A few weeks back I had a flat tire fixed at a tire shop. About a week after the fix, the TPMS started blinking. Took it back to them and they said that the TPMS sensor, on the wheel they worked on, is broken.

When I challenged they might have broken it, they said if that had been true it would have started blinking immediately and not a week later.

The car is 2007 Camry . As I understand it has direct TPMS.

One important point, they did Not replace the TPMS kit when fixing the flat.

Question :
1) If I show the broken TPMS can a mechanic say if it was broken due to improper installation or end of life ?

2) If they broke it, will the TPMS start blinking immediately OR can it happen after a week or so ?

 

1. Does your sensor have visible physical damage? If so then it's possible that it was done during tire mounting or dismounting as that's the only time there is access to it. If there is no visible damage then I would suspect it might simply be a dead battery. You're sensors are 9+ years old. It's about time for them to need replacing so I'd be ready to see others failing in the coming year or so.

2 A failed TPMS sensor should show within a few minutes and many will indicate a problem as soon as you start driving. So, if you did not get a error until a week later it's likely the sensor was working up to that point.

 

Have to agree with Pilot. Steve

 

Nice little niche market the tire companies have either created or lucked into. Sensors are sealed with no way to replace the battery so tire stores never check them. If it dies a week after mounting new tires, that's just bad luck & you pay for new sensors, mounting & balancing again.

The older "indirect" method that used rotational speed from the sensor at each hub was plenty accurate enough to catch a low tire before it became a problem. It costs the consumer nothing.

 

Ad hoc. Discount tire has best price for sensor replacement.
I also happen to have 07 Camry (made in 06) and had all 4 sensors replaced couple months back. Batteries were dead of almost dead.

 

Thanks for all the good answers. One additional question -- what is the TPMS kit ? And why is it recommended to be replaced everytime a tire is unmounted ?

 

I've never used or had a "kit" installed on my TPMS. Many kits contain misc stuff like a new valve, gasket, nuts and washers. It might be handy if you loose or damage something but otherwise I've never had the need.

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=TPMS...utf-8&oe=utf-8


Says who sensors have to be replaced every time tire is dismounted? It's connected to the rim. Of course it's "recommended" - more $$$ wind into shop sails.