Where is the sensor thingie located? Just want to know, so I won't screw anything up if I get a flat tire in the future.

 

Right on the valve stem

 

Anyone have a picture of what the actual sensor looks like? And how it's connected to the valve? Most of the systems I've seen have the sensor strapped to the center hub.

 

It looks like this:

 

How do I know if the battery cell is dead? If I have a flat tire and bring it to a tire shop for a repair, what do I need to know, so the guy doesn't mess up the sensor?

 

Hey, thanks. But like the previous poster asked, how do I know when to replace the battery? Do I just do it everytime I change tires? What size is the battery? Often, when changing tires the valve is damaged and needs replacing. Can a new valve be attached to original sensor? This seems like Mickey Mouse technology.

 

Valve can be replaced (see the previous diagram). Stem cannot. I'd suggest going to a better shop that knows how to replace tires proplerly.

 

Expected life span is 5 years. It is not possible to replace the battery according to the tech data available. Lexus expects you will replace the sensor when it fails and part of the spec for the system is fault notification.

If you absolutely must know if the sensor is working, drop the pressure more than 5.8 psi in 30 seconds. This will force the sensor to transmit its ID number to the receiver, and if it is working, it will (likely) show a problem.

 

Does the TPMS tell you which tire has lost pressure and by how much? Will it be indicated on the instrument gauge cluster as FR, FL, RR or RL.

 

unfortunately, it doesn't. people have been complaining about it although it's not too big of a deal. it takes all but 2-3 minutes to check all 4 tires.