After the TPMS light flashed on, then stayed on, in our 2009 XB and reading on the internet that the batteries only last 5-10 years (depending on use)...
Looked like it was time to change the TPMS's at worst, or replace the batteries (cheaper for me).
Spoiler alert - changing the batteries worked.
It takes time, but if you have the time and gear, it can be worthwhile as a DIY project.


I'm copying most of the text under the video here as I don't know if it will show on a phone
Deleted other referenced video links to save space.

The Battery needs to be a BR2450A. And specifically a BR-2450A/FJN
This one has the correct tabs already attached to the battery. The BR batteries have a higher temperature rating !!!
125C(257F) Verses 60C(140F) for CR2450 batteries. Tires get hot, so best to err on the safe side, specially in Phoenix AZ.

Could not find them on Amazon, but Mouser.com had them in stock. Here's a link to this most reputable dealer. They even keep up their "in-stock" numbers - unlike some giant hardware stores... https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail...xi6IiiHg%3D%3D

Check out the Panasonic data sheet on their page for battery details. I had to trim the 1.8mm tabs slightly on the inside so they could fit the 1/16" (1.5mm) holes I drilled in the TPMS circuit board. Used a wire snipper.

I tried to get special electrical RTV, but the one I got smells like it has acetic acid in it, so not the best. I thinned it down with odorless mineral spirits (still smelled) to make it pourable.

I already have tire changing equipment, and basic soldering tools, so this was not an extra cost for me. If you don't have these things, it's a cost consideration for you.
Costs for me were the batteries, RTV & Mineral spirits which at 2023 prices were around US$40.

The best I can tell is that the dealer will be charging upwards of $400, Discount tire upwards of $300 to replace the TPMS's.
Paid for this at a dealer etc, let me know in the comments section.

If you buy new TPMS's and fit them yourself, you will need to get a relearning tool so the cars computer recognizes the new TPMS serial numbers. Those tools are not cheap!!! Replacing the batteries and re-using the original units avoids this expense.

I'm sure I've missed some details, that is what the comment space is for. Hope this helps you avid DIY'ers.
Think I need to get a small pancake air compressor. Using a twin cylinder foot pump is getting old!!!
Are the harbor freight ones any good for infrequent use?

 

Great fix! How do those manual bead busters work?

 

The bead breaker is part of the harbor freight tire changer. It breaks just one side at a time.
There is plenty of leverage available and it is possible to buckle the straight legs on the breaker if you don't get it going in square.

I riveted on some MDF strips to the foot that goes under the tire, so it wont scratch alloy wheels.

These tires were a little tough to get off for some odd reason, but the extra levering helped get the tire lube in a bit deeper, then they came off.
I put a temporary valve in while soldering the TPS's etc, so the car can be driven, The tires popped off easy the 2nd time around.

 

Was hoping the plastic ones would work on their own. Ebay has a pair for ~$16.00 but I'm reluctant to try them without the tire changer. Thanks for the info and enjoy your rejuvenated sensors.

 

The plastic things you see in the video picture, 1st thread???
Those are not bead breakers. They hold down the bead (after it is broken) so it becomes centered in the wheels drop center.
The drop center makes getting the tire bead off the wheel possible. Fortunately that isn't required for this job.

 

I see. Thanks for the response and the diagram!

I don't need to remove the tires. I only need to expose the sensors to read the numbers for registration. My tire shop only installed the new sensors. They did not register the new ID numbers.

 

If the registration numbers are anything like the OEM sensors, I think they are on the flat side of the sensor, facing the drop center, so you will need to flip them round.
The nut on the valve stem is either a 11 or 12mm A/F.


I don't know which are the reg numbers

It is fine to reuse the existing stem seal and valve insert - but wait, doesn't Discount sell a new tpms kit every time??
Just be careful not to drop the sensor into the tire - I almost dropped one of the temporary valves in. I saw a video where someone had attached a string through a spare valve cap so they could fish it out if that happened. Smart

It sounds like you are going down the DIY route for tire changes. It's been a long journey for me - learned a lot on the way.
Made errors, found solutions - eventually
I do have a playlist for Tire Changing here https://www.youtube.com/@richbinaz/playlists 36 videos in total. It may help you decide if this is a rabbit hole you want to go down

 

Thanks again for all the info.

 

I ended up not having to break the tire beads. I instead used two TPMS scan tools. One scan tool is wireless but doesn't have OBDII. The other scanner has OBDII but no wireless reader. One tool with both features was prohibitively expensive.

Fortunately everything worked. The wireless scanner read the installed ID numbers, which I then hard-keyed into the OBDII scanner. As soon as I hit the "register" button, the TPMS warning light went out. Yay!

What a nightmare. Thanks for all your help.

 

Great, what were the scan tools you used?

Nightmare is right - should be easy yes... This is the problem when designs ignore repairability
My sons Mazda uses the speed feed from the ABS to detect if a tire is going flat. So no batteries to go flat. You don't get a direct pressure reading, but that's what $2 pencil gauges are for

 

Mazdas are so awesome. Here are the scanners I used:

This is what I used to read ID numbers on the sensors that were already installed. It has a wireless reader but no OBDII cable.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/12458324421...Bk9SR6yZu-qAYw

The next scanner lacks sensor reading capability but it plugs into the OBDII. You can hard key the sensor IDs into this unit and press register. This is when my TPMS warning light turned off:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/23518897094...Bk9SR8CmguuAYw

The Autophix 7360 is a Toyota scanner. It reads universal codes as well as Toyota specific codes. I think I'll keep it for general repairs (if anything ever decides to break, lol.)

I'll probably sell the sensor reader as it will be another ~15 years before I need to change sensors.