Hey guys, my TPMS light came on this past Saturday while driving. It flashed for 60 seconds and then stayed static after that. Strangely enough, it disappeared after some more time driving that same day. Yesterday, I was driving again and it came back on (flashing for 60 seconds again and staying static) and now it's still on, hasn't disappeared. None of the readings are displaying when I change the instrument cluster display to show my tire pressures, just the (---) on each tire.

Does this mean that at least one of the sensors is bad? If so, how should I go about resolving this? Should I just get new sensors and have them programmed at a Lexus dealer? Anyone have some more 'cost-effective' alternatives? Thanks.

 

Yeah. Low battery in one or more. Are these your originals or changed some time ago? Batteries last between 8-10yrs. Most tire places can scan the tires to check to tell which it is. After a bit more time, even that intermittent display will stop and be "--" on all due to one or more not present, and TPMS light will be solid.

Do a search to get more info on suggestions on aftermarket/oem/prices etc... Many threads on it.Then decide to get them changed or wait until your next tire change, etc.

 

Thanks for the reply. I believe they are the original TPMS, I've only had my GS for 5 months now (I never saw any records regarding TPMS replacement in the Lexus service history). It's MY13 so it's likely that the sensors are on their way out. The display already has (---) for every tire and the TPMS light is solid like you say. One of my rims has a bend in it from a previous owner (...I also wanted to get new rims), so I might be better off just replacing all rims and finding a set that comes with *relatively* newer TPMS. I would just have to get those reprogrammed for my car, correct? Sorry, I've never dealt with TPMS before.

 

Yeah, When replacing the rims, it is easier to just put on the new ones (Denso on rockauto $35/40) and have them programmed in is the way to go. If not tire shops will only use their brands and program in. But do go into Sams/Costco/any tire place and they can check each tire using their handheld scanner to see which has the low battery. It takes them 5 mins. That way you can confirm it.

 

Did you check your tires?

 

Tires *should be* good. When the TPMS light briefly went away and I was able to check the pressures via instrument cluster, all readings looked good. I'm guessing it's more likely that my sensors are just going bad given the age of the car and that my wheels are factory original.

 

If they are going bad, how do we know if the readings are accurate? Best to get another digital gauge to measure if they are accurate.

 

Most of the Big box tire stores can read the sensors wireless and tell you which are not reading and why you have this problem for free.

 

Thank you Red4GS and jgscott for your replies.

I have an interesting update for this thread.. Since my last post in here, I've been driving with the TPMS light on for the past few days. Yesterday, I was driving home from work and cycling through my instrument cluster displays and came to the TPMS information screen only to see that the PSI measurements were back?? Ever since that TPMS light came on, each tire read (---) on the screen. Yesterday, it had the measurements AND it looked like my front passenger and rear driver tires were under optimal PSI (they were highlighted yellow). When I got home, I measured those two with a gauge and it looked like the sensors were displaying the correct information. So I filled up the two tires, saw the TPMS light *FINALLY* disappear from my cluster, cycled through the display and saw my nice lovely PSI measurements instead of the (---) and I was happy.

Now here comes the twist: This morning on my way to work, with the TPMS light NOT on after my resolution yesterday, I cycled through the display and now all the measurements are gone again (---)... So the TPMS light ISN'T ON but it's also NOT REPORTING the PSI. Am I going crazy? Did they just whack out with total unexpected behavior?

I was already pretty unfamiliar with dealing with TPMS, and I thought from my initial post, all signs pointed to the TPMS sensors going bad, but now I'm just confused because everything keeps flip-flopping and a lot of it makes no logical sense to me

 

If you had a scan tool, it'd tell you which sensor(s) were giving the error.

Or at least swing by a tire place and have them scan the sensors for battery level. I would imagine it's free. If you have one sensor that is at the end of low battery, it might be casing the intermittent readings.

 

If the others were not replaced it's just a matter of time that more than one battery will be going down soon unfortunately.

 

Pretty normal. Esp when one or more of sensors have low battery. It is intermittent. It may have previous readings, ---, or it just woke up for a reading and starts the flashing light which then becomes solid. It is mostly either start temperature, timing, or temperature change. The temp change (say 33 going to 36) is when readings happen. But when low battery now becomes dead, then -- will be it. Until then there might be intermittent numbers. Also low battery does not mean wrong readings. It is either number or --. Regardless, after some time all will be -- and flashing. After 2 IDs are gone, no more flashing but a solid light.

This is why it helps to confirm if one or more batteries on way out. Though folks might replace 1 at a time, all 4 are of same age so it is a matter of time. And since sensor IDs have to be programmed back, it does not make sense to do 1 at a time. Another reason is to confirm that it is just sensors/battery and not "TPMS" as in system. This is also another scam repair places uses as soon as TMPS light is lit. Just know that it is as simple as low battery. In my case it was ID1 and later ID3. In my cousin's case, she was told it was major repair, which I corrected. Funny that I bought this same car from her afterwards.