TPMS headaches despite sync button, light still activates

The TPMS are great if/when you get or have a soft tire (not too often), but for the majority of the time they are a headache. I have 2 sets of tires/wheels and have always struggled to have the sensors correct after swapping them. Mechanics never get far enough away from removed wheels so it looks like they are set but once other tires are out of the bed of the truck and I drive somewhere, light comes on. Anyway, that was my 2017. I have hopes the 2020 wouldn't be an issue since there is a button to "activate"/"pair" the TPMS with the truck. When I bought the truck a few weeks ago, had my winter tires/wheels put on new truck and had my summer tires put on the TRD rims that were on the new truck (dealer kept the factor alloys). I mentioned that the TMPS always give me a headache and when they we done I was assured all was good. Light was off but after traveling about 20 miles, it came on! I then read that the newer Tundra has the button and hoped I could get it synced. Tried last night (got away from the other rims in the garage) and it was a no go.

Before I try to get the dealer to fix it (that means pay my bill for local mechanic as they are 2.5 hours away), I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything. I followed the instructions in the manual - actually the TPMS light took a long time to stop blinking after key to on, once it did, holding the button didn't make it blink again. I am guessing the dealer didn't get the codes in correctly? Just wonder why light stayed off for 20 miles or so?? Not a big deal to have light on until there is actually a soft tire and you won't know it.

Sorry for long post.

 

The 2020 can be a pita when it comes to the TPMS. I've had my issues as well. If you swap wheels and tires alot, the Autel TS508 is your best friend. The truck will eventually cooperate, but it can take time. The Autel makes life alot simpler. Search 2020 TPMS here in the forum. There are a couple of posts that have worked for people. I posted what worked for me in one of them. The manual isn't written very well.

 

I bought a 2020 SR5 in October (dealer had already put brand new Yokohama AT tires on with factory TPMS) and I got a set of used (but virtually new studded winter tires on FB) in November. The seller had the winter tires on factory Tundra wheels with the sensors included so it was an easy buy knowing they'd be a perfect fit on my vehicle (the wheels were the exact ones on the truck already). At the end of Nov, in my driveway, I switched the all-terrain tires for the studded Nokian Hakka's I had purchased and the TPMS light came on as expected. I tried the 'reset' button under the dash but after several attempts to get it to turn off (or even blink 3 times like the manual says) I just forgot about it until I had to go for a little road trip one weekend - before I left I just pushed the TPMS reset button and held it down for about 10 seconds then I drove off. After about 40min the light went off (I didn't even notice as I had forgotten while I was driving) and everything after that point has worked just fine so far - it reads the right pressures and no warning indicator has activated since then?!?!

Point of story, it did NOT go as described in the manual, but I got it to work by pressing the reset button for 10 seconds and then going for a LONG drive. Good luck to you, I hope you figure it out because it's somewhat annoying once you know it's not working as it should.

 

The 2020 is a pita. It does not like trying to set itself with a drive cycle. I did mine with the switch on without starting it.

 

Here's the fun facts, you can only have 5 TPMS sensors stored in the TPMS module at one time. So when you swap wheels and tires for the season, the current stored TPMS sensor IDs have to be cleared and the new IDs entered. My shop deals with this kind of thing regularly. When we do a 2nd set of wheels, we always make sure to document the sensor IDs so that we can program them for the next season.

 

Tundra234 says the 2020 Tundras read the sensors automatically??? I know my 2017 had to be programmed.

 

The 2020 does. It's a pita though.

 

still struggling. have tried a couple more times. Gonna keep fiddling with it, hopefully something will work??

 

OK. Read your other posts amd some of the other suggestions and nada. This is what I am getting (not getting):
Key to on
tire light blinks for a minute or so then stops
push the button 3x (then keep pushing button, holding button)
only thing on screen is "not ready for driving"
light blinks slow 2x then normal blinks
blinking stops eventually
hit button 3x, hold - nothing ever happens (done this now 4-5x)

what to do when you never get a "recalibration...." notice on screen?

I have been trying to do away from my garage that has the other wheels. Is it just because I have aftermarket rims??

starting to loose faith

 

What sensors do you have? Are you push button start?

 

The rims are Ultra Hunters from Tire Rack. Key start.

 

The rims themselves have nothing to do with the sensors not working. The sensors are from Tira Rack as well? The 2020 is very sensitive to what sensors will work. I installed OEM sensors when I installed my wheels. The reason I asked about the start is because the part numbers for the sensors is different between key and push start. Anyone near you with an Autel TS508 than can scan them?

 

2017 was key start (had rims/tires/sensors that are on 2020 now). Do they need to be programmed the first time for the truck to read them? If so, the dealer should have entered the codes in the 2020 when they switched the wheels/tires - I have the codes for them). What is the Autel for? Get codes, input codes, both (most mechanics would have this?). Sorry for needing all the hand holding on this and thanks for all the help.

 

Ok so if the sensors are from the 2017, they will not work in the 2020. The 2020 has an additional character in the sensor ID and also operates at a different mhz.

 

17 sensors are not compatible with any 18+ truck. Even less compatible with a 2020 truck. You need to put the oem 20’ sensors in the wheels.

 

yep. Just got this from Tire Rack...

I am reaching out to you regarding your inquiry below. I can confirm the 2017 does use a different TPMS system than the 2020, which is why the sensors are not linking with the vehicle. We do sell the replacements for the new vehicle if you are interested.

There goes another $50? $200?? I see some for $50 and some for $50 each?? Do I need (should I) get only OEM?? Does that mean $200??

The other rims should be ok as they came on the 2020.

 

The rims do not matter at all. I would get the OEM sensors. They are about $65 each. Mine is a 2020 SR5 with key start....part # is 42607-0C091

 

Just meant that the other rims/tires came on the 2020 (on the dealer window sticker), so they should work.

Am I just asking for issues if I get non OEM or will non-OEM sensor work (with minimal headaches)?? Spending enough on all the things I need/want for the truck, if I can save a few bucks on these I would (if they will work).

Thanks again for all the help.

 

Most of the aftermarket won't work but there some that will. I went with OEM for less aggravation.

 

ok, last post on this (I hope). I assume the tires need to come off for TPMS to be installed? Just not sure I want to go through all that (at least right now)? But maybe I do???

ps - the after markets have the same part number - probably doesn't mean they will work well??? I also had anther part number come up that was compatible with my Tundra (but sticking with the part number above).

 

Yes the tires will have to be removed to install them.