I just lost an argument with a tire, and here is the tale.
The tire went flat, so I took it to the shop to get it fixed. I knew it was flat because the idiot light on the dash panel came on. The idiot light looks like this:
When this light comes on, it means…. you have a flat tire. I doesn’t tell you which one.
If your car was made in 2007 or later, you have one of these in your car, because that was mandated by the Federal Government in 2000. The indicator is turned on by the Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) which allows each wheel to report its tire pressure to the main computer in the car. The Department of Transportation mandated, in the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability, and Documentation (TREAD) Act of 2000 that all cars built from 2007 onward must have this system installed. Its intent was to keep you safe from flat tires.
OKfine.
The way it works is that each tire has one of these in it:
That device replaces the old rubber tire valve. It has a battery and a pressure measuring device, and a radio that sends the pressure reading to the car’s central computer.
OK. So what?
So what is that my flat tire was caused by the TPMS tire valve leaking air. So, the device that was mandated into my car to save my life has caused me to drive around on a flat tire. Joy.
At least it told me about it, right? Small favors.
Here is the back story. The TPMS system was mandated based on the supposition that it would be very inexpensive, and for the cost, it would save lives. It was a no-brainer. The cost, estimated by the Department of Transportation is quoted thus:
“NHTSA estimates that the cost of a direct TPMS that will meet the four-tire, 25 percent compliance option will be $70.35 per vehicle, if the manufacturer chooses to install an individual tire pressure display. This includes $7.50 for each tire pressure sensor ($30 per vehicle), $19 for the control module, $3.85 for an individual tire pressure display, $6 for four valves, and $11.50 for the combination of an instrument panel telltale, assembly, and miscellaneous wiring.”
If you don’t believe me, here is a link to the actual document where they discuss cost,
Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems; Controls and Displays: Costs
And if you are a glutton for punishment, here is a link to the whole document:
Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems; Controls and Displays
Enjoy.
BTW, they did not choose to install an individual tire pressure display, but chose the idiot light instead. Joy.
Back to the Tire Tale, I had to get the valve replaced. The government estimate quoted above is the Ivory Tower version. Here is the reality, on the invoice from my mechanic.
Can you read it? $128.74. For one (1) valve! Just the valve! Since there are 5 of these valves on the Rav4 (one in the spare tire as well), that adds up to $643.70 for one vehicle….. and that is just for the valves.
Oh, and the batteries are not replaceable on the valves. Rumor is that you will get about 5 years out of a battery and then you have to….. you guessed it…. replace the entire valve. So in 5 or so years you will take a hit of $643.70 plus installation cost to replace them all.
Thanks, Toyota.
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Oh, and one last departing shot…. I have had to replace three of these out of the five so far in the 6 years I have owned the car, all of them leaking air. I have two more to look forward to. I can’t wait.
Sorry if I sound grumpy, but I was kept up all night by the false alarms from my Federally Mandated Hard-wired Battery-backed Malfunctioning Smoke Alarm system… ( a different blog entry ).