# Tire inflation sensor **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [May 16, 2008, 2:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-inflation-sensor/14103 "2008-05-16T14:28:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PaulDOlivier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/67e7ee/32.png) [@PaulDOlivier](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PaulDOlivier)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2008, 2:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-inflation-sensor/14103/1 "2008-05-16T14:28:25Z")
I had a nail and a slow leak in a tire on my 2007 Toyota Rav4. I took the car to a FIRESTONE tire store and they said a plug and patch would cost $39 because the car has inflation sensors (it does). Curious, and suspicious,I asked him how those sensors worked. He danced around the question, saying it varies, but he already knew the type of car I had. I found a reason to leave and then took the car to Wal-Mart and they repaired it for $10. Was there any basis to what the guy was telling me? ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2008, 3:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-inflation-sensor/14103/2 "2008-05-16T15:34:41Z")
> Was there any basis to what the guy was telling me? NONE…I have a 2005 4Runner with probably the same sensors. They remove the tires the same way and patch the same way and install the tire the same way. What it tells you is NOT to visit that Firestone dealer again. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2008, 4:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-inflation-sensor/14103/3 "2008-05-16T16:04:55Z")
There was no basis whatsoever. Mike said it perfectly. Wal-Mart proved it. ---
**Author:** ![CapriRacer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/capriracer/32/22_2.png) [@CapriRacer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/CapriRacer)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2008, 4:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-inflation-sensor/14103/4 "2008-05-16T16:46:34Z")
While 39 bucks sounds excessive, 10 bucks sounds too cheap. I’ll bet they probably only plugged it, so it wasn’t quite the same thing - a certainly not permanent if it was a plug. So if it was a plug, keep and eye on it. Perhaps it might be better to have someone look at the tire and if need be, repair it properly. ---
**Author:** ![tardis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f0a364/32.png) [@tardis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tardis)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2008, 5:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-inflation-sensor/14103/5 "2008-05-16T17:19:52Z")
If you’re a Sam’s Club member, all tire repairs are free (doesn’t matter if you bought the tires there or not), so $10 at Wal-Mart might not be too cheap. Sam’s does do a proper repair that requires the tire to be unmounted/remounted, not a plug. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2008, 6:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-inflation-sensor/14103/6 "2008-05-16T18:39:47Z")
My last plug, just a few weeks ago, cost $6. I’ve never had a problem with a plug. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2008, 7:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-inflation-sensor/14103/7 "2008-05-16T19:01:47Z")
The point is…there is no difference in how to repair a tire with or without this type of sensor. ---
**Author:** ![crankwalk5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@crankwalk5](https://community.cartalk.com/u/crankwalk5)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2008, 1:23am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-inflation-sensor/14103/8 "2008-05-17T01:23:42Z")
yes there is,there is a High line sys ,and the low line sys.both have different critera. ---
**Author:** ![NYBo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nybo/32/17281_2.png) [@NYBo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NYBo)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2008, 2:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-inflation-sensor/14103/9 "2008-05-17T02:16:53Z")
yes there is,there is a High line sys ,and the low line sys.both have different critera. No, Mike is correct. (Why do I get the feeling our latest troll, msmamma or whatever his name was, is back in yet another guise?) ---
**Author:** ![crankwalk5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@crankwalk5](https://community.cartalk.com/u/crankwalk5)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2008, 2:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-inflation-sensor/14103/10 "2008-05-17T02:41:49Z")
I do not know mmmmasa,(but there are two systems) and it will make a huge difference. ---
**Author:** ![NYBo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nybo/32/17281_2.png) [@NYBo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NYBo)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2008, 2:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-inflation-sensor/14103/11 "2008-05-17T02:58:00Z")
There are at least two different tire repair systems, but whether the wheel has a pressure sensor or not doesn’t make a difference. ---
**Author:** ![cappy208](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cappy208/32/31_2.png) [@cappy208](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cappy208)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2008, 3:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-inflation-sensor/14103/12 "2008-05-17T03:05:16Z")
ok… i’ll bite. what is a high line sys, and a low line sys? is this having to do with the pressure sensors, or the tire repair? ---
**Author:** ![cappy208](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cappy208/32/31_2.png) [@cappy208](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cappy208)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2008, 3:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-inflation-sensor/14103/13 "2008-05-17T03:14:21Z")
want some light reading to make your head spin? try this [http://www.hexview.com/sdp/node/44](http://www.hexview.com/sdp/node/44) ---
**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/51bf81/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2008, 8:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-inflation-sensor/14103/14 "2008-05-17T20:39:52Z")
See my silly story; the Recommended Mechanic works is the original post. That was a really great and obviously wrong statement. The mechanic has enough sense to try ripping you off instead of taking the money out of the register. Then he can do a refund of $29 after you leave. He’s only partially crooked but 100% lazy or he would try to rip you off for $5 or so for a new valve core. ---
**Author:** ![mshugna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce73a5/32.png) [@mshugna](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mshugna)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2008, 8:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-inflation-sensor/14103/15 "2008-05-17T20:43:35Z")
A 2007 RAV4 …the tire sensors are in the valve stem and shouldn’t interfere with a tire change one bit.