The tire pressure sensor monitors your car’s tire pressure. It relays the information to the car’s computer, which processes the data and displays the reading on the dashboard, also showing a warning light if the pressure is low.
The tire pressure sensor can fail for a number of reasons, heat especially. Being located in a wheel area, much heat is generated around the tire pressure sensor.
Heat will definitely destroy an electronic component such as a TPMS sensor, so it is good to know what to do if you have a bad TPMS sensor.
What is a Tire Pressure Sensor?
The tire pressure sensor is essential in keeping your vehicle in great condition for any situation. The tire pressure sensor measures the air pressure in your tires and lets you know if the air pressure is low.
The tire pressure sensor has batteries that cannot be replaced, so after a few years the battery will be depleted and you will need a new tire pressure sensor. This is the most common reason for a replacement.
The life expectancy of batteries in a tire pressure sensor is 5 – 10+ years, depending on the model.
Tire Pressure Sensor Location
There is a tire pressure sensor in each of your car’s tires, they are located on the inner side of the rim opposite the valve.
You should be able to see the sensor once you take the tire off the rim. It looks like a small cylinder.
How to tell which TPMS sensor is bad?
The best way to determine which TPMS sensor is bad is by reading the trouble codes with an OBD2 Scanner.
If your car has the display of each wheel’s tire pressure on the dash, you can refer to that display to see if one of the pressures is out of line.
Most cars will require an automotive scan tool to read the codes from the TPMS system and not just the ECU.
Symptoms Of A Bad Tire Pressure Sensor (TPMS)
The primary sign of a faulty tire pressure sensor is a TPMS warning light that shows up on your dashboard. You may also see other indirect indications such as low air pressure in the tires or false warning lights on your dashboard.
As a sensor is an electric component, it is a “thing” that can deteriorate over time. Additionally, factors such as “incorrect” power supply, dirt, heat and dust can greatly affect the performance of the sensor. There are noticeable changes to the car when this happens.
Here is a list of signs to watch for a bad or failing tire pressure sensor (TPMS).
#1. Low Air Pressure in the Tires.
The tire pressure sensor’s job is to warn you when your tire is low. Therefore, if your tires are flat or you have trouble driving your car, the tire pressure sensor has failed or is not working well. The sensor must be working properly to make a valid assessment.
So, if you don’t have warning signs on the dashboard, then you must have the sensor checked by an authorized mechanic. You should check your tire pressure with a Tire Pressure Gauge.
#2. TPMS Warning Light Illuminates.
The ECU, or PCM, collects information from all the sensors and has the ability to turn on warning flashing on the dashboard when it determined something was wrong with the sensors.
When, for example, a tire pressure sensor is reading out of the ordinary, the ECU will turn on the TPMS light on your dashboard.
A good idea, is to have a mechanic get to the root of the real problem of the TPMS symbol. You may also see the message “tire pressure sensor fault” on your dashboard message area.
#3. Incorrect Warnings.
If the tire pressure sensor is not working properly, the DIC will warn you incorrectly. The sensor can say you have a flat tire even if you do not.
The sensor can indicate low tire pressure even if you just inflated the tire to the proper pressure. But warnings like this should be addressed because they may restrict future problems.
Tire Pressure Sensor Replacement Cost
The average cost to replace a tire pressure sensor is approximately $40 to $100 for EACH sensor. For all four tire pressure sensors, you can expect to pay about $160 to $500. Each tire pressure sensor also costs about $30 to $70 to purchase.
When you consider the labor cost, it is about $10 to $30 for EACH tire. Before you decide to replace your tire pressure sensor, it’s best to really consider the myriad of mechanics in your area.
They are not all the same, and not everyone who refers to himself as a mechanic is a mechanic. Inexperienced mechanics are less expensive, and so you may be attracted to them for your own work.
However, choosing inexperienced, or perhaps even unqualified, mechanics is, frankly, a bad choice that could potentially be more costly for you in the long run. Although it may be an uncomfortable choice, it is really best to trust your vehicle to a qualified mechanic, regardless of which repair you have done.
Do not forget to always reset the TPMS light after a TPMS sensor has been replaced. You must also consider the fluctuating cost of the tire pressure sensor itself.
There is no fixed price on a tire pressure sensor. Every sensor varies, as will every car. The cost of the tire pressure sensor you pay for will depend on the make, model, and year of your vehicle.
The older the car, the more you will spend on finding and replacing the part; the more modern the car, the less you will spend, although that is not always the case. For example, imported vehicle parts will be much more than domestically produced parts.
Finally, the cost that you pay will depend on the number of sensors that need be replaced. A tire pressure sensor is located for each of the tires on your vehicle. So as you can imagine, if two or three of the sensors are in need of replacement, you are looking at costs of nearly a thousand dollars if all three are replaced.