Replace a Tire Pressure Monitoring System Sensor

Replace a Tire Pressure Monitoring System Sensor

Replace a Tire Pressure Monitoring System Sensor : Multi-thousand tips to make your life easier.

A Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) sensor is a sensor inside each tire that monitors tire pressure. It tells the driver if one of the tires needs air because its pressure is low. Low tire pressure causes poor performance of the entire vehicle, so it is very important to have a TPMS in your vehicle. Most new models are equipped with this sensor. But if your car is an older model, you can also have one installed; just make sure the one you get is compatible with your vehicle. A TPMS sensor should be replaced once it has been in use for a long time or if you or a technician accidentally damage it. If the sensor is still in good working condition, you can reinstall it. When you replace one or more tires, you should also replace or reinstall each tire's TPMS sensor. This article will teach you how to replace your vehicle's TPMS sensor.

• Prep the tools. You will need a valve core tool to remove the valve core, a ratchet and socket set (the size of which should fit the grommet of the TPMS), a tire machine (this is a big machine, and unless you really are a car enthusiast, you may have one in your garage; if not, you can find one in a machine shop), and the replacement TPMS sensor. If you do not have access to a tire machine, you can also use a pry bar to remove the tire from its rim.
• Deflate the tires. To do this, use a valve core remover to remove the valve core. The valve core covers the hole where air is pumped into the tire and normally protects the tire from deflating.
• Remove the tire from its rim. If you are using a tire machine, this should be easy. If not, using a pry bar will also do the job. Place the tire on the floor, place the pry bar onto the rim, and try to press it down with one foot to remove the tire from the rim. Do this on all sides until the tire has been completely removed from the rim.
• Remove the TPMS sensor. Use a ratchet and socket set to remove the sensor's grommet. The size of both should be compatible with each other.
• Replace the TPMS sensor. Follow the instructions in the TPMS manual on how to attach the sensor to the tire. Make sure that the TPMS sensor is secure and will not fall off.
• Replace the rim. Put the rim back on the tire after you have replaced the TPMS sensor.
• Inflate the tire. Once the TPMS sensor has been replaced or reinstalled, you can inflate the tire to the required pounds per square inch (psi).
• Reprogram the TPMS. Consult your vehicle's TPMS manual and reprogram or reset it according to the instructions.

Be careful while doing this job so you do not cause more damage than what is already there. If you find it hard to follow these steps to replace your car's TPMS, you can take it to a machine shop and have a technician do the job for you. Yes, you will pay a fee for the job, but that is better than damaging your TPMS because you do not know how to replace it.