The tire pressure monitoring system uses a sensor inside each wheel to report pressure to the car, and it warns you when a tire is low. AutoTech Clinic tests, replaces and relearns TPMS sensors at our Dearborn shop, usually the same day.
A TPMS light that stays on after you set the pressures usually means a dead sensor battery or a sensor that has not been relearned to the vehicle. A light that flashes before staying on means a system fault rather than a low tire.
- How Long
- About 30 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on how many sensors.
- Same Day
- Usually finished the same day.
- Vehicles
- Foreign and domestic, cars through trucks.
Signs You Need TPMS Sensors
- The tire pressure light stays on after you have set all four pressures
- The light flashes for about a minute at startup, then stays on
- One tire position reads no pressure or a dashed value on the display
- The light came on after fitting a second set of wheels
- The sensors are more than seven to ten years old
- A valve stem that is corroded or snapped off
What We Do
- 01
Read Each Sensor
We use a TPMS tool to read each sensor individually for pressure, temperature, battery condition and ID.
- 02
Separate Fault From Low Tire
A steady light means low pressure. A light that flashes first and then stays on means a system fault, and those are different problems.
- 03
Check the Valve Hardware
The valve stem, nut, seal and core are a service kit that should be replaced whenever a tire is dismounted. Corrosion here is a common leak source.
- 04
Replace What Has Failed
Sensor batteries are sealed and are not serviceable, so a sensor with a dead battery is replaced with one programmed to your vehicle.
- 05
Relearn to the Vehicle
New sensors must be registered to the car so it knows which position each one is in. We complete the relearn and verify all four positions report correctly.
Sensor Batteries Have a Life
Each TPMS sensor contains a sealed battery that cannot be replaced on its own, and it typically lasts seven to ten years. Once it goes, that sensor stops transmitting and the system reports a fault.
Because all four sensors are the same age, they tend to fail within a year or two of each other. When the first one dies on a car that is approaching ten years old, it is worth discussing whether to do all four at once while the tires are off.
Check Pressures Anyway
TPMS is a warning system, not a maintenance system. On most vehicles it does not warn until a tire is roughly 25 percent below the recommended pressure, and by then the tire has already been running underinflated for a while.
Underinflated tires wear their outer edges, run hotter, cost you fuel and handle worse in the wet. Checking pressures monthly with a gauge while the tires are cold is still the right habit, and we check and set them at every service.
What Affects the Cost
We quote your vehicle specifically after inspecting it, because these are the things that move the number up or down:
- How many sensors need replacing
- Programmable universal sensors versus original equipment sensors
- Service kits for valve stems, seals and cores
- Relearn procedure, which differs between manufacturers
- A second set of wheels needing its own sensors
Call (313) 277-7200 with your year, make and model and we will tell you what to expect before you come in.
Why AutoTech Clinic
AAA Approved
An inspected facility that has to meet AAA standards for equipment and training.
Photos First
You see what we found and approve the price before anything is taken apart.
Same-Day Service
Parts on hand for the vehicles we see most, so you are not waiting on a delivery.