So yesterday, I'm driving at night and on the left instruments cluster there is this blinking (!) in orange. I'm like, great what just went wrong. (It had been blinking longer but didn't see it during the day.)

I find out it's the tire pressure warning system so I began to give all my tires a thorough looking over - I read in the manual that it should be SOLID orange and NOT bllinking and I may have a malfunction. I find no nails in the tire and all tire pressure's being equal. Then I read this ALSO applies to the spare; Guess what? I removed the spare when I ran it on the track a few days before. It operates on a radio frequency for each wheel and when removed it senses the spare is not with the vehicle!!! what a trip! I went to pick it up at the house, slid it near my rig, and sure enough the light went off.

Just thought I'd share in case anyone removes the spare or doesn't change the wheel sensors over when getting new wheels. These 4th Gens never cease to amaze me.....

 

New-fangled doohickeys... gotta love 'em.

 

what the hell are those little "32" caps for, by the way? i don't have the sensors that you are talking about because nothing has ever happened when i've removed the spare .... but,,, in the same area, do you know what those caps are for? they don't do anything, and they LIE!

 

Hey fellas,

the valve stems with the sensors are bolted in and they are silver in color. If yours are black, you are goin old school. BTW, if you guys have the remote sensors and need to have tires mounted or dismounted, tell the tech working on your rig. I mounted a new sensor the other day, Firestone dude was patching a tire and destoryed the remote sensor. I believe it was in the $75-100 price range. Not to Mention a PITA to reprogram a new frequency for the vehicle.The sensors also montior tire temp and adjust for the pressure difference. Its pretty sweet. Just a heads up! =)

MJ

--Btw, we took off a spare and walked it out about 100 feet and the computer still recieved a signal!

 

I'm not a fella!

But anyway, ohhh, so I guess I may have that sensor system, because I didn't try walking away with the spare.

 

4route, you don't have the system, it began with the '04's.

4Legz, that's the first I've heard that the sensors monitor temperatures and adjust pressures. You sure about that? I thought it was a low pressure alerting system only.

 

sorry 4Route, was doin Jimmy from South Park! I knew that would bite me in the ass!

BT, it doesnt adjust pressure but it takes into account the diff in pressure with a cold and warm tire, without triggering the light.

MJ

 

thats too cool... yet another thing to add to the list of tempting new items...

 

4Legz - "on the fir ,... fir ... firss ... fir ... first d... d... da... day of Christma ... ma ... masssss ..."

 

Nice. Maybe I didn't give it enough time to register. I brought the tire near the curb away from the vehicle and it was still blinking. Its all good now though.

Side note :

I just put on 275/70/17 Revos with the toyota sport wheels at Discount Tire and had all the sensors changed over to the new wheels (given to me from my buddy who got new wheels for his SE).... done deal! whoo hoo!! pics to come, for real now Obviously with the NE spacers and revtek lift NO rubbing anywhere, TONS of space between fender top and tire and drives perfect. yay.

 

Wow, that is amazing. I didnt even know that sort of technology existed!

 

So Im assuming that when you air down your tires for offroading your going to have this stupid light flashing the whole time.

Mike.

 

Vudbster, yes..that does suck......black it out with some electrical tape!

i believe the sensor trips the light after a decrease of 6psi. Hope this helps.

MJ

...very much

 

WOW! I never knew that! I trought it only come on when the tires is flat?

 

bah... i want them

 

You can get them at http://www.smartire.com and TireRack. My local Big-O also had them for a while. Toyota appears to be contracting with SmarTire for OEM supply. SmarTire has a better display system showing all tire pressures and temps. You can download the manual from their site. Problem is that if you get a total flat, it is possible for the tire to come down on the sending unit in the valvestem and break the unit. Another company makes them with the sender mounted to the center inside of the wheel, but they also can break if a tire blows. Also as mentioned above the tire guys have not seen enough of them yet and tend to break them. If not mandatory in '04 they problably will be in '05.

 

Yeah, you definitely need some sort of sensor to keep you from running into everything. Just trade it in for a bumper car. .

 

the light was on on my gf's 04 when we test drove it. they didnt even unwrap it when we tested it out, then immediately bought it. you guys notice that all 4runners originate from portland OR? i did. so the 1 mile on our sr5 was from driving it on and off the boat, and the transport to the dealer in portland. the 3000+miles we put on her right after we broke her in, well, that happens when you move cross country