Faulty TPMS?

[MarshRam]

I had new tires put on back in October. After I picked up the truck, about 20 miles later the tpms indicator came on for the front drivers side. It has been on ever since and does not show the pressure for that location.

I had the tires rotated a couple of weeks ago and I expected that faulty tpms to move to the back where the tire was placed, but it didn't, it is still showing on the front driver side.

With that said, it makes sense the part of the sensor installed in the tire is not faulty, rather it is something upstream and replacing all my sensors would not fix the issue. I am assuming the part installed in the tire is not removed when rotated and just goes with the tire to it's next mounting location.

I have checked the line and it looks fine from a visual inspection and the connector at the fender well is connected. Any ideas on what could be faulting?

 

[S0CAL]

Marsh, subscribed. I have EXACTLY the same problem! Mine's a 2010, recent tires and the TPMS " -- " status stays at the driver side. I would love to take care of this w/o having to visit a dealer. Hopefully someone has some ideas here.

AllDataDIY, Haynes, and google have not yielded anything for me.

 

[MarshRam]

Marsh, subscribed. I have EXACTLY the same problem! Mine's a 2010, recent tires and the TPMS " -- " status stays at the driver side. I would love to take care of this w/o having to visit a dealer. Hopefully someone has some ideas here.

AllDataDIY, Haynes, and google have not yielded anything for me.

Ditto, I am hoping for an easy DIY!

 

[BWL]

Tire shop can scan your wheels to see if the tpms sensor is faulty it may just be that 1 is out and they're close enough to where they were that it hasn't updated locations. If not look for the receiver wiring. I'm told there's some form of receiver in each wheel well. One of those may be faulty. Believe the actual receiver does all 4, but there's antenna wires to all 4 corners.

 

[MarshRam]

Tire shop can scan your wheels to see if the tpms sensor is faulty it may just be that 1 is out and they're close enough to where they were that it hasn't updated locations. If not look for the receiver wiring. I'm told there's some form of receiver in each wheel well. One of those may be faulty. Believe the actual receiver does all 4, but there's antenna wires to all 4 corners.

Well, that would make sense. So, the antenna plugs into the wheel and they possibly damaged it when I had the tires installed? I guess I could go down to my new tire/alignment guy and see if he could test it somehow or provide further insight. Thanks!

 

[JB1]

Might not be damaged, could just be a bad battery in the sensor, they only last so long before sensor needs replacing.

 

[MarshRam]

Might not be damaged, could just be a bad battery in the sensor, they only last so long before sensor needs replacing.

Thanks. I have heard that before. Is that battery actually in the part of the sensor that is inserted in the wheel rather than somewhere in the antenna or rest of the line? I put 40k on the last set of tires and.coincidentally it went out when I got the new tires. It took 20 miles before the indicator lamp went on, but it was wrong as soon as I picked it up. I immediately checked pressure right as I drove off and they were all reading 47 psi except the right front, it said 39 psi and that tire was also at 47 when I got home and checked it manually.

 

[BWL]

The battery is in the sensor in the wheel, but it's not replaceable as far as I've seen. You have to replace the complete sensor. The antenna is under the wheel well liner I believe so I don't think the shop would have damaged it, but, if the wire was damaged or the connector got corroded etc it may not receive the signal to send to the receiver.

 

[S0CAL]

I have the exact same problem and these are the sensors I have had for 4 years. I don't think it's the wheel sensor, because like Marsh, I swapped front and rear driver-side tires. It has to be the antenna. I am going to take a look -- thanks for pointing that out! Marsh, hope we solve this, lol!

 

[MarshRam]

I have the exact same problem and these are the sensors I have had for 4 years. I don't think it's the wheel sensor, because like Marsh, I swapped front and rear driver-side tires. It has to be the antenna. I am going to take a look -- thanks for pointing that out! Marsh, hope we solve this, lol!

@BWL Thanks! That would eliminate a battery issue then. I agree S0CAL, it may be something with the antenna and they must have messed something up on my tire swap. I'll report back whenever I find the culprit.

 

[TJ Crocker]

I have a similar problem on my 2011 crew cab sport. A couple of months ago, I had the "service TPMS" message on the cluster, with "--" coming up for one or more wheels. I took it to the dealer and had them service it. After a couple of weeks, the indicator for the right-rear tire started showing "--" again intermittently, usually after I've been driving for a while, and it will eventually go off and start reading the correct pressure again. I've replaced the sensor in that wheel, but I still get the occasional "--" indicator there once or twice a week. I'm thinking it's not the sensor, but don't know how to check and/or replace the antenna. Any tips?