the seasonal swap is seamless for me. The downside is that when I swap the tires every 4 years, I'm also springing for new sensors and it adds up...

[conix67]

Sounds like you do have TPMS sensors in each wheel. This is a better system than ABS sensor indirect method anyway. It does take few days before the warning lights are lit permanently and you cannot reset it as far as I know.

The TPMS sensors are very useful, unless you check your tire pressure regularly.

[vim]

I still believe that I do not have sensors for TPMS and it is based on ABS. In the past I had multiple cases when TPMS warned me about tire with low air (one of my original tires appears to be slowly leaking) and adding air to tire always used to reset warning after driving about 2km.
I reset TPMS yesterday multiple times and this morning again. This morning driving back to work TPMS warning light disappeared. Maybe all I needed was to drive a bit longer after reset? Yesterday after reset I did drive, but just very short distance.
Thanks everybody for your help!

[chickenbones]

Lexus also has TPMS sensor for the spare tire, something ppl might miss.

[smacd]

If you store your summers with TPMS near where you park, ie in your garage, the sensors will reset themselves each night.