Warning - Wells Programmable TPMS sensors
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 316
Likes: 45
From: Sarasota
Warning - Wells Programmable TPMS sensors
I'm not the brightest bulb in the box so maybe I am the only one that was educated the hard way.
Autozone sells the Wells Programmable TPMS sensor. The type that we use are fairly new. Wells is owned by NGK Spark Plug.
Autozone did not tell me that "programmable" means programmed by a Wells Programmer which is proprietary AND that the sensors had to be programmed BEFORE they were installed.
The programming tool costs over 400 and because the product is new, there are very few programmers out there.
It would have been too easy for Autozone to have a programmer at each store, or at least make one available locally, AND tell you that the sensors have to be programmed.
Hopefully this post will save some one from making the same mistake that I did.
Autozone sells the Wells Programmable TPMS sensor. The type that we use are fairly new. Wells is owned by NGK Spark Plug.
Autozone did not tell me that "programmable" means programmed by a Wells Programmer which is proprietary AND that the sensors had to be programmed BEFORE they were installed.
The programming tool costs over 400 and because the product is new, there are very few programmers out there.
It would have been too easy for Autozone to have a programmer at each store, or at least make one available locally, AND tell you that the sensors have to be programmed.
Hopefully this post will save some one from making the same mistake that I did.
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Thanks for the warning. Were they that much cheaper than say OEM sensors? Sometimes to save a few bucks it costs you a lot in frustration.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 316
Likes: 45
From: Sarasota
45 each. You are absolutely right; however, it just never occurred to me that Autozone would be selling a product earmarked for my specific car that could not be used generically.
I spoke to a Wells tech and he is trying to help me out. I'm sure that Wells will want to make sure that Autozone and the other vendors make it clear to the general public that programming is required.
If NGK really wants to make a dent in the sensor market they should have provided programmers to their vendors. My 2 cents.
Last edited by marc a; Jan 9, 2016 at 12:20 AM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 316
Likes: 45
From: Sarasota
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 316
Likes: 45
From: Sarasota
Ok so Wells has called me twice and was very accommodating and apologetic. They are sending me 4 new sensors pre-programmed for my car. I will then remove the ones I have and return them to Autozone for a full refund.
Needless to say I will be testing the sensors before they are installed.
Needless to say I will be testing the sensors before they are installed.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 698
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From: Md
There are numerous aftermarket tire sensor programmers. Seek out a good tire store, Find a "tech" (haha) with a BRAIN who knows how to use said programmers. Many stores have more than 1 type. They cant have a block on / in to the hz from the sensor cuz diff systems want to read diff hz. I could be so wrong, but I know a guy who I bet could get them to talk. Good Luck
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 316
Likes: 45
From: Sarasota
There are numerous aftermarket tire sensor programmers. Seek out a good tire store, Find a "tech" (haha) with a BRAIN who knows how to use said programmers. Many stores have more than 1 type. They cant have a block on / in to the hz from the sensor cuz diff systems want to read diff hz. I could be so wrong, but I know a guy who I bet could get them to talk. Good Luck