fake TPMS sensors how to spot

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by Tombukt2, Apr 13, 2025.

  1. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    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.
     
  2. MAX2

    MAX2 Senior Member

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    If the fake works as well as the original, what's the catch?
     
  3. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    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
     
  4. pasadena_commut

    pasadena_commut Senior Member

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    Maybe the batteries are weak and they fail early?
     
  5. pasadena_commut

    pasadena_commut Senior Member

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    Maybe the batteries are weak and they fail early?
     
  6. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    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
     
  7. MAX2

    MAX2 Senior Member

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    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.
     
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  8. MAX2

    MAX2 Senior Member

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    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.
     
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