I bought some new wheels/tires all mounted and balanced, for my 2003 C5. Arrived Friday and I put them on.

And the TPMS sensors will not wake up and 'talk to the car, or vice versa'.

I've done this twice before, and am confident I've got the precedure right. Get the DIC to 'arm L front tire'. At that point, you just place the circular magnet (same I've used to arm two other sets) around the valve stem, wait a few seconds until the horn chirps, them move on to the right front, right rear, and finally left rear.

My Shraeder circular magnet still feels strong; picks up ratchets and other metal tools easily. Don't know if a magnet can go 'bad' or not?

Called the business I bought them from, but it was closing time Friday. He said he'd call the manufacturer to see what they say. He assured me they did not forget to put the TPMS sensors in. There is a nut on the valve stem, which holds the sensors; so I too believe they're installed.
I even tried letting some air out, to see if that would wake them. No luck.

My final recourse will be to take them back off the car, box them up, and send them back. Wish I'd tried to arm them, before mounting the tires/wheels. But, the other sets worked so good, from same dealer, I just 'assumed these would too'. Live and learn, I guess. Next time, arm first. Hindsight now...

Local Chevy dealer I talked to Saturday told me to bring it down Monday morning and he'd have his guys 'work on it' for me. Do Chevy dealer have 'a machine', more sophisticated than a magnet to do this?

Any ideas, on how to wake up the sensors? I did drive it around for 20 minutes, up to 40 and 50 mph. Service manual says they wake up above 20mph.

So.... I'd appreciate any ideas or thoughts I might try, to wake up the sensors, or something, so they'll program.

The sensors on the wheels I just took off (two years old) were communicating fine with the car, before I took them off.



thanks,
Don

 

American Tire set mine for 20.00 on my CCW.Pics of the new wheels.

 

Have them verify the part number of the sensors: make sure they didn't use the early-model sensor or some third-party clones that require a special device to program.

 

I doubt they used the earlier ones or your would have noticed the price, as they are a lot more expensive.

 

I had a problem getting the sensors to match the car when I bought my last set of tires. I have one of the factory programming magnets and it just would not take. I ended up going out to the local Chevy dealer, asked them to see if they could get it to sync, and they had no problems with their magnet. Might want to give you local dealer a chance to get them to work - before you decide to take more drastic steps.

BTW, the dealer did not charge me anything to do the work - took all of less than 5 minutes.

 

Find out what they used. Probably the right ones, but unless you know what they are it could be a frustrating time perhaps trying to train them by the wrong method.

I have done a bunch of them and never had a problem with a cheap Radio Shack magnet held in the barrel of the wheel which puts it closer to the sensor than over the valve stem. That could be a method to try.

I should say I never had a problem until the last set I put on. I could sometimes get one or two sensors to respond by the magnet. I could never get all sensors programmed. I broke down and ordered the strongest magnet I could find. I got a 1' x 2" x 1/4" magnet, I think it was called Neodymium N52 magnet. It worked on all of them the first time when I placed in in the barrel of the wheel at the sensor.

I would make sure you have the right sensors, then try your magnet in the barrel of the wheel, then try a shop to see if they can train them. After that you may have a bad sensor or need a stronger magnet.

Good luck.

 

I got a call from the seller of the wheels. He got a call from the manuyfacturer of the TPMS sensors.

They said, that now you need to wake them up with a 'Smart Sensor', available at most larger tire centers.

I called Curtis at American Tire on S Azusa, and he told me to come on down, that he thought he could fix my issue.


Upon arrival, I put the car into tire training, then 'learn left front tire'.
He next did exactly the same thing (I had done with my magnet) with his handheld sensor, after programing in C5 2003 into his tool: and it worked perfectly. Started Left Front, chirp of horn, on to the others, all fine now.

So, best I can tell you, is that if you get new wheels or sensors, if your magnet doesn't work; try to find a tire/wheel retailor with a 'trigger sensor tool' or smart sensor tool'. And it should work fine.
Also, another member mentioned a stronger magnet (the rare earth one, super strong). That too might be the answer. I ordered one, just in case... someday I want to change wheels again in the future.

thanks for all the thoughts and advice to all !!! I deeply appreciate it.

Don

 

American Tire , your welcome Don. LOL

 

Lowes sells a pack of small super strong magnets. Use them in the barrel of the wheel like QCVette says. When I put new wheels/tires/sensors on (Schrader sensors), they did the job. The "donut" shaped magnet that fits around the valve stem would not work as it was too big to get between the valve stem and the spokes.

 

C'mon Don, where's the pic of those new wheels? And I thought those Ruff's looked great!

 

 

Not all sensors are magnetically triggered anymore. Early OEM yes. Most have to be radio frequency triggered. My aftermarket sensors I programmed with KTI tool I bought from tirerack for $150. Works great on all GM vehicles. Has a magnet too if needed, but everything I have programmed had to be RF triggered.

 

Thanks, I still like the Ruff 954's. Still have them for now. But these new ones, are a new look I was looking for, a change. And, they are almost 6 lbs per wheel lighter. Nurburgrings, 19x18.

These wheels allow bigger tires than the Ruff's also. For traction, in case I introduce increased power, to the car.... beyond 500 RWHP it has now.

Don

 

thanks again, M. I'll let you know on 'that other deal' when I find out later this week.

Don

 

Car and new wheels look stunning .......