The last time I had a dead TPMS sensor in my 2010 RX, I watched a YouTube video narrated by a guy who was using Techstream, and who claimed he read the 7-digit code off the sensor itself and wrote it down. He then punched the code into the software.


I proceed to order a cheap sensor from TPMS.com and it came with no such code printed on the device. I installed it but then had to go to a tire shop for programming. BTW I have the Techstream software.

I have another dead sensor. I don’t want to have to go to a tire shop, and I don’t want to spend $150 on a scan tool that I will use 2 or 3 times. Can anyone tell me what kind of TPMS sensor I should buy that has the code printed on it?

 

A number of companies make compatible sensors including Dill and Pacific. I think TRW also does but I'm not certain. The ID has always been stamped on the sensor body from my experience and I think the ID's were also on labels on the boxes they came in. I've bought the last two sets of sensors from Tire Rack and Costco. Tire Rack included the Pacific sensor ID's on the invoice but I asked for that - don't know if that is the way they always do it. I bought the last set from Costco - Dill Redi-Sensor. I know I could get sensors cheaper online but I'll likely buy them only at Costco in the future now that I know they sell them them and since I've been buying our tires there for over 15 years.

I assume you meant that you had to go to a tire shop to get the sensor ID read directly from the sensor with a handheld tool so that you could enter the ID into your Techstream. I use an $150 ATEQ Quickset handheld programming tool when I do the winter/summer tire/wheel changeover on our vehicles but it can't read ID's directly from the sensors.