Tire Sensors ???????
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 557
Likes: 1
From: Turnersville N.J.
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Tire Sensors ???????
Gentlemen, I have a 2000 with 6,500 miles on her, pick her up a few months ago with 4,300 miles. My ? how long do the sensors last, does it have anything to do with how much they are used or just the life of the Battery. I am thinking of getting new tires and wheels. Thanks for any infor. you may have.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,420
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From: "This is not a psychotic episode, but a cleansing moment of clarity."
...and while we're waiting to find out how long they last, can the sensors be renewed simply by swapping the batteries? Or do you have to shell out for more disposables aka sensors?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,984
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From: Central Coast CA
I believe they list them as a 10 year life but 5 years is more realistic. No you cannot replace just the batteries, as they are a sealed unit. But a few people have tried with some success, although it is not an easy procedure.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Depending on your actual build date your tire sensors could be almost seven years old. IN any event I have seen numerous people with a Y2K C5 asking where to get sensors etc.
I can tell you this, if you expect to keep the car, and you are buying new tires. Your sensors will not out live the tires. You could maybe get another year out of them, or thy may die this summer. You do not want to have new tires and no means of determining if they are going flat.
I would suggest you invest in New sensors. You do not want to pay twice to have the tires broke down and rebalanced.
Gene Culley at Fred beans has the best prices and service on sensors.
Gene is a corvette forum supporting vendor.,If you decide on sensors give Gene an email and also include your Vin #
gculley@fredbeans.com
I can tell you this, if you expect to keep the car, and you are buying new tires. Your sensors will not out live the tires. You could maybe get another year out of them, or thy may die this summer. You do not want to have new tires and no means of determining if they are going flat.
I would suggest you invest in New sensors. You do not want to pay twice to have the tires broke down and rebalanced.
Gene Culley at Fred beans has the best prices and service on sensors.
Gene is a corvette forum supporting vendor.,If you decide on sensors give Gene an email and also include your Vin #
gculley@fredbeans.com
Administrator
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I agree with Evil-Twin - I'd go ahead and get new sensors while you are doing the upgrade. I just bought a set of sensors for my '00 from Fred Beans - $340 or so shipped to your door.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 924
Likes: 161
From: Atwater CA
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
If it was me, I would not replace the sensors 'just because'. Unless you know the complete history on your car you don't know how old they actually are. If your car sat most of it's life in a nice cool garage they may be in great shape. If one of them dies, you can replace it without removing the tire, you just have to break the bead on one side of the tire, and hence you do not have to rebalance. Sure that is a hassle but, having a tire sensor fail is not like running out of gas in the middle of a desert. I guess it is like an extended warrantee, if you need to know that you will not have to replace a tire sensor before you get new tires the next time, then spend the $350+ and get new sensors. But guess what, one of those 'new' sensors could fail before you get new tires, your car could get stolen tomorrow, all four existing sensors could last 5 more years.... you might find a c6 zo6 at a fire sale, lots of things can happen!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
My 98 with 94,000 miles still has sensors working. BUT, since I am getting new wheels and tires, I am replacing them
Fichtner's (a supporting vendor) has 1997-2000 sensors for $80 a piece. 2001-2004 sensors are cheaper.
Fichtner's (a supporting vendor) has 1997-2000 sensors for $80 a piece. 2001-2004 sensors are cheaper.
Last edited by Oldvetter; Feb 16, 2006 at 07:04 PM.
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Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 351
Likes: 0
From: Haw River North Carolina
I agree with ET and JD. If your doing new wheels and tires, the new sensors just plain make good sense. Its an enormous PITA to take the care back in and have the tires unmounted, broken down, sensors replaced and then put it all together (not to mention the cost of doing so and rebalancing) when you could do it when mounting the tires.
Don't ask me how I know........
Don't ask me how I know........
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,495
Likes: 0
From: Paducah Ky
Originally Posted by Oldvetter
My 98 with 94,000 miles still has sensors working. BUT, since I am getting new wheels and tires, I am replacing them
Fichtner's (a supporting vendor) has 1997-2000 sensors for $80 a piece. 2001-2004 sensors are cheaper.
Fichtner's (a supporting vendor) has 1997-2000 sensors for $80 a piece. 2001-2004 sensors are cheaper.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,474
Likes: 4
From: Tracy CA
Your situation is somewhat unique. The miles on the car are extremely low.
These sensors don't turn on till the centrifugal switch activates. Notice how they don't work till you hit about 10-15 MPH? That's because they're off. With 6500 miles on the clock, yours have been off 99% of the time since 2000.
Because of this, the lithium batteries haven't been drained down and I would keep them. These things have a good shelf life.
If you still want to change them out, let me be first in line to give you $50 for your prior set!
These sensors don't turn on till the centrifugal switch activates. Notice how they don't work till you hit about 10-15 MPH? That's because they're off. With 6500 miles on the clock, yours have been off 99% of the time since 2000.
Because of this, the lithium batteries haven't been drained down and I would keep them. These things have a good shelf life.
If you still want to change them out, let me be first in line to give you $50 for your prior set!
Pro
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 500
Likes: 0
From: Plainfield Illinois
... Just went through this...
The sensors are good for about 100,000 miles. That's because they turn off when not moving. Yours have plenty of miles left. (good)
1) you can take a chance (good probability) that they will last.
2) you can change them and have the satisfaction of KNOWING they will last past the tires...
3) You can understand that they are years... old, and maybe do not have the life that most people think they have...
4) You can take the chance that you will have to de-mount your tires, (don't believe that you can only seperate the tire around the sensor and hope the tire will hold air and carry your wife to the store).
Then realize that you are over 30 years old and have much to loose over a shortcut...........
ZOOOM
The sensors are good for about 100,000 miles. That's because they turn off when not moving. Yours have plenty of miles left. (good)
1) you can take a chance (good probability) that they will last.
2) you can change them and have the satisfaction of KNOWING they will last past the tires...
3) You can understand that they are years... old, and maybe do not have the life that most people think they have...
4) You can take the chance that you will have to de-mount your tires, (don't believe that you can only seperate the tire around the sensor and hope the tire will hold air and carry your wife to the store).
Then realize that you are over 30 years old and have much to loose over a shortcut...........
ZOOOM
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Originally Posted by ZOOOM
... Just went through this...
The sensors are good for about 100,000 miles. That's because they turn off when not moving. Yours have plenty of miles left. (good)
1) you can take a chance (good probability) that they will last.
2) you can change them and have the satisfaction of KNOWING they will last past the tires...
3) You can understand that they are years... old, and maybe do not have the life that most people think they have...
4) You can take the chance that you will have to de-mount your tires, (don't believe that you can only seperate the tire around the sensor and hope the tire will hold air and carry your wife to the store).
Then realize that you are over 30 years old and have much to loose over a shortcut...........
ZOOOM
The sensors are good for about 100,000 miles. That's because they turn off when not moving. Yours have plenty of miles left. (good)
1) you can take a chance (good probability) that they will last.
2) you can change them and have the satisfaction of KNOWING they will last past the tires...
3) You can understand that they are years... old, and maybe do not have the life that most people think they have...
4) You can take the chance that you will have to de-mount your tires, (don't believe that you can only seperate the tire around the sensor and hope the tire will hold air and carry your wife to the store).
Then realize that you are over 30 years old and have much to loose over a shortcut...........
ZOOOM
unless of course you do 100,000 miles in 6 to seven years. I replaced mine because two of them died at 55,000 miles and 6 years old. So the first statement is wrong. I dont know of anyone who has contacted me about sensors who had 100K on them... I see many 99's/98/97 with sensor death, I am now starting to see people with Y2K C5's experiencing failure. Some of them have posted in this thread and none of them are close to 100K.
If you feel that having tire sensors are important, then this is the time to replace them and be worry free for another 6 or seven years. Knowing they could fail at any moment would be too much to consider unless of course that money is an issue, but knowing that you feel tire sensors are important, only means that when they do fail you are going to replace them... Now would be the time to do that and avoid the hassle and further expense at another time.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,995
Likes: 9
From: Camdenton MO
2024 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I just got two new tires for the rear of my 2000 coupe, and spent the extra dough for two new sensors. Mine have been failing intermittently, so it was a good time to gain piece of mind. They cost me $119 each.
As soon as money becomes available, I will be doing the same for the fronts. I just bought some NITTO 555s for the rear, and the ride has immensely improved over the other tires I had for less than a year.
As soon as money becomes available, I will be doing the same for the fronts. I just bought some NITTO 555s for the rear, and the ride has immensely improved over the other tires I had for less than a year.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 4,419
Likes: 6
From: Arroyo Grande CA
GM TechLink Magazine Update, January 2003
Posted on the Hunter Engineering Company site. A lithium battery with a design life of 10 years powers the sensor.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
This information is for the newer sensors This information is dated
January 2003
Tire Pressure Monitoring System Information Addition:
--------------------------------------------------------------------
With the old sensors they monitor constantly,once they are activated. thousands of 97-00 sensors have failed already.
Monitor constantly means that you can watch the tires heat up via the DIC. The first generation sensors, which we are talking about here are at the end of their life.
Newer sensors 01-04 use an on and off monitor which updates by the hour, not by the minute.
I hope this clears things up alittle
Bill aka ET
January 2003
Tire Pressure Monitoring System Information Addition:
--------------------------------------------------------------------
With the old sensors they monitor constantly,once they are activated. thousands of 97-00 sensors have failed already.
Monitor constantly means that you can watch the tires heat up via the DIC. The first generation sensors, which we are talking about here are at the end of their life.
Newer sensors 01-04 use an on and off monitor which updates by the hour, not by the minute.
I hope this clears things up alittle
Bill aka ET
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 4,419
Likes: 6
From: Arroyo Grande CA
Originally Posted by Evil-Twin
This information is for the newer sensors This information is dated
January 2003
Tire Pressure Monitoring System Information Addition:
--------------------------------------------------------------------
With the old sensors they monitor constantly,once they are activated. thousands of 97-00 sensors have failed already.
Monitor constantly means that you can watch the tires heat up via the DIC. The first generation sensors, which we are talking about here are at the end of their life.
Newer sensors 01-04 use an on and off monitor which updates by the hour, not by the minute.
I hope this clears things up alittle
Bill aka ET
January 2003
Tire Pressure Monitoring System Information Addition:
--------------------------------------------------------------------
With the old sensors they monitor constantly,once they are activated. thousands of 97-00 sensors have failed already.
Monitor constantly means that you can watch the tires heat up via the DIC. The first generation sensors, which we are talking about here are at the end of their life.
Newer sensors 01-04 use an on and off monitor which updates by the hour, not by the minute.
I hope this clears things up alittle
Bill aka ET
Don
