The TPMS sensor battery is a minor and yet essential feature of the car. Without it, the sensors and tires wouldn’t work. Ultimately, this could mean nasty accidents while driving.
And that’s something that you want to avoid.
Thus, I made it my duty to wrote a whole article on how to replace TPMS sensor battery.
It may sound simple at first, but it does require some work and skills to pull it off.
I’ll also talk about other things like when to replace the battery and how much it would cost.
There’s a lot of ground to cover, so let’s not wait any longer and head right into it.
You can also check our popular review of best group 65 battery
Contents
How To Replace Tire Pressure Sensor Battery
This process takes time, patience, and soldering skills. Make sure you have proper preparation before attempting it. Otherwise, the result may not work as intended.
Before getting into how to replace TPMS battery, you’ll need the following:
- 4 CR 2450 batteries
- Solder tabs
- PlastBond, epoxy two components adhesive
Step 1: Removing the Sensor Out of the Wheel
- Start by raising the vehicle, and remove the tires.
- Follow up by unscrewing the valve stem, allowing the air to release.
- Get the tire out of the wheel. To do that, you can use a pneumatic press. Multiple other methods also work to do this. If you’re having trouble, go with a professional. Though it sounds simple, removing the tire could damage the wheel or the tire if done incorrectly.
- Reach the back of the valve stem, and unscrew the TPMS sensor.
Step 2: Unclip Rear Cover
With the TPMS now in your hands, turn it and let the rear side facing towards you. Here, you have to unclip the cover.
Doing this is easy with a screwdriver. Apply enough pressure, but not too much. Otherwise, the cover may break with ease.
Step 3: Preparation
Getting the cover out will reveal the inside area. There, you’ll notice a white paste that resembles rubber.
For this step, you’ll have to remove the white paste. Using a screwdriver should work here, too. But make sure to do it carefully.
On the right side, there’s an electronic section that you don’t want to mess up.
Tip: For more safety, remove both the electronic and the battery. This will allow you to work without as many concerns.
Step 4: Unsolder the Old Battery
- Check the connections thoroughly, and unsolder the battery carefully.
- At the rear side, find the solder tab and remove it. This will release the battery completely.
Tip: With the battery out, you can compare its voltage with the new one. This should confirm that they’re similar.
Step 5: Solder the New Battery
Get your new battery and start soldering it on the electronic part. Again, do this carefully. This step can be dangerous because a minor slip could lead to a short circuit.
Step 6: Check the Connections
After soldering, you now have to check the connections to make sure they’re solid. Plus, use the multimer to double-check the voltage right over the connection points.
Step 7: Apply the Epoxy Two Component Adhesive & Final Steps
- With the glue in hand, start putting some of it into the housing.
- After applying the glue, get the battery with the electronic section and insert it into the housing.
- Use the glue again to cover everything with a final layer. Put special attention on the surroundings.
- Go back to the cover you removed earlier, and put some glue dots on it as well.
- Put everything back together, close the cover, and that’s it! You’ve replaced the TPMS battery successfully.
Two Things to Consider
- While applying the glue, you may need another person to help you out. This is because the glue dries quickly.
- Each case is different. For some TPMS, replacing the battery may be impossible. In those cases, buying a whole new unit may be better and even less stressful.
And that’s it! You’ve now learned how to replace battery on TPMS sensor the right way. If you need visual guidance, this video covers the procedure decently.
Things to Consider About TPMS Battery
Besides how to replace it, there are a few more things that I’d like to address about the TPMS battery.
This includes stuff like maintenance, symptoms that indicate failures, and when to replace it.
Don’t miss out on this information to know how to make the most out of your TPMS.
How to Maintain a TPMS Battery
Before learning how to preserve the TPMS battery, it’s essential to know how the TPMS works in the first place. So let’s talk about that briefly.
- Sensors typically transmit when they stop, but they transmit more while in motion. Therefore, you must keep a consistent and constant speed when driving on highways. This will guarantee a longer lifespan of the TPMS battery because the sensors will transmit less often.
- Another tip would be to avoid start-and-stop driving as much as possible. This has a significant impact on the car’s TPMS as well as its battery.
- Lastly, the weather is another element to consider. It can have an unexpected role in hurting the TPMS battery life. For example, warmer conditions can take a toll on the battery. However, cold conditions could help preserve it in good condition.
These are only a few things to keep in mind if you want your battery to last longer. If you treat it correctly, the TPMS will continue functioning in perfect conditions for years.
This way, there won’t be any need to spend money replacing the batteries or paying a professional to do it.
Symptoms of a Malfunctioning TPMS Sensor Battery
Prevention is vital, and even more so when the focus of attention is vehicle parts.
When the TPMS sensor’s battery is going rogue, there are several symptoms that you should spot. Those symptoms are the following.
- ECU Missing Sensor Transmissions. When the ECU starts missing some sensor transmissions, the safest thing to assume is that there’s a malfunction or interference in the TPMS. If this is the case, the TPMS light comes on to let the driver there’s something wrong. As you can probably tell, this is one of the easiest and more effective methods to know the TPMS has issues.
- In many systems, the warning given to drivers comes in the form of a blinking light. This light goes on for about a minute or a minute and a half. Nonetheless, it can go on for longer than that to make sure the driver notices it.
- But that’s not the only sign of a damaged TPMS sensor battery. You can also check other things, like engine surging during operation or low battery voltage.
These are the most common symptoms of a TPMS sensor battery that doesn’t work. So keep your eyes on the lookout, and you should have the opportunity to notice it quickly.
Is it Necessary to Replace TPMS When You Replace Tires?
The answer to this question depends on several factors. For instance, you have to consider how long the tires have been on the roads.
By the time they get worn out, the TPMS sensors may also be approaching the end of their service life.
Another thing to consider is the battery, which may not have more to give by this point. These two things could mean that the TPMS wouldn’t work with another tire set.
Usually, the lifespan of a TPMS sensor lithium-ion battery is between five to ten years.
However, batteries can start underperforming within those years, or sometimes even less.
When this happens, there are two options you can try. You could either replace the batteries or get whole new TPMS sensors entirely.
If this happens and the tires haven’t worn out yet, the TPMS may survive the next tire set. In this case, replacing the TPMS may not be necessary at all.
But replacing the TPMS sensors isn’t as easy as getting the old one out and the new one in.
Once you get the TPMS sensors out, the new one has to relearn the wheel location for each sensor.
This is something that happens whether you replace just one of four sensors. It’s the same process that takes place during wheel rotation, too.
If you have a newer and modern vehicle, the process may go smoothly. These have an automatic function that allows the readjusting of the sensors without you doing anything.
For those that have older vehicles, the procedure is long and more tedious. And this process is a must, considering that the TPMS won’t work properly otherwise.
What does this procedure involve?
As mentioned above, the process of adapting the TPMS sensors is lengthy. Plus, you must follow it strictly to guarantee an effective installation.
In some cases, the procedures involve using a magnet or specific service tools for the TPMS. These will allow you to control the sensors during the relearn phase.
If you don’t use the right tools, the system won’t learn the wheel locations correctly.
What does all of this mean?
It’s simple, actually.
If you change the wheels, it’s advisable to replace the TPMS sensors entirely. You don’t have to, but you’d save yourself a lot of trouble if you do.
How Often & How Much to Replace TPMS Battery?
The next thing to clear out is when and the cost to replace TPMS battery with all of that sorted.
First thing’s first. If you don’t have experience dealing with these vehicle parts, make sure to contact a technician.
You should do this when the battery in one or more sensors malfunctions or depletes.
At this point, the technician will run a pressure monitoring system inspection.
This may include the use of a formatted TPMS scan tool to check the TPMS sensor status.
Next, the technician will recommend the steps to follow afterward.
Let’s talk about money. Though, you also have to consider different elements here.
For example, the type of vehicle, application, and sensor type influence the replacement costs.
Approximately, changing the TPMS sensor battery has a fee of $50 to $150. This could go slightly higher if you need a professional to do it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What kind of battery do TPMS sensors need to operate?
The system needs lithium-ion batteries to operate. These go inside the tire assembly, right over the valve stems.
Alternatively, you could also find the sensors and their batteries on the wheel rims.
Regularly, the sensors work with 3-volt lithium-ion batteries. However, in some cases, the batteries needed are the 1.25-volt nickel-metal hydride batteries.
Is it safe to drive with TPMS Light active?
No, it isn’t safe. When the TPMS light is on, it means that the car is dealing with under or over-inflated tires.
If this is happening to you, make sure to check the owner’s manual to find the proper tire pressure the tires need.
Driving with this issue can lead to blowouts or other dangerous situations. This is why you must know how to replace battery in TPMS.
Can you reset TPMS sensors?
Yes, and the procedure is straightforward. All you have to do is find the TPMS reset button and press it.
Then, hold the button and wait for the light to blink three times. Once it does, release the reset button.
Proceed to start the vehicle, and allow it to run for about 20 minutes. This should reset the sensor.
You can find the reset button below the steering wheel. Look around that area first, and you should find it quickly.
Nonetheless, the location of the button can be different depending on the vehicle.
If you don’t find it, search for its location in the car’s owner manual. This should give you clear insight on where and how to find the button.
Final Words
And that’s a wrap! It may sound like a handful, but knowing how to replace TPMS sensor battery will save you a lot of money.
Other than some soldering skills, the whole procedure should be easy to follow for most DIYers.
After finishing this piece, you’re also aware of how to spot a damaged sensor batter and when to replace it.
Therefore, there’s no need to panic if you deal with this issue eventually. With this information and enough time, replacing the battery will be a breeze.
