Do Tire Pressure Sensors Need To Be Replaced? (With Facts)

It is important for you to make sure that your tires have the right air pressure because driving with a flat tire can be dangerous and can cause damages to your car.

This is where the tire pressure sensors come in to detect whether or not your tires have the correct air pressure and this system is called the Tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS).

With TPMS you will be able to see this through the tire pressure monitoring system on your dashboard. Then again, since tire pressure sensors are just like all of the other components on your car, does that mean that you also need to have them replaced from time to time?

So, do tire pressure sensors need to be replaced?

Tire pressure sensors need to be replaced from time to time because of the fact that they are quite exposed to external factors that can easily damage them. As such, tire pressure sensors will also undergo the normal wear and tear that most car components go through on a regular basis.

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When you look at your tire pressure sensors, there is a need for you to understand that these are located in areas that allow them to be exposed to normal damages that other components go through.

And when you factor in the importance of having enough air pressure in your tires, it becomes easy to understand why you need to replace your tire pressure monitors when they wear out.

Do tire pressure sensors need to be replaced?

When it comes to your tires, there is no arguing against the fact that it is very important for you to make sure that your tires are always monitored well enough to make sure that they have enough air pressure.

That’s because tire air pressure is important especially when you consider the fact that a flat tire can cause damages and can even be a huge safety risk on your part.

That said, your tire pressure monitoring system acts as the best indicator regarding your tire’s air pressure.

This system works by using sensors that are mounted on the wheels of your car so that the sensors can detect whether or not the air pressure in the tires is beginning to reach a low point.

And the system will inform you of such through light on your dashboard. As such, the sensors in the wheels are the most important part of this system.

Now that we have that out of the way, one of the things that you probably already know is the fact that most of your car’s components undergo normal wear and tear over time and will need to be replaced somewhere down the line.

Considering that the tire pressure sensors are also components of your car, does that mean that you also need to have them replaced?

Yes, tire pressure sensors also need to be replaced especially when they have already gone through enough wear and tear and are already beginning to wear out and suffer damages as a result of their regular functions.

You also need to consider where tire air pressures sensors are located, which is the wheel of the car.

The fact that the sensors are located in a spot where they are prone to external damages from debris, weather changes, and potholes means that they will eventually wear down even when you take good care of your car.

As such, there is no arguing against the fact that you may need to have your tire pressure sensors replaced somewhere down the line when they have already experienced enough wear and tear already.

What happens if you don’t replace TPMS sensors?

Now that you know that tire pressure sensors undergo the usual damages and wear and tear that most car components experience on a regular basis, you now understand why it is important for you to replace the TPMS sensors when they do begin to wear out.

But what happens if you don’t replace them?

When you don’t replace your tire pressure sensors, what happens is that the sensors won’t work the way they should and may or may not function well enough to properly monitor the air pressure in your tires.

This means that there will be times when they might malfunction to the point where they may indicate that your tire air pressure is low even if it isn’t. And, in some cases, when your tire air pressure is already low, the sensors might not be able to detect it.

In other words, this can be troublesome on your part because you wouldn’t be able to tell whether or not the air pressure in one of your tires is already low.

While shouldn’t be too much of a problem if you are driving in a populated area where you can just simply pull over in the next gas station to pump air in your tires, this can be a problem if you are in a long drive in the middle of nowhere while the next gas station is still several dozens of miles away.

That said, it is important for you to make sure that your tire pressure sensors need to be in top shape all the time especially when you are regularly driving dozens of miles on a daily basis.

You don’t want to end up in an accident due to a blown-out or flat tire while driving in the middle of the highway.

How much does it cost to replace a tire pressure sensor?

Replacing your tire pressure monitoring system can be a bit complicated especially when it comes to the stock TPMS that your car came with.

In most cases, a simple battery replacement is only what your TPMS requires. This can be pretty affordable and can range from $10 to $20 depending on the make and model of your car.

Meanwhile, if you are only talking about individual sensors in case some of the sensors are damaged, this shouldn’t be too much of a problem as well. Most tire pressure sensors will cost somewhere between $50 and $100 depending on your car.

However, in cases where the battery is molded together with the entire system or when the entire system is already damaged, you would have to replace the entire TPMS altogether.

The entire system may end up costing you more than $250. And if you have a newer car with a more advanced system, this can cost you a lot more than that.

So, in your case, if you do indeed notice that one of your sensors has already become too worn out, it might be better to replace it right away.

Don’t wait for the damage to reach the entire system or else you would end up spending more than what you should be spending. 

Sources

Cars.com: What Service Do Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems Need?

TireBuyer.com: TPMS