Called local Chevy Service Dept telling them I have a left rear that needs a new TPS installed (I bought the TPS already). How much? They told me $46 dollars. OK, not going ot break the bank but still for breaking down one tire? So anyway not having a machine to break down the tire took it in. About 5 minutes later Svc Mgr comes to me saying the cost is going to be $85-$90 to install the TPS I pprovided and retrain the sensors. Folks this takes very little time to retrain the sensors (about ten minutes for all 4). Since the other three are already trained can't I just train the new one being put on the left rear tire?(I'm asking Forum members). I thought this cost was too much for breaking down one tire and unscrewing the valve and installing the OEM TPS. Opinions? Also when putting on a new sensor which side goes against the rim?
thanks,
Bill

 

why not take it to a shop that just does tires and retrain the sensors yourself?

 

Take it to a Goodyear or Tire Plus shop and have them install the sensor. Then do the retraining yourself - it takes less than 2 minutes and only requires a decent sized magnet (I use one that is mounted on a stick for picking up loose nails/screws - available at home depot type stores). My shops woudn't charge more than $10 or so...

 

if you are just replacing the sensor, it's pretty much breaking the bead where the valve is and replace.. is a rebalance needed?

 

If you're replacing one you may be OK, but I might have it balenced just to be safe...

 

THe same thing happened to me. I supplied the sensor and the dealer charged $95 to install it. I tried various tire stores prior to going to the dealer but all of them said they did not have the equipment to handle "run-flat" tires. Then the tech could not program the sensor, I had to show him how. He then wanted to know where I had gotten a Chevrolet magnet?

 

You will have to re-train all 4 as the DIC will prompt you to train a specific sensor (left rear, etc) in order.

As far as the dealer costs, I thought there were laws agains't this type of robbery. I would insist that the service writer at least buy you dinner before he ****'s you!

 

I must me the luckiest man alive. I recently upgraded to ZO6 wheels and Toyo tires. I installed 4 new TPS myself before I had the tires mounted and balanced. Took my car to the local Chevy dealer and they programmed my sensors for nothing.

 

I took 2 sets of wheels and run flat tires to a local tire shop and they dismounted all tires and transfered the sensors between wheels and then mounted and balanced 1 set for $76 total. Later I took in a set of wagon wheels and had the tires dismounted. Total cost $20. Obviously, I will be a repeat customer.

 

That's way too much to install and train the sensors. Take it to another tire shop and they should be able to do it much cheaper. You cannot just train the one sensor - you will have to train all four again, but like you say, it is about a five minute job. All you need is a magnet.

 

ALL, thank you for your comments. When I left that day I was rather shocked to say the least. I do plan on mentioning the incident to the Dealership GM whom I know very well. This dealership is also our club sponsor which just added to the "shock and awe" feeling I had. I told the service manager (that I have known forever) it seems that 1)either the guy doing it had no idea what he was talking about or 2) they were trying to get more for a relatively simple task. I told him I'm taking it somewhere else that I know can get someone else to break it down for a lot less and install the sensor and I'll get a magnet and program it myself! Which is what I am going to do. There is a tire shop in town that I located that will do it for $18 -- no biggie to them. I just don't have the equipment to break down the tire, air it up and balance it or I would do it myself. I guess what these guys did was estimate a time that it would take to do it and checked the book based on their idea of how long it would take rounding up the figure! Just blew my mind. Most cars are coming out with larger than 18 tires so you know a lot of these tire shops have the right equipment to do it..not rocket science. I guess the idiot that came up with this cost thought I was just some guy that owned a Corvette and didn't know jack! Well, I do know Jack (Jack-off, the guy that thought this price up in my humble opinion). It's not nice to say pissed off so I won't say pissed off instead let me just say I was highly urinated at them and their high dollar tire service!
Bill