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Car Forum / Toyota / Toyota Trucks / October 2007

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Tire Warning Light

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English44 - 17 Sep 2007 15:35 GMT
Have a '06 Tacoma. My winter tires are on the original wheels with the
pressure sensors. My other tires are on wheels without pressure sensors.
Sometimes the light goes on, sometimes the light goes off on the wheels
without the sensors. I'd like to take out the warning light bulb. How do I
do that? Any other suggestions for defeating this useless mechanism would be
appreciated. Thanks.
B A R R Y - 17 Sep 2007 15:46 GMT
>    Any other suggestions for defeating this useless mechanism would be
> appreciated.

Is it a bulb or LED?  If it's an LED, you'd probably have to disconnect
the actual power to the display, preferably in a reversible manner by
unplugging a connector.

Where is the display?   If it's on the clock / hazard switch panel, the
device may have it's own connector.  If the indicator is on the main
display, the whole process is probably a lot more complicated than
pulling a bulb or connector, beyond getting sensors for the second wheel
set.

My '05 doesn't have the "feature", as it was not yet Gov't Mandated.
You can thank the idiots who flipped speeding, overloaded SUV's, with
under inflated tires, for the display.
English44 - 18 Sep 2007 00:23 GMT
It's a bulb. The idiot light is part of the speedometer section on the dash
in front of steering wheel. There are a couple of screws above the panel
that contains the displays, but I don't want to screw around (so to speak)
until I know what's involved. Right now I just covered the light with black
velcro, just as I did for the seatbelt light. Thanks...english44
>>    Any other suggestions for defeating this useless mechanism would be
>> appreciated.
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> can thank the idiots who flipped speeding, overloaded SUV's, with under
> inflated tires, for the display.
B A R R Y - 18 Sep 2007 13:12 GMT
> It's a bulb. The idiot light is part of the speedometer section on the dash
> in front of steering wheel. There are a couple of screws above the panel
> that contains the displays, but I don't want to screw around (so to speak)
> until I know what's involved.

Thats a good thing!

For $10, you can get 24 hours of access to techinfo.toyota.com, and get
the detailed procedure(s) for meter cluster removal and reinstallation.
 Even if you read up on it and decide to leave the tape in place, the
$10 might be worth it.

When I did stereo upgrades and GPS installation on my '05, I was blown
away with how much time, effort, and potential cosmetic damage that the
service *.pdf's saved me for $10.  I learned the CORRECT door dash and
door disassembly steps, finishing with no rattles or scratched trim.  I
didn't need to get behind the meter, otherwise I'd share the steps with you.

Alternatively, aren't the sensors in the valve stems?  If you're
planning to keep the truck for a long time, have you checked the cost of
adding sensors to the steelies?
Mike Dobony - 14 Oct 2007 22:06 GMT
>>    Any other suggestions for defeating this useless mechanism would be
>> appreciated.
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> can thank the idiots who flipped speeding, overloaded SUV's, with under
> inflated tires, for the display.

There is much more to this than speeding, overloaded SUV's.
Bonehenge (B A R R Y) - 14 Oct 2007 22:09 GMT
>There is much more to this than speeding, overloaded SUV's.

Such as?  <G>

I know it as a descendant of the Firestone  / Ford lawsuits.
pmkeating@gmail.com - 17 Oct 2007 19:51 GMT
>     Have a '06 Tacoma. My winter tires are on the original wheels with the
> pressure sensors. My other tires are on wheels without pressure sensors.
> Sometimes the light goes on, sometimes the light goes off on the wheels
> without the sensors. I'd like to take out the warning light bulb. How do I
> do that? Any other suggestions for defeating this useless mechanism would be
> appreciated. Thanks.

It's illegal to deactivate the warning device.
Phisherman - 18 Oct 2007 00:09 GMT
>>     Have a '06 Tacoma. My winter tires are on the original wheels with the
>> pressure sensors. My other tires are on wheels without pressure sensors.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
>It's illegal to deactivate the warning device.

Don't deactivate it.  Put a piece of black electrical tape over it.
Janitor Boy Jr - 18 Oct 2007 00:18 GMT
On Wed, 17 Oct 2007 18:51:54 +0000, pmkeating tossed this out for all to
see:

> It's illegal to deactivate the warning device.

proof please.

Signature

~Mike~
45°7'58"N 89°9'5"W

Jeff Strickland - 18 Oct 2007 00:55 GMT
>>     Have a '06 Tacoma. My winter tires are on the original wheels with
>> the
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> It's illegal to deactivate the warning device.

Can you give us a cite on that?

Nearly every car on the road has not even got tire pressure sensors, how can
it be illegal to turn a system off that most cars haven't even got?
B A R R Y - 18 Oct 2007 13:06 GMT
 > Nearly every car on the road has not even got tire pressure sensors,
how
> can it be illegal to turn a system off that most cars haven't even got?

