Shop broke TPMS during switch - should they be liable?

[James Russels]

Hi all,

I recently purchased new wheels and tires and took them to a shop to have them mounted, balanced, and installed on my FRS. I paid an additional $70 for them to transfer the tire pressure monitoring sensors over to the new wheels. They told me that one of the TPMS "didn't survive the transfer" due to "corrosion". They said I will need to buy a new TPMS and it will have to be programmed - another $70.

I wanted to know whether or not this sounds reasonable to anyone else. My thoughts are that I paid the shop to correctly transfer the sensors, and if they broke one, then I did not receive the service I paid for. That said, I also don't know what it takes to transfer these sensors, and if it is a common/expected occurrence for them to break during the transfer. Looking forward to seeing others' opinions. Thanks.

[swarb]

So did they break it or not? It is not clear. Usually if it anything is tight due to corrosion they will notify the customer that it may get damaged if they try to continue and up to the customer if they should proceed or not.

[Tcoat]

Check their fine print in the service agreement or possibly even a small sign tucked away in a corner. Tire shops frequently have a disclaimer that they will not be responsible for damage caused while changing things over on used wheels. It is the very nature of the task that means things go wrong and they do not want to be held responsible. Not saying I agree or that it is a good practice just that it is common with these shops.
Not outside of the realm of belief that it was indeed corroded but as said they should have told you up front before making the attempt. Not like a phone call would have hurt them.

[guybo]

TPMS sensors are made to last about 7 years. They should not break. Did you get a look at the broken sensor? I think it's a line of BS and they were careless. That said, in Chicago you have to deal with road salt that can damage the sensors. Get a look at the sensor and if it is not corroded somehow, they owe you a TPMS sensor.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by guybo

TPMS sensors are made to last about 7 years. They should not break. Did you get a look at the broken sensor? I think it's a line of BS and they were careless. That said, in Chicago you have to deal with road salt that can damage the sensors. Get a look at the sensor and if it is not corroded somehow, they owe you a TPMS sensor.

I have had the damn thing rot out in two years in other cars. Don't even bother with them in my winter tires anymore because they stood up so poorly. A quick look at the threads will be all that is needed to see if it was corroded.

[guybo]

Yeah it's been 10 years since I had to deal with road salt. Down here in FL it's easy to forget that wheels have to deal with salt in some places. He really does need to see that TPMS sensor and not just take their word for it.

[churchx]

I'm curious, if no-salt state means higher average prices in used market due less rust ..

[thomasmryan]

there are pretty specific instructions on where to set the boom on Subaru rims with tpms. (and other makes) tell them you want to see it.

[James Russels]

Thanks for the responses, everyone. I did not get a look at the TPMS, but will request that I do. My fear is that they have possibly disposed of it by now. I will also get a copy of their service agreement. They did not provide me any prior warning or ask if I still wanted to go through with it.

Also, if I am able to get the broken TPMS, what exactly should I be looking for?

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by churchx

I'm curious, if no-salt state means higher average prices in used market due less rust ..

As odd as it sounds that isn't a huge effect on prices. In those areas where no salt is used then it means all cars last longer which in turn means they are all equal. The supply meets the demand for salt free cars does not raise value if they all are the same. In salt use areas the value of a no salt car can be higher then local ones though since the supply can be much lower than the demand.

[mav1178]

TPMS are broken easily if the tire was dismounted too quickly and the bead catches the sensor as the wheel is spun around.

If it snapped off then they broke it.
If the stem was corroded then the shop might be correct.

"Transferring" the sensors simply just means unbolting the valve stem assembly and putting it on the new wheels. Usually it's an extra charge because they have to reprogram TPMS, but in this case you paid extra for no reason because there is nothing to reprogram prior to the damage.

I suggest you look at the shop's work in greater detail. $70 extra to swap over 4 valve stems is probably the easiest $70 anyone has ever made.

-alex

[MTCRX]

I had a tire shop break 3 of mine. They for some reason couldnt figure out how to mount the tires without breaking them. They replaced two, I felt sorry for them and took the tires and wheels to another shop where they mounted tires and new monitors with no drama.

I think they should be liable, the monitors were not broken until they worked on them. If they broke them that should be on them. So many tires have these monitors today there should be no reason they should be breaking them.

[pgranberg11]

Originally Posted by James Russels

Hi all,

I recently purchased new wheels and tires and took them to a shop to have them mounted, balanced, and installed on my FRS. I paid an additional $70 for them to transfer the tire pressure monitoring sensors over to the new wheels. They told me that one of the TPMS "didn't survive the transfer" due to "corrosion". They said I will need to buy a new TPMS and it will have to be programmed - another $70.

I wanted to know whether or not this sounds reasonable to anyone else. My thoughts are that I paid the shop to correctly transfer the sensors, and if they broke one, then I did not receive the service I paid for. That said, I also don't know what it takes to transfer these sensors, and if it is a common/expected occurrence for them to break during the transfer. Looking forward to seeing others' opinions. Thanks.

I wonder which shop you went to.. I had the exact same issue with mine at a shop in Chicago. I knew for a fact they broke it. Instead of telling me, they still installed it and I heard a clicking/clunking noise in my wheel, I was running late to work and I couldn't replicate the noise all the time so I left. I finally got it to replicate and I took back it to the shop literally the very next day and they said yea, no I broke it from "hard driving"... never going to that shop again.

[stevesnj]

It wasn't broken when you dropped the car off right?