TPMS - Is the Audi dealer trying to make a few extra bucks?
 

Two weeks ago i hit a pothole...MY TPMS warning light goes off and i check..i got a flat in the right rear. I replaced the tire with the spare to get me home. the next day i replace both rear tires with brand new tires from a respectable tireshop that deals with TPMS sensors. The warning light is still on and is showing the pressures of all the tires. they press the change tire button on the MMI. The warning goes off and the MMI says initializing ....may take several minutes. after 2 days the the TMPS does not inialize.
I took my 2006 Audi A8 to the dealer to only get the TPMS to initialize. They called back and stated that the sensors are not communicating and they will have to calibrate..cost $110.(not to mention a list of other items they stated needing fixed totaling $3000) thats fine. the tireshop says they will cover the charge of the calibration. Audi also states that its a possibilty that all the sensors may have coincidently went bad.

My question is..If the TPMS was working prior to pressing the change tire selection in the MMI. how could they have "coincidently gone bad". Is the dealer just trying to make an extra few bucks?

Thanks

As expected the dealer calls back and states all 5 of the TPM sensors are dead and need to be replaced... 1100 before labor. How can all five go dead at the same time and they were working before issuing the change tire parameter?

Not sure if this is the case for you, however, about 3 years ago I had to change the TPMS sensor (4 wheels) on our 2006 A8. I purchased them on Amazon (much less expensive - make sure you get the right ones) and had them installed (by my tire guy) when I was replacing the tires. I think this is a well known and documented failure after about 8 years

I would think the receiver on the car may be bad now - not sure where it is located or how many there are.

Can you assist me with purchasing the correct TPMS sensors? I have found several online sellers and they offer choices of a 315 Mhz model or 433 Mhz model. Both dealer and independent service shop have quoted me close to $900 in parts and the online retailer sells a set for $150 or $320 depending on which ones I need. I don't understand how these parts can be priced so differently by Audi dealer and independent service shop versus all the sellers online- who then tell me it's an easy install for any tire shop. My ride is a 2009 A8L. I have a call into the dealer to find out if my car is the 315 or 433 Mhz. Thanks for any help.

All 2009 A8L vehicles use a 433Mhz sensor. We sell the correct, original TPMS sensors for $356 for the set of four including stems and shipping to the first 48 states.

Bought two sets on ebay for $160 ea. (0r less!)
 

I'm not trying to cut into any ones business but the two sets I bought for a set of 16 winter wheels for my '06 A6 Avant and for another set of wheels for my wife's '07 A6 Avant were $148 (ITM Brand I believe) they're now up to $160 it appears. My tire guy saw no obvious low quality issues and they installed & work fine. Resetting through MMI was no problem. BTW the PO of the '06 had one fail at 175K, May 2014 and replaced all 4. YMMV