I have no idea if it's illegal or not, but looking from another angle...

From 2006 forward, TPS is US Gov't mandated on trucks and SUV's.  I
would imagine that any bid'net that got caught intentionally defeating a
gov't mandated device might get in the same sorts of trouble they would
if they removed cat converters, seat belt warnings, or clutch switches.

Maybe a nick, or even the loss, of a dealers and repairer's license?  If
it isn't illegal, I'm sure any smart business wouldn't accept the tort
liability of disabling such a system.

I'm sure the person who stated it was illegal will hurry right back with
details.  <G>

Now, if the _owner_ does it...
Jeff Strickland - 18 Oct 2007 16:42 GMT
>  > Nearly every car on the road has not even got tire pressure sensors,
> how
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> From 2006 forward, TPS is US Gov't mandated on trucks and SUV's.

Really! I did not know that.

I
> would imagine that any bid'net that got caught intentionally defeating a
> gov't mandated device might get in the same sorts of trouble they would if
> they removed cat converters, seat belt warnings, or clutch switches.

Assuming you are correct about the mandated nature of the system, I'd have
to agree that any numb-nut that defeated it would have the same sorts of
problems as he might face by defeating seat belts.

> Maybe a nick, or even the loss, of a dealers and repairer's license?  If
> it isn't illegal, I'm sure any smart business wouldn't accept the tort
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> Now, if the _owner_ does it...

It seems to be a poorly thought out system if the sensors are rim-centric,
because lots of people in the Snow Belt keep Winter and Summer tires on
different sets of rims, and the changing seasons can easily create a
condition that one would want to defeat.
B A R R Y - 18 Oct 2007 18:20 GMT
> It seems to be a poorly thought out system if the sensors are
> rim-centric, because lots of people in the Snow Belt keep Winter and
> Summer tires on different sets of rims, and the changing seasons can
> easily create a condition that one would want to defeat.

I agree.

Some systems use ABS wheel rotation sensors to detect differing wheel
speeds (rollout differences), but it creates other issues, such as might
be found when tires are worn unevenly.  I live where it snows, but leave
BFG TA/KO's on year round, and my '05 truck is not equipped with TPMS.
Otherwise, I'd probably spring for an additional sensor set.

Some TPMS have been known to really mess things up when airing down for
off-road operation, as a "real" 4x4 might be used.  I read about some
2006 Honda Ridgelines (possibly early production) that would refuse to
move when aired down for sand. <G>
Jeff Strickland - 18 Oct 2007 18:39 GMT
> Some TPMS have been known to really mess things up when airing down for
> off-road operation, as a "real" 4x4 might be used.  I read about some 2006
> Honda Ridgelines (possibly early production) that would refuse to move
> when aired down for sand. <G>

That would ruin a day in no time. I regularly air down to as low as 5 psi
for added traction off road. I once hit the sand at full pressure and found
myself stuck on an embankment. I was about to go ask the nice gentleman with
the tractor if he oculd give my Jeep a gentle tug, but before I did, I aired
down. I got out of my prediciment with ease.

I normally use my Jeep to go rock crawling, and low tire pressure is very
useful there as well.
B A R R Y - 18 Oct 2007 19:15 GMT
> That would ruin a day in no time. I regularly air down to as low as 5
> psi for added traction off road. I once hit the sand at full pressure
> and found myself stuck on an embankment.

Tell me about it!

The TA/KO's dig an even better hole in sand than all-season tires, if
not aired down LOTS!   I even know HOW BIG of a hole they can dig, with
a Jeep or a Tacoma!  <G>

With the OEM tires (BFG Long Trail and Goodyear Wrangler), I could cheat
a bit and run both the Jeep and Taco @ 12 PSI.  The TA/KO's need to be
well down in single digits to avoid embarrassment.
Jeff Strickland - 18 Oct 2007 22:30 GMT
>> That would ruin a day in no time. I regularly air down to as low as 5 psi
>> for added traction off road. I once hit the sand at full pressure and
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> bit and run both the Jeep and Taco @ 12 PSI.  The TA/KO's need to be well
> down in single digits to avoid embarrassment.

I also have the tires with the continuously variable automatic air-down
feature, and this adds to the confusion.
B A R R Y - 19 Oct 2007 12:26 GMT
>  
> I also have the tires with the continuously variable automatic air-down
> feature, and this adds to the confusion.

I've had a set of those.  <G>
Janitor Boy Jr - 19 Oct 2007 00:17 GMT
> <pmkeating@gmail.com>
>>
>> It's illegal to deactivate the warning device.
>>
> Can you give us a cite on that?

<sound of crickets chirping>

Signature

~Mike~
45°7'58"N 89°9'5"W

 
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