I bought a set of PACIFIC brand sensors for my aftermarket rims, now the question is the dealership wants to charge 170 to program the new sensors. I was like WTF. Just wondering what does everyone esle do? If I were to just swap sensors from my stock wheels to my aftermarket will it work?

 

Depends. What kind of aftermarket wheels do you have? If I am not mistaken, there are only a few aftermarket rims that work with the stock sensors??? Toyota probably will program them for cheaper then your Lexus dealership.

 

alot of people i know got it programmed during their personal settings or during a service for FREE. it takes them less than 5 mins to plug the computer to it and enter the codes if they have the sensors in hand.

most 1 peice wheels are TPMS compatible. multipiece wheels you will either drill, strap or use the valve adaptors. I've decided to drill since mine keep coming loose inside the wheel using the strap method. 1 wheel drilled so far...waiting til i have to dismount tires to drill the rest. Did it myself with a 7/16" drill bit...easier than I thought.

 

went to local toyota dealership, was quoted $99 for programming second set of TPMS, install, and mount new rims with new tires. I was very pleased with their service as well.

 

I know that safety is priority, but this whole TPMS is total crap another $$ grap by auto industry...I've been driving over 20yrs. w/o tpms & no problems.

There is a battery in the tpms unit inside the tire that has to be replace when it dies, so you pay for the battery, reprogramming, mounting & possible rebalancing...also possible buying new tpms unit b/c they are very delicate & possible damage could happen during tire removal from the wheel.

I have new aftermarket wheels & plan not to use tpms on them, & plan to store my oem wheels(use them for winter time) but will the battery in the existing tpms expire over time?

 

The OEM sensor batteries are rated to last 10 years

 

Call around to different dealerships and try to find one will do it for free.

 

I have to disagree with you here. Many of us have driven in the old days (I started driving in 1953) more than 20 years without safety items like seatbelts, padded dashes, turn signals, air bags, etc. and have lived through it. That doesn’t mean these devices are worthless; it means we were just lucky back then.

Besides, adding TMPS to new cars was a federal requirement, not initiated by the auto industry. The law stems from all those deaths from blowouts a few years ago, mainly on Ford SUV’s that were eventually blamed on under-inflated tires.

 

definitely call around to find the cheapest price. Most dealers will charge you 1 hour of work, while others will only charge you 30mins. If you're lucky they'll do it for free as a complimentary service.

I got mine programmed for $62, 30 min labor charge.

 

True, and in addition, TPMS is more important now because of low profile tires. It is much easier to visually observe that an 80 series (aspect ratio) tire is a few pounds low than a 40 series tire.