Why do garages lie? (TPMS Repair)

[Guest]

I got new tyres fitted a while back on my 2017 Lexus CT.  Since getting the car in January the TPMS light was on and off, presumed due to the horrible condition tyres I bought the car with. It wasn’t until the new four I decided to get Toyota who sold me the car to fix it under the used car warranty. 

When I had the tyres fitted I specifically asked the garage to check and let me know if any particular sensor looked off or was broken. They assured me, nope everything fine.  Had some noise / vibration issues and took it back, thought a balancing issue… no worries. TPMS light still coming on on longer drives with the new tyres. Asked them the second time - any TPMS sensor issues obvious? I told them “I know you guys haven’t broken it, the lights been coming on for a few months. I plan to take it to Toyota anyway I’d just like to know myself if it’s physically broken” - so it’s not like they were worried I’d accuse them of breaking it. They assured me, no physical damage visible. 

So I take the car to Toyota. They find front right sensor is malfunctioning (id2), likely due to dead Battery. Stored code on the OBD system confirms it even though the light wasn’t on the dash when they inspected it. They agree to fix it, we suspect dead Battery inside the sensor. 

I went to get it fitted yesterday, no issues. The technician came out to hand me the old sensor. He said it was wrapped with tape to hold it in place! It would have been obvious to the tyre shop. 

I’m more annoyed at the tire shop… Especially as the violent noise I heard in my tyre the first time was likely this bouncing around! The noise was still there on dual carriageways with smooth tarmac on dry days, but very light sounding, though annoying. I took the car back to have the tyres checked again, they even came with me for a run to hear it (wet day, sound wasn’t as easy to hear).  Clearly, the sound was the tape holding (or struggling to hold) this sensor in place. 

Now that it’s fixed… No sound. No TPMS light (the car recognised it was a matching ID and assigned itself to it within a few miles of driving). 

Why do garages lie?! 

[Malc1]

They lie coz it’s relatively easy to do so with mostly unaware customers ……. very few like you who are au fait with this 

and even more so with even fewer, as on this Forum, who are able to replace those batteries …… with challenges 

Then there’s pre 2012 cars ( is it ? ) where malfunctioning TPMS isn’t an MOT issue 👍

Malc 

[Scotlex]

In bigger garages there is often a serious communication problem.

You phone up and tell the person what the problem is.

When you take the car in you again explain the problem to normally a different person.

Your car is then worked on by yet another person who does the service / MOT but doesn't even look at the problem that you have highlighted.

When you get your car handed back by possibly yet another person they may choose to say "oh it all looks fine" rather than "we have had your car all day but failed to look at your problem" 🙄

 

[RONNIE W HODGEKINSON]

9 minutes ago, Scotlex said:

In bigger garages there is often a serious communication problem.

You phone up and tell the person what the problem is.

When you take the car in you again explain the problem to normally a different person.

Your car is then worked on by yet another person who does the service / MOT but doesn't even look at the problem that you have highlighted.

When you get your car handed back by possibly yet another person they may choose to say "oh it all looks fine" rather than "we have had your car all day but failed to look at your problem" 🙄

 

i Would think Sometimes this does happen..Unfortunately.!!!