Your Car + TPMS = Expensive Repair

[JourneyOfLife]

It looks like we had a TPMS sensor go bad on one of our cars. Apparently the lithium battery inside of the sensor died. Those batteries only last 5 to 7 years. The battery cannot be replaced. The whole sensor has to be replaced (inside the wheel). The car is 5 years old.

The dealer said they charge $200 to replace a TPMS sensor. So if the batteries die in all four tires, doing the math, that is $800. :swear:

If you are not sure what I am talking about, here is some information on it.

http://sullivantire.com/tires/tire-pressure-monitoring-system.aspx

[KayakerNC]

DIY solution is MUCH cheaper.

https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTuh0MheSUObzEiUnT6U3RzeZ2mFjSZ3 cu8G7iWyYeulCKU-XdF0A

[JourneyOfLife]

That's what I am doing now and intending to do until I get new tires. Then I will revisit it.

I did find some tire dealers that will change them at a lower cost. One of them said I could bring the sensors (parts) myself and they would install them and reset the TPM system for a small nominal charge ( $20 - $25 total) when I replace my tires since they are already selling me new tires, balance and alignment already.

The cheapest I could find "factory" replacement sensors was in the $50 - $60 range per sensor. That is $200 - $250 for parts. Some parts houses had them priced at $70 - $100 per sensor.