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Quick TPS question....

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Old Feb 22, 2014 | 03:55 PM
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Default Quick TPS question....

After sitting for 4 months my '03 Corvette I finally started it and it prompted me that the RR tire low pressure...my question is how does these sensors work? I thought you had to drive the car to get it to read. How long are these sensors life span? Can you have them installed without removing the tire? Do the tires have to be balanced after install? Any way to clear TPS code except to drive over 25 mph? Enough questions already, thanks to all responses and additional info. appreciated. Greetings, Rob
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Old Feb 22, 2014 | 04:54 PM
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Originally Posted by El original
After sitting for 4 months my '03 Corvette I finally started it and it prompted me that the RR tire low pressure...my question is how does these sensors work? I thought you had to drive the car to get it to read. How long are these sensors life span? Can you have them installed without removing the tire? Do the tires have to be balanced after install? Any way to clear TPS code except to drive over 25 mph? Enough questions already, thanks to all responses and additional info. appreciated. Greetings, Rob
Did you check the tire with a gauge too ensure that it was low?
I've found that one or more read low after sitting for a few months and after I drive for 2 or 3 miles the warning goes away. Sensors are good for 7 - 10 years, I replaced the ones on my '03 when I got new tires 2 years ago (9 years old and still worked fine). You have to pull the tire and get them balanced. Don't understand the question about clearing the code, if you are not adding air to the tire that's low why would you want the code cleared? One month 'til SPRING!!
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Old Feb 22, 2014 | 05:09 PM
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My sensors have lasted 13 years. I think 7 to 10 is low.
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Old Feb 22, 2014 | 05:23 PM
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Originally Posted by El original
After sitting for 4 months my '03 Corvette I finally started it and it prompted me that the RR tire low pressure...my question is how does these sensors work?
The sensors are located inside the tire, are powered by batteries, and read the internal air pressure of the tire and transmit the information real-time via RF as a digital readout on the instrument cluster (and also display a warning if pressure drops too low).

Originally Posted by El original
I thought you had to drive the car to get it to read.
I think a stationary reading would/could be inaccurate if the vehicle has been sitting for some time. Driving the vehicle would update the reading.

Originally Posted by El original
How long are these sensors life span?
I think the life span of the batteries is approx 10+ years.

Originally Posted by El original
Can you have them installed without removing the tire?
Nope.

Originally Posted by El original
Do the tires have to be balanced after install?
As you have to remove the tire to install new sensors/batteries, the wheels do have to be balanced after install.

Originally Posted by El original
Any way to clear TPS code except to drive over 25 mph?
I assume you mean "refresh" the TPS to obtain a current reading?
No I don't think so, other than driving the vehicle.



(Also, the sensors on 1997-2000 are different (and more expensive) than the sensors on 2001-2004 model years).



.

Last edited by allred; Feb 22, 2014 at 05:27 PM.
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Old Feb 22, 2014 | 07:18 PM
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Wow, thankyou guys for answering my questions...now I know everything, lol.
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Old Feb 23, 2014 | 02:03 AM
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I dont know about the ten year life of the TPS (Watch im about to jinx myself), I bought a 01 in Oct 2013 with 34,906 miles on it, and back in dec I got all 4 tires changed, and looked at the TPS and they were all original, thats 13 years and counting.

Also if your so inclined and capable, its the Batteries of the TPS that go bad, there is a company that sells the batteries to replace the dead ones. I remember seeing a video on how to replace them. Just a thought.
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Old Feb 23, 2014 | 07:59 PM
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I bought my 04 about a year ago with 10,000 miles and now have about 15,000 on it. I also have a 07 Avalanche with over 100,000 miles which has a sensor light on now. I am soon going to buy new tires to replace the originals on the vette so my question is which wears out the sensors, miles or time since they only transmit at speed? Don't want to replace if unnecessary.
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Old Feb 23, 2014 | 09:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Vertex
I bought my 04 about a year ago with 10,000 miles and now have about 15,000 on it. I also have a 07 Avalanche with over 100,000 miles which has a sensor light on now. I am soon going to buy new tires to replace the originals on the vette so my question is which wears out the sensors, miles or time since they only transmit at speed? Don't want to replace if unnecessary.
I would guess you have a few more years on your sensors by the comments from other members here. I have an '01 and the sensors still work fine.
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Old Feb 23, 2014 | 11:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Vertex
so my question is which wears out the sensors, miles or time since they only transmit at speed? Don't want to replace if unnecessary.
Both, the sensors are used not only during speed, but at all times, the difference is that when the tires have no movement the tps sensor still sends info to the ecm, but if I remember its sent in either 1 hour or 4 hour intervals, opposed to I think its 15 mins when the car is in motion. But as we know batteries that are subjected to weather wear batteries as well, especially during the hot summer months.

Correct me if I'm wrong guys.
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Old Feb 24, 2014 | 01:51 AM
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Still have the originals on my 02.
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Old Feb 24, 2014 | 07:51 AM
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The first original sensor just failed in my 02 vert after 12 years
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