Non-OEM TPMS programming
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Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 11
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From: Hawaii
Non-OEM TPMS programming
Aloha All,
I have a 2016 Lexus RX 350 base model and I purchased a set of aftermarket 20 in with 275/45-20 and a set of nice Dcenti rims. Looks badass but the issue I came across is the issue I am having with the TPMS. The set of tires and rims came with aftermarket TPMS installed. I had my mechanic friend read the TPMS using his Autel TS501 and it reads all four TPMS sensors. The problem is the car does not accept the new TPMS when we tried to upload it to the vehicle ECU. I took it to Firestone and they also ran into the same problem. I even took it to our local Servco Lexus dealership here in Honolulu and they also cannot upload it in the vehicle ECU. So, in short, my TPMS idiot light remains lit now. Tried everything I know but the vehicle's ECU does not accept the aftermarket TPMS. Has anyone come across this issue and is there a work around this other than taking the bulb off the TPMS idiot light. The rims and tires look good. The Lexus dealership says to put the OEM TPMS and tires for the ECU to accept it. There has got to be a way to solve this. I even bought a set of four Toyota/Lexus OEM TPMS sensors but I have not placed them inside the nice rims. Would sure appreciate if someone has a way to solve this for me. Thanks.
I have a 2016 Lexus RX 350 base model and I purchased a set of aftermarket 20 in with 275/45-20 and a set of nice Dcenti rims. Looks badass but the issue I came across is the issue I am having with the TPMS. The set of tires and rims came with aftermarket TPMS installed. I had my mechanic friend read the TPMS using his Autel TS501 and it reads all four TPMS sensors. The problem is the car does not accept the new TPMS when we tried to upload it to the vehicle ECU. I took it to Firestone and they also ran into the same problem. I even took it to our local Servco Lexus dealership here in Honolulu and they also cannot upload it in the vehicle ECU. So, in short, my TPMS idiot light remains lit now. Tried everything I know but the vehicle's ECU does not accept the aftermarket TPMS. Has anyone come across this issue and is there a work around this other than taking the bulb off the TPMS idiot light. The rims and tires look good. The Lexus dealership says to put the OEM TPMS and tires for the ECU to accept it. There has got to be a way to solve this. I even bought a set of four Toyota/Lexus OEM TPMS sensors but I have not placed them inside the nice rims. Would sure appreciate if someone has a way to solve this for me. Thanks.
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 613
Likes: 86
From: Quebec, Canada
TPMS programming
Hi Everyone.
Last Fall I went to Lexus to buy a set of TPMS at the parts counter (plus a set of 18" mags for my winter tires). The guy asks me if they are going to install them, I told them that I bought my tires at Costco and they are going to install an program them. He then tells me that since the 2013 model they cannot, only Lexus can. Others can screw the computer doing so.
The Costco tech tells me that it's bull**** that they are able to.
So I proceed to install my new wheels, TPMS and tires at Costco. But they fail to program the TPMS... after two visits.
I then took an appointent at Lexus to program then... they failed as well!
Ends up that the guy at the counter did not sell me the right model of TPMS for my 2016 RX. I learned that when I came back to pick it up. So they removed the tires, changed the valves, put back the tires and re-balance the wheels. All that free of charge since they recognized their mistake.
But in the end, I still don't know if Costco (or any other place) really can program them since the model of TPMS was wrong...
Anybody can confirm me if they can or not?
Last Fall I went to Lexus to buy a set of TPMS at the parts counter (plus a set of 18" mags for my winter tires). The guy asks me if they are going to install them, I told them that I bought my tires at Costco and they are going to install an program them. He then tells me that since the 2013 model they cannot, only Lexus can. Others can screw the computer doing so.
The Costco tech tells me that it's bull**** that they are able to.
So I proceed to install my new wheels, TPMS and tires at Costco. But they fail to program the TPMS... after two visits.
I then took an appointent at Lexus to program then... they failed as well!
Ends up that the guy at the counter did not sell me the right model of TPMS for my 2016 RX. I learned that when I came back to pick it up. So they removed the tires, changed the valves, put back the tires and re-balance the wheels. All that free of charge since they recognized their mistake.
But in the end, I still don't know if Costco (or any other place) really can program them since the model of TPMS was wrong...
Anybody can confirm me if they can or not?
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 301
Likes: 139
From: CO
I had the same issue. Discount tire was unable to clone my factory sensor ID's into the new sensors in my 2nd set of wheels. The Lexus dealer said they would use Techstream to program the new ID's into the car's system (for $120 or some ridiculous price). I didn't go this route, because you would have to change the TPMS ID's every time you change wheels sets. I purchased the techstream device/ software on amazon, did it didn't work on my 16' RX. I opted to live with the TPMS warning light on my winter set, and put the factory sensors in my summer wheels.
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 613
Likes: 86
From: Quebec, Canada
No the TPMS have been changed for the good ones. I am asking for the next winter if I go at Costco to switch wheels, will they be able to program them in?
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 301
Likes: 139
From: CO
If they successfully cloned your sensors ID's (both share the exact numbers), no reprogramming is necessary. I would like to know if they were able to do this...
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 613
Likes: 86
From: Quebec, Canada
I had the same issue. Discount tire was unable to clone my factory sensor ID's into the new sensors in my 2nd set of wheels. The Lexus dealer said they would use Techstream to program the new ID's into the car's system (for $120 or some ridiculous price). I didn't go this route, because you would have to change the TPMS ID's every time you change wheels sets. I purchased the techstream device/ software on amazon, did it didn't work on my 16' RX. I opted to live with the TPMS warning light on my winter set, and put the factory sensors in my summer wheels.
Costco charges about 5$ a wheel while Lexux changes 20$. I prefer the first one since I bought my tires there, balancing and fill them with Nitrogen is free, and the installion and TPMS programing is much cheaper too.
Last edited by PeeVee; May 3, 2017 at 04:56 AM.
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Joined: Apr 2017
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From: Quebec, Canada
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 642
Likes: 52
From: Alberta
Similar situation. I had Lexus supply my the TPMS valves and fitment kits and then handed over a new set of wheels and the TPMS hardware to Costco. From previous experience with a 2015 NX, I knew that Costco couldn't program them. In Fall 2015, Costco wasn't even able to read the TPMS codes using their methods. I actually got a call from the tire technician asking if Lexus supplied dud TPMS sensors. However, I was able to program them myself using the Carista app. If you go this route, it's always handy to write down the TPMS codes first so that you always have them for future reference.
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 613
Likes: 86
From: Quebec, Canada
Similar situation. I had Lexus supply my the TPMS valves and fitment kits and then handed over a new set of wheels and the TPMS hardware to Costco. From previous experience with a 2015 NX, I knew that Costco couldn't program them. In Fall 2015, Costco wasn't even able to read the TPMS codes using their methods. I actually got a call from the tire technician asking if Lexus supplied dud TPMS sensors. However, I was able to program them myself using the Carista app. If you go this route, it's always handy to write down the TPMS codes first so that you always have them for future reference.
http://www.caristaapp.com/vehicle/Lexus/RX/2016
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 642
Likes: 52
From: Alberta
There is no mention of TPMS on their site, but thanks for the tip!
http://www.caristaapp.com/vehicle/Lexus/RX/2016
http://www.caristaapp.com/vehicle/Lexus/RX/2016
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 43
Likes: 20
From: Hawaii
My local car shop said their tpms programming is not able to program the 2016 RX yet..... i did buy tpms from ebay for a older model RX so im still not 100% sure if it was the tpms or they really dont have the equipment to program
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 613
Likes: 86
From: Quebec, Canada
That was my case at first, the sensors are not compatible, they had to change them to make it work.
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