I have a 2006 SC430. The TPMS light comes on while driving then goes off. All tires are at correct pressure. I think one of the sensor batteries is failing. I wish to take a less expensive way to replace all of the tire pressure sensors than going to the Lexus dealer if I can. I know that in this car that they are strapped to the inside of the after market wheels. I assume that some of the aftermarket sensors, other than the expensive ones at Lexus will work but I would like to make sure before buying them and heading to the nearest tire store.

Does anyone have experience doing the replacement this way? It would also seem that any tire shop could do the re-calibration and it should be an easy project. I see in some discussions here that some sensors are color coded, but since this car just shows when one tire is low, not which one, would color coding be necessary?

I have read about disabling the TPMS but really wish to let it working.Thanks for some guidance.Frank

 

I just replaced mine in a 2006 and they are in fact the last year of the color coded sensors. I do not know what you mean by strapped to the inside of the rim. The sensors are in the valve stem. Aftermarket sensors will work but they will not interface with the car and your light will stay on unless you disable the system. I bought the Toyota brand sensor from mylexusparts.com for about 68 dollars each. Others have found them at other vendors for about the same price. the problem you will have with the color coded sensors is pairing them with the car. It takes Techstream software to do so. Most independents do not have the capability. I had mine put in at Firestone when I bought new tires. They tried to pair the sensors but were unsuccessful. I have the software and had no trouble at all. Took all of about 5 minutes. The local Toyota shop wanted about $250 to pair the four. Let us know how you want to proceed and one of us that has done this in the past will help.

 

Frank,
First of all, welcome to the forum.
The TP sensors are unique to the Lexus. Most tire shops do not have the ability to read or program the TPS. I know, I'm going through that exercise right now myself. There are a few independents that can do it. If you are in the DFW area, I can recommend a couple of places that will cheaper than the dealer but still not cheap. The cheapest route is to get the Techstream (many threads on this on the forum) and use it to identify the ones with the batteries that are dying, purchase them and have them replaced. Then you can use the Techstream to reprogram them into the system. I'm not aware of cheaper ones that will work with the SC430 TPS monitor though and have never seen any comments that anyone has found them either. Others have disconnected the system and installed their own with a separate display. But I think that those are your options.

Harold

 

Got this done on my 2005 a few times for color coded sensors. I bought OEM Lexus sensors and they were $240 for a set of 4 at online stores. I got Costco to install them but Costco could not program them so the TPMS light stayed on. I had to go back to Lexus to get the programming done and charges were different at different dealers. I got it done for $130 at the lowest price Lexus dealer I could find. All are fine now.

 

Thanks Everyone for the quick comments. The sensors that are in it now are strapped to the inside of the wheel with a large hose clamp looking thing - I see those shown on the internet - and they show the ones with the stem, just not attached to the wheel through the usual hole and strapped in that way - I don't know why. I am in Boerne, Texas, outside of San Antonio. A local garage that I trust and who changed tires before wants $129 for each sensor and $15 each to install and program for a total of $575 plus tax. From what everyone says, Lexus would be more than that and I am starting to think that this may be my best bet to save the PITA factor as unpleasant as that price seems to be for a simple thing like this.

This is a great car - I have spent little on it so far, having owned it for a lot longer time that other fun cars like this in the past so maybe this expense isn't too bad after all. It has 40,600 miles on it, looks and runs great. I can see why all of you owners like them so much.

 

 

 

Once again to everyone, I really do appreciate your comments and help with this. Local garage now says that they are not sure that they can reprogram the sensors for $575 and that I might have to go to Lexus after all. Lexus says they will do the whole thing for $632.00. I don't have the Techstream program and the experience to deal with it. So... I think that I will disable for now, check the tires myself as I have done for 50+ years until I find someone that has Techstream and knows how to use it - then I'll buy the sensors with the numbers shown here.

It's not that I can't afford the job, I just don't see the value right now.

 

You can go this route if you want...
One of the two styles fits exactly into our cigarette lighter spot. Also it gives you the actual pressure, instead of a low pressure light.

 

Okay - this seems like the best way to go. Thanks again to everyone for the great advice, and options.

Frank

 

Hey Frank ( @Franck ) ,

Before you buy anything, look at this post. (About half way down) https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc4...-today-22.html

It is where I got the idea. It also looks like @Bon 's is round.

 

Hi Daryl,

This looks good also and the reviews are pretty good, seems like the more current reviews are better than the older ones.

You mentioned before that the Versafe on Amazon had two styles, one that fit the lighter compartment perfectly and that there were two styles, but I don't see but one on the Amazon site and it looks like it is too big for the lighter compartment for my 2006 SC430 which I think is the same for your 2005. Can you show me/us how to see the other style that would apparently fit better like you have?

Thanks again.

Frank

 

This is the one Bon said he used

 

This one is the same style, cheaper and gets better reviews

 

I had ordered the Carchet already and it was processed for shipping by the time that I saw this. It will be here Friday and I am interested in seeing how it works and if the door to the ashtray compartment closes when it is installed - didn't check into that assuming that it does. If all goes well, even with the extra 10 bucks cost of this unit over the Vesafe, it will be a very good solution to the problem - save dealership money and have actual readings of tire pressure. I am disabling the TPMS today.

Thanks for the alternative suggestion.