on my 2011 Highlander had the tpms light come on. I didn't even know it had tpms and my mechanic said that they have been mandated for several years, WHO KNEW? :)It first came on months back, checked the pressures all OK, so had the diagnosis that position 1 was bad. He said that "1" was left front usually but I haven't checked with Toyota for confirmation.checked on the internet and prices ranged from $2.38 to $71.62??? with labor about 70$. I assume that is per tire and mechanic said he could change just the one. he wouldn't pull the fuse which would be option A, and option B would be to put a piece of black tape over the light. does anybody know which is position 1 on my vehicle? is there a fuse so I can pull it? the mechanic said he couldn't do that.any suggestions? I've driven for 60 + years without them so I can wait until I get new tires to get it replaced.thanksbumpy

The piece of tape over the light would be the easiest "fix"...

Each sensor has a position number. When tires are rotated or replaced the number 1 could have moved. My spare tire also has a sensor. Make sure you check pressure in it (only on full size spares)You can lower pressure in a tire, determine it's number. Will have to do it with each.Don't forget the sensors have a battery!

add or remove air and see which one changes.

The newest vehicles don't have battery's in the sensors. Not sure about a 2011. Changing wheel postition has no effect on these and the vehicle will figure it out. If you change the pressure and it doesn't show until the wheel makes a few revolutions, it has no battery.

Any good shop could hold the scan tool near the wheel and see which one was bad.

tpms issues | Good Sam Community

ktmrfs
Explorer II
Jan 05, 2019
wa8yxm wrote:
Thanks I did not know the date (my care is a 2001)

I also described the basic operation. The ABS Sensor types need no batteries (Well one big 12 volt job but that one also starts the car).

Frankly I'm not sure which is better.. but I kind of like the ABS sensor type because its hard to get a false reading from a passing vehicle that happen to have the same ESN on one of its wheels Seen that with by RF type sensord (Radio).

each type has advantages/disadvantages. the in tire monitor can give pressure readout ABS can't. On my vehicles with TPMS I can see tire pressure on all 4 tires if I desire on the instrument display. The ABS system doesn't require a battery nor does it require you to match tire to position if you rotate or swap winter and summer tires.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Jan 04, 2019
Thanks I did not know the date (my care is a 2001)

I also described the basic operation. The ABS Sensor types need no batteries (Well one big 12 volt job but that one also starts the car).

Frankly I'm not sure which is better.. but I kind of like the ABS sensor type because its hard to get a false reading from a passing vehicle that happen to have the same ESN on one of its wheels Seen that with by RF type sensord (Radio).
lryrob9301
Explorer
Jan 04, 2019
fj12ryder wrote:
wa8yxm wrote:
DO not know what Position one is but do know where the senors are. there are two kinds and yes they have been mandated for some years now.. (You ask who knew.. I for one and many others here as well)
...
Thank you for that little tidbit of information. I had no idea that TPMS for cars/trucks were mandatory. Thanks for the heads-up.

The Act mandated the use of a suitable TPMS technology in all light motor vehicles (under 10,000 pounds), to help alert drivers of under-inflation events. This act affects all light motor vehicles sold after September 1, 2007. As per NHTSA.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Jan 04, 2019
wa8yxm wrote:
DO not know what Position one is but do know where the senors are. there are two kinds and yes they have been mandated for some years now.. (You ask who knew.. I for one and many others here as well)
...
Thank you for that little tidbit of information. I had no idea that TPMS for cars/trucks were mandatory. Thanks for the heads-up.
enblethen
Nomad
Jan 04, 2019
All my vehicles have TPMS equipped with batteries. Boss's car has dash read out for pressure. My car only identifies low pressure. All are equipped with batteries.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Jan 04, 2019
DO not know what Position one is but do know where the senors are. there are two kinds and yes they have been mandated for some years now.. (You ask who knew.. I for one and many others here as well)

Some vehicles use teh ABS sensors and assume if one wheel is consistantly spinning faster than the other the tire on that wheel is "Smaller" WHich means under inflated.

The others use actual pressure senders in the rim.. You remove the tire. remove the sensor replace the sensor. re-mount and re-blance if necesaary and job done.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Jan 04, 2019
thanks for the ideas. the tires have been rotated many times so that sort of muddies the water. Or do the sensors in the tires get "read" by a sensor permanently located near each tire position, so sensor 1 is always located left/front?? In that case the easiest/cheapest first step would be to just switch the two front tires and see if the "low" tire is now at position 2????
I think the black tape idea is it for now until I need new tires. spare is not full size, but that was a good idea.
thanks,
bumpy
K_Charles
Explorer
Jan 04, 2019
Any good shop could hold the scan tool near the wheel and see which one was bad.
ScottG
Nomad
Jan 04, 2019
The newest vehicles don't have battery's in the sensors. Not sure about a 2011. Changing wheel postition has no effect on these and the vehicle will figure it out.
If you change the pressure and it doesn't show until the wheel makes a few revolutions, it has no battery.
Charlie_D_
Explorer
Jan 04, 2019
add or remove air and see which one changes.

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