2004 4Runner tire pressure sensor

[splice57]

Does anyone know how difficult it is to remove the wheels/tires from the '04 4 runner to do basic tire rotation or change brake pads without damaging the tire pressure sensors? The manual, of course, recommends that you go to a dealer for all tire work to avoid damaging the tire pressure sensors in the wheels. I don't think it can be that difficult..........

[nhparrot]

Originally Posted by splice57

Does anyone know how difficult it is to remove the wheels/tires from the '04 4 runner to do basic tire rotation or change brake pads without damaging the tire pressure sensors? The manual, of course, recommends that you go to a dealer for all tire work to avoid damaging the tire pressure sensors in the wheels. I don't think it can be that difficult..........

Should be no different then any other vehicle. The Tire Pressure Sensors are wireless devices inside the tire.

see INFO: 2004 4Runner Wheel and Tire System

[RobXS]

Originally Posted by splice57

Does anyone know how difficult it is to remove the wheels/tires from the '04 4 runner to do basic tire rotation or change brake pads without damaging the tire pressure sensors? The manual, of course, recommends that you go to a dealer for all tire work to avoid damaging the tire pressure sensors in the wheels. I don't think it can be that difficult..........

You will want to make sure that if you ever have to have any tire work (flat repair, tire replacement, etc) that you inform the tech that you have the inflation sensors. They can be easily damaged by tire mounting equipment.

[toyo]

Correct me if im wrong please. I thought the pressure monitor is in the valve stem. Which will make it much easier to work with.

[nhparrot]

Originally Posted by toyo

Correct me if im wrong please. I thought the pressure monitor is in the valve stem. Which will make it much easier to work with.

It is both the valve stem is part of the sensor transmitter, a portion of it is also inside the tire (see the thread I referenced in my earlier post)

[toyo]

Thanks NHParrott-Sorry I didnt see your post. I feel alot of tire shops are going to be tearing these things up. My M3 does it a little different. They use the speed sensor located at the wheel to determine the time it takes for the tire to make one revolution. If the tire starts to lose air, then the diamator of the tire changes, which the sensor detects, then wammo, your light comes on. It works very good.

[floatplane]

The tire pressure sensor is in/attached to the valve stem. Deflate the tire completely then unscrew the outside ring/washer around the valve stem. After this is off you can puss the stem/sensor into the tire so it is not damaged when removing the tire from the rim.

I hope this helps.

[Rlockyer]

'04 Rav4 is also based on the ABS speed sensors.
The owner's manual basically says that the system is useless
It actually says that 50% of the reasons for low tires won't trigger, and the system may trigger when there is no problem.

Sure enough, at 230 miles, ours triggered. Hit the reset button and it's been fine since.

[maverick2003]

Is it safe to use Fix-a-flat stuffs on those tires with the pressure sensor?

Thanks

Jack

Originally Posted by floatplane

The tire pressure sensor is in/attached to the valve stem. Deflate the tire completely then unscrew the outside ring/washer around the valve stem. After this is off you can puss the stem/sensor into the tire so it is not damaged when removing the tire from the rim.

I hope this helps.

[toyo]

That is a very good question. I would call your dealer and ask them. I would have to say no, I cant imagine that goop crap could be good for those sensors.

[leftyrb]

If you read the manual, I think you will find that Toyota does not recommend tire sealant products.

Do you believe that the 4Runner tire pressure monitoring system is ABS based? Due to very cold weather the past few days, my indicator lamp illuminated, indicating low tire pressure. This was probably due to the change in the molecular structure of air with cold weather, resulting in less air pressure. I don't think the triggering of the lamp was ABS based.

[Rlockyer]

Originally Posted by maverick2003

Is it safe to use Fix-a-flat stuffs on those tires with the pressure sensor?

I would not put fix-a-flat in a tire that didn't have a pressure sensor.

Oil in the crankcase.
Gasoline in the fuel tank.
Coolant/water in the radiator.
Distilled water in the battery.
DOT3 (or 4, or 5) in the brake reservoir.
Air in the tires.

Anything else is snake oil, or something that will mask a problem, but potentially cause more problems down the road.

Use the spare and spend the $5 to have the flat fixed properly.

[maverick2003]

Sometime you are under certain situtation such as you got a flat tire on a heavily traffic freeway and it is dark and rainy. You just want to put those fix-a-flat stuffs quickly and away you go to the nearest place to get that tire fixed. Instead spending longer time length in those situations which can endanger your life and the life of your passengers, jacking up the vehicle, take out the good tire from beneath your vehicle, unmount the flat tire, mount the good tire onto your axle, put the flat tire into the back. By this time an 18-wheelers or other vehicles can accidentally ram into your vehicle.

Or if you were got a flat tire in a bad neighborhood and your wife and children were also in the vehicle.

Originally Posted by Rlockyer

I would not put fix-a-flat in a tire that didn't have a pressure sensor.

Oil in the crankcase.
Gasoline in the fuel tank.
Coolant/water in the radiator.
Distilled water in the battery.
DOT3 (or 4, or 5) in the brake reservoir.
Air in the tires.

Anything else is snake oil, or something that will mask a problem, but potentially cause more problems down the road.

Use the spare and spend the $5 to have the flat fixed properly.

[RobXS]

Originally Posted by maverick2003

Sometime you are under certain situtation such as you got a flat tire on a heavily traffic freeway and it is dark and rainy. You just want to put those fix-a-flat stuffs quickly and away you go to the nearest place to get that tire fixed. Instead spending longer time length in those situations which can endanger your life and the life of your passengers, jacking up the vehicle, take out the good tire from beneath your vehicle, unmount the flat tire, mount the good tire onto your axle, put the flat tire into the back. By this time an 18-wheelers or other vehicles can accidentally ram into your vehicle.

Or if you were got a flat tire in a bad neighborhood and your wife and children were also in the vehicle.

I agree that there are certain situations that it is worth its weight in gold, but I think the point he was trying to make is that people seem to rely on it. If you can avoid using it, you are better off. It destroys the inner liner of your tire and makes it very difficult to properly repair when you do take it in. Some of the formulas they use are explosive. There have been cases where people take there tires in to get them repaired and the spark caused by contact from the reamer and the steel belts have ignited the gas inside the tire resulting in a serious problem for the poor tech. I think most of the formulas now are non flammable. Just always make sure you tell the shop when you take it in that you have used an emergency repair product.

[Buzzard]

Good thread good info--did not know that the low tire sensor was part of the valve stem. My Sienna has this feature. Will take note when I have tire work done. --- Thanks for the info.---Buzzard