Hi! 2015 Kia Rio LX and I replaced all four sensors with aftermarkets. My tire pressure are fine but TPMS blinks then stays solid. American Tire Depot says it's an ECU issue or something and to go to the Kia dealership. I'm trying to have no dashboard lights to rid of the Kia. Any ideas what's going on?
you need to perform a TPMS relearn
Have you checked your owner's manual for information?
For troubleshooting the issue yourself, you would have to hook up a fancier scan tool (basically a full-system scan tool that will scan all the systems and computers onboard) that then scans the BCM (Body Control Module) and/or the TPMS system and see the tire pressure sensor IDs (unique IDs) and values (i.e. pressures) at all 4 wheels: these are data the computer itself sees which may or may not match the data at the sensors themselves. You would also need to know the IDs and pressures of the individual sensors at the wheels which can be determined with a dedicated TPMS “trigger” tool (like a Ateq VT31) by walking to all 4 wheels and scanning. By doing this, you can confirm if the sensors were programmed correctly or not and what the TPMS system computer actually sees: maybe the data it sees is bad in which case something could be wrong with the sensors themselves or maybe it was not programmed correctly (if at all). But if everything checks out and the TPMS ID and values at the sensors and at the computer all match and are above the lower limit (scan tool can tell you this as well) then it could point to the module itself (BCM).
A good mechanic should be capable of all this, but ECU or modules are not cheap to replace so it’s important to confirm before replacing it.
I replaced all four sensors with aftermarkets
That could be all or part of the problem. However as @dan says, you'll need a fancy scan tool to diagnose the cause.
I think potential buyers are going to have questions about that
I just saw Scotty use a $69 toolkit for TPMS and I might consider that instead of replacing an expensive ECU module.
good plan because replacing the ECU will do absolutely nothing but empty your bank account
If you were keeping it, then I would definitely just do that. But even selling the vehicle, you can disclose to the next owner the issue.
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When I bought my (used) truck in 2017 it had a TPMS light on but I still bought it. It was still worth it to me. The TPMS issue in my case turned out to be because the tire pressure values at the computer itself were more than +/- 0.5 psi of each other, which triggered the TPMS light on. In that case, you can’t win and I just live with the light on.
Did you program the new sensors in?
(TPS is not “plug and play” it does require special tooling)
Also, did you hold the TPMS button to reset the correct pressures?
you need to perform a TPMS relearn
How does this work? I've been looking all over for info. Apparently American Tire Depot has a TPMS tool and tried to make it relearn. I went to a AAA mechanic to help but they couldn't help even with their TPMS tool. Do I just hit up the dealership for a relearn? I've also driven at least 50 mph for 15 minutes to try and relearn but that didn't help.
Just put a small piece of black tape over the light and don't worry about it. Get at $4 tire gauge at the Dollar Store and check them once a week. Save yourself hundreds of dollars, which you already spent replacing them.
I think potential buyers are going to have questions about that
OP wants all the lights off so they can sell the vehicle.