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New tire sensor not working

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Old Aug 7, 2021 | 08:21 PM
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Default New tire sensor not working

Hi all;
Hoping someone can give me a little guidance here, I just recently bought new tires and had them installed, along with new tire sensors, for a 2004 convertible. I had taken the wheels off the car for them to install the tires, and planned to program the sensors myself. Just got them mounted to the car today, three sensors paired fine, one just refuses to be detected. I bought the sensors myself from Napa, so I know they were all the same “program with a magnet” version, and were all new. I even tried swapping side to side, and non-functional one stayed the same. Also tried a quick drive with the car and tried programming again with no luck. Could the new sensor be bad, could the installer have damaged the one, or was there something that needed to be done when they are installed that activates them. I didn’t open the boxes before I dropped them off, so I have no clue what needs to be done with them when installing. I’m just wondering if there is some tab you have to remove so the battery makes contact, and they missed this one. I will probably just go buy another sensor, and take it up to the installer anyway, just wondering if there is a chance this one is still good.

Thanks,
Mike

Last edited by mjfrank; Aug 7, 2021 at 08:22 PM.
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Old Aug 8, 2021 | 03:57 AM
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Hi,
there is usually nothing to do to activate the sensor, except spinning the wheel or place a magnet close to it. Maybe you could try with a stronger magnet, and change side of the magnet and slight position. Usually not necessary. The sensor might be bad also, like every product, all the more electronic product it can happen.
good luck.
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Old Aug 8, 2021 | 07:14 AM
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If all the other sensors programmed, I would suggest replacing the one that didn’t - sometimes even new parts are defective.
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Old Aug 8, 2021 | 12:30 PM
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Next time, to save yourself some trouble and program the sensors before they're installed and write on each one which wheel its for.

Id call NAPA and see if they have a replacement. Then, Id call the shop and ask them to remove the defective unit. Gonna be a bit of a pain in the @$$ to get situated.
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Old Aug 8, 2021 | 09:21 PM
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Thanks everyone, I appreciate the feedback. Unfortunately my timing was bad when I had this done, and had to pick up the sensors on the way to the installer, but that would have been a good idea to pair them prior. I’m assuming that I’ll be paying additional to have them install a sensor, since I doubt they will admit it even if they were the ones to screw it up. Hopefully I can at least get a refund from Napa for the bad sensor, providing the installer didn’t cause physical damage to it. I really wish I could have just dropped the car off to have this done, but my previous set were circa 2009, and the installer said the “shoe” kept going through the sidewall when he was trying to dismount them.😱
Mike
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Old Aug 24, 2021 | 01:14 AM
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Ugh okay, either I have really crappy luck with tpms sensors, or something else is going on. So I ordered and picked up another brand new sensor, same as the other four, and I thought, since I have it here, I’ll go ahead and try to pair it with the car, before I have it installed. No luck, same as the “bad” sensor already in one of my tires. This is the same part number as the others, still sealed in the plastic bag, never opened, and it still won’t pair. Could I really have two bad sensors, or is there something else that needs to be done. I’m using the same magnet I use on the other three working ones, and I can pair all three in less than 10 seconds each. This one and the one already in the tire refuse to. Does the sensor have to detect some minimum level of air pressure before it wakes up? I’m curious if others have been successful pairing them outside of a tire? The part number is Napa 92-1004C, and they claim these are the OEM match, pair with a magnet style. I’m planning on calling the tire shop (NTB) tomorrow and see if they have a more sophisticated reader for these that might be able to pair them, or could at least diagnose if these are both bad. Any other thoughts someone on here might have is appreciated.

Thanks!
Mike

Mike
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Old Aug 24, 2021 | 03:41 AM
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What if you try to reverse the order, just to experiment?. The car does not know where is what. So you start with this one, and then see if it pairs in first position, and if so, continue with the 3 others, and see if you can pair the fourth with one that you know works already in another position.
if you can't activate the first with this one, try to pair one that work first and this one second.... let us know how it goes.
then you need to talk to the manufacturer if it does not work for this one. If it pairs in another position and the last never pairs there is something fishy with the software ECU of the car...but that sounds improbable.
You can also have a Schrader 20117 for $22 in Rockauto, to test without assembling it on the wheel. You can mix sensors, the car does not care.
good luck.
TCFS

Last edited by TCFS; Aug 24, 2021 at 03:42 AM.
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Old Aug 24, 2021 | 09:34 AM
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I had a similar problem. Believe it or not, I was able to solve it by replacing the car battery. Can't promise it will solve your issue, but it might help.
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Old Aug 24, 2021 | 11:17 AM
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Originally Posted by Vetteman Jack
If all the other sensors programmed, I would suggest replacing the one that didn’t - sometimes even new parts are defective.
This actually happened to me, one of the four was bad. The vendor replaced it for free.
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Old Aug 24, 2021 | 11:29 AM
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Originally Posted by knewblewkorvette
This actually happened to me, one of the four was bad. The vendor replaced it for free.
THAT is exactly what the OP should do. Take the defective one back, and exchange it for 1 new sensor. I'd explain exactly what is happening to NAPA. I'm sure they'd like to know the sensors they're selling are only 75% good!! WARLORD made a good suggestion. By the time you get to the last sensor, the car battery may be a factor. Maybe try putting a battery charger on the car battery while programming?
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Old Aug 24, 2021 | 11:38 AM
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Just did a TPS relearn on mine the other day. Passenger front would not reset/beep horn with magnet (after 4 attempts) that worked on front driver. Swapped to a donut magnet and it worked.
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Old Aug 24, 2021 | 04:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Johnny Hardcore
Just did a TPS relearn on mine the other day. Passenger front would not reset/beep horn with magnet (after 4 attempts) that worked on front driver. Swapped to a donut magnet and it worked.
Donut magnets are all I use, and they work well......
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Old Aug 24, 2021 | 04:50 PM
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Originally Posted by grinder11
Donut magnets are all I use, and they work well......
Typically I would have started with the donut but could not recall where I put the dang thing.

After the front passenger failing to reset I went on a search and recovery mission in my garage. After 15 minutes of wasted time and plenty of curse words...of course it was
hanging on a nail next to my work bench the whole time.

Worked like a charm on all 4. First attempt.
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Old Aug 25, 2021 | 12:39 AM
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Hi All;
Thanks for the advice, why is it that the stupid simple things can be such a PITA! So to answer a few questions, the battery is brand new, and the car was on a charger the whole time I was attempting the pairing. I have attempted to pair the sensors in different orders, including trying to pair the “bad” ones first, last, and in between, they just don’t activate. I do have a brand new same model sensor, still in the plastic wrap, and I can’t get that one to work either. I’ve also tried driving 5-10 miles, over 50mph, and then attempted the pairing with no luck. One thing I don’t have is the donut magnet, since nobody around me stocks them. I have used two different fairly powerful magnets that have had no problem pairing the other three sensors. My next step is to take the car and the new sensor up to the tire shop, and let them try to active it with their tpms tool. I’m hoping they can scan both sensors to determine if one or both are bad or not before they break the tire down again.

I’ll post back if I have any revelations from the tire shop.
Thanks again,
Mike
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Old Aug 25, 2021 | 02:19 AM
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https://www.amazon.com/Schrader-20143-TPMS-Magnet/dp/B004A42MZI/ref=sr_1_53?dchild=1&keywords=Tpms+donut+magnet&qid=1629872440&sr=8-53 https://www.amazon.com/Schrader-20143-TPMS-Magnet/dp/B004A42MZI/ref=sr_1_53?dchild=1&keywords=Tpms+donut+magnet&qid=1629872440&sr=8-53

Good luck. My tire shop was never able to trigger the tpms with their tools, I finally got another corvette owner to share his donut magnet and it was done in 10min.
TCFS

Last edited by TCFS; Aug 25, 2021 at 02:21 AM.
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Old Aug 25, 2021 | 07:17 AM
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Originally Posted by TCFS
https://www.amazon.com/Schrader-2014...872440&sr=8-53

Good luck. My tire shop was never able to trigger the tpms with their tools, I finally got another corvette owner to share his donut magnet and it was done in 10min.
TCFS
I originally purchase my donut magnet on Amazon. Under $10 and got it next day. Good to have one on hand. Just remember that you hung it on a nail next to your work bench.
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Old Aug 25, 2021 | 09:36 AM
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Originally Posted by Johnny Hardcