2010 RX450h
44,700 miles

My mechanic and I are wondering if we’re having sensor issues or if our issue is by design.

Original sensors started to die out. One sensor quit working, two others had weak batteries. So I was getting a message “Low Tire Pressure Check All Tires” and was seeing 3 out of 4 sensors with the 4th one showing 0psi.



TPMS Fault on dash

Autel MaxiTPMS sensor scan revealed the LR sensor was dead, RF and RR were low on battery.

Autel MaxiTPMS Advanced OBD2 Sensor scan shows each sensor ID and their status.


I purchased the Autel MaxiTPMS TS508 tool and a set of AutelMX 2-in-1 (315/433MHz) metal stem sensors. I used the Copy by OBD function to clone all the original Sensor IDs onto the new Autel sensors and had my mechanic install them in the same position.

Now what we’re seeing is the sensors take about one minute after a cold start to display their values. They appear one by one with about 10-15 seconds apart. Once all the values show up, they continue to work normally.



Cold start



First sensor shows up shortly after
.

About 20-30 seconds after a cold start

After about a minute all sensors are live.


Is this delayed sensor response normal for this model year or should I continue troubleshooting? My mechanic recommended to generate new Sensor IDs and do the Relearn procedure instead of cloning as he noticed cloning doesn’t always work right.

 

I had the TPMS sensors replaced on my 2011 HS250h with Schrader sensors from Costco who installed them. I do not get a pressure reading until the car has started rolling down the driveway or street. It takes 30 seconds or so and they show up one by one. I think your situation is the new reality with these cloned sensors and changing the IDs may not change anything.
I recall my old sensors acted the same way. I did not get a reading until the car was moving.

When do you drive it? That is amazingly low mileage for a 10 year old vehicle.

 

It does depend on the specs of the sensors. Some TPMS have g-sensors in them, and when parked will not transmit or transmit only once every few minutes to save battery. Once the g-sensor senses a threshold speed, they will transmit more frequently, say once every 30 to 60 seconds. So it may be perfectly normal for the Autel sensors to take a bit of time to show up on the dash display. This is a bit different than what the OEM 2010 RX450h sensors do, at least from my own experience. I don't think the OEM sensors for this year had g-sensors because mine transmit every 30 seconds regardless of if they are moving or not. I know this because I use my original rims for winter still with the OEM TPMS sensors. One of them is dead (pretty good since they are over 11 yrs old), but I have left one summer tire sitting in the garage programmed into its slot. It keeps the warning light off as my RX picks up the signal from that tire sitting there before I manage to get out of the garage.

 

Gotcha that’s what I was thinking as well. I noticed the old sensors also took some time to display the pressure, but I thought maybe it had something to do with weaker batteries. Guess not. As long as the sensors stay on and continue to work okay, I think it’s good enough.

This car is driven by an older family member. I’m helping them restore the car to its full potential and properly maintain it. Even though it’s low on miles, it still needs service for being 10 years old.

Here is some services/repairs we’ve done in the past 3 months.

 

My 2010 RX350 does not have individual tire pressure readings. I am surprised to see it on your RX450. Mine must be an early build or yours was built near the end of the model year.

 

It was a feature specific to the hybrid model, surprisingly though given its universal value.

 

Surprised the brakes needed doing with that mileage. Most people get at least twice that mileage or more from brakes. Were they just all rusted up from lack of use?

 

Wow that’s cool to know. I know my 2010 ES doesn’t have individual pressures just a dummy light. I figured that platform came out in 07 before the RX got refreshed for 2010, so it didn’t get that capability till the next body redesign.

Front pads had 2mm left and squealing in reverse, the rear pads were 50% but rotors had a ring of rust on the inner surfaces.