So I found a guy online who has factory Toyota TPMS sensors in individually boxed red and white boxes with the number label and all that sub valve assembly tire / whatever I'll put the part number up here if I have to but you can find the guy on eBay You can't miss the pictures of the boxes I ordered a set of four I think that's how we sells them they're like $44. In the immediate thing I noticed directly on the sensors themselves if you have the valve aimed down holding the unit in your hand on the left side of the unit on the Toyota Pacific branded TPMS sensors there's this thing called the CMIT number printed right on the very edge of the sensor all the fakes are what we're calling fakes or seconds And what have you that I've purchased do not have that CMIT number scribed on the edge of the black plastic in white. So it seems that's a way to tell the real ones from Toyota from the seconds or whatever these other ones are I don't doubt these other ones are made by Pacific manufacturing they're just not made by Pacific to be reboxed in Toyota boxes for Toyota to sell. All of them so far that I've bought work just fine they're in use right now and the lights are off on the dash and everything seems good so.
There isn't people here always screaming about fakes and you know they won't work or they something and something I don't know personally My fakes are working fine. They look like their seconds from the manufacturer Pacific is all that is and the real ones as far as I can tell from the Toyota and Toyota packaging have this CMIT ID along the side of the sensor every one of them The seconds or the fakes or the ones that I'm talking about do not have the CMIT number but I don't care about a number I care about the TPMS light being off I also have a Toyota Prius with a set of ACDelco TPMS sensors in it and they work fine apparently as long as they broadcast on the same megahertz gigahertz range You're in pretty good shape I guess
The batteries and what look to be the true units from the in the Toyota boxes have Panasonic batteries in them I have to go look and see what we think the seconds or the copies of the Pacific branded sensors have in them The panasonics and the factories are Chinese batteries it says so right on the battery I just can't remember what we're in what I think or seconds or fakes that don't have this CMIT number on the side of the casting
There are probably high-quality fakes that are not much different from the original when installed and perform their functions well. In this case, it is difficult to call it a fake. Rather, it is a good-quality duplicate.
The sensors usually have a 3V lithium battery. It lasts for several years. I have seen universal sensors where the battery can be easily replaced. But the wheel needs to be dismounted to get to the sensor.
I don't think CMIT # is the indicator for genuine. In fact, it is likely the counterfeit from my sample data. The original TPMS sensor came out of my 2011 Prius has no CMIT #. No Toyota Markings. They are made by Pacific Industries. Denso 550-0103 is exact match (~$40 sold by amazon/rockauto). Also no CMIT # and made by Pacific Industries. Denso is just the distributor. Bought 4 from amazon for $40+ each and been on the car for 2.5 years without problems. Also checked the ID codes are properly registered in Techstream. Original electronics is entombed in white silicone while new Denso is clear silicone. Here is pic of original and the Denso/Pacific Industry replacement Also looking into replacing battery on my original 2011 TPMS to help a college student's 2008 Lexus RX350 with TPMS light (New TPMS incl spare is $$$ for college student) OEM battery legs are soldered in from the bottom of the TPMS board. Appears same from the amazon reference picture for Denso replacement ( link ) which also seems to have eliminated the rear plastic cover. OEM TPMS battery is Panasonic Japan BR2450A. Closest matching electrode tab version on mouser/digikey is BR2450A/FJN ( link ) Drawing shows a date code which was on my OEM TPMS's battery. On 4-5x TPMS on ebayfor <= $50 (all stamped Pacific Industries and has CMIT #), there are some key differences from the Denso for ~$40+ (Amazon, rockauto) Cheap ebay TPMS's circuit board patterns are different than the Densos through the transparent silicone. Some picture even shows no silicone moisture protection but maybe just reference pics. Cheap ebay TPMS's battery is China Panasonic/Maxell etc CR2540 Not saying cheap ebays aren't as good but they are likely counterfeit. Chinese manufacturing has evolved to provide many grades from the lowest to the highest (I repair iPhones and source my parts including the battery from distributors supplying professional repair shop. Grades are much higher than ebay/amazon junk @ same price) I actually did some manufacturing in China saw the quality drop off as you go from coastal factories to inland factories (cheaper, lower quality) So the real difficulty is to know which grade manufacturer made the product.
