Bought a 2009 xc70 last September. Immediately had problem with one tire losing air. Diagnosed as a faulty tire pressure monitoring sensor. Replaced sensor on that wheel. Then same thing on another wheel. Replaced all four tires last month. Checked air pressure this morning and driver's side rear wheel was down 8 pounds.

Has anyone else had this issue? These sensors are not inexpensive to replace. Was this Volvo's first (and faulty) attempt at a TPMS system? At this point I'd just as soon scrap the whole system and go without it.

Previous Volvo was a 1991 240 sedan.

Any feedback appreciated.

 

do you have metal or rubber valve stems? Metal stems mean you have the TPMS with the sensors in the wheel. Typically they are two part systems, the sensor itself and the stem. You can get stem replacements or the whole set up, but as expected its a PITA since you you need to dismount the tire to do either. Generally the problem is dirt/road salt gets into the stem and starts corroding so the stems should be replaced with each tire changeover. This is not unique to Volvo - all models (BMW, Audis etc) which use the in wheel sensor have the same maintenance issue. Note that in 2015 Volvo has gone to the ABS sensor design where the car measures average wheel speed to sense a change in diameter and doesn't use the in wheel sensor. Draw back of this design is wheel to wheel tire pressure variations or snow accumulation in the tread can create false alarms.

 

Thanks for the reply. Yes, the sensors are definitely in the wheels, as the tech told me this when I first began having problems last fall. He cleaned everything out as best he could, but to no avail so eventually had to replace the sensor in that wheel.

Odd thing is I just put new tires on a few weeks ago when the snow tires came off, and here I am having the same issue. I looked at the receipt from the installation and it charges me for four new valve stems. I guess the new valve stem on the problem wheel could be a dud, so I'll have to get that checked out.

Am beginning to long for my old 1991 240, which did not have this new-fangled TPMS, or a lot of other new, complicated technology, either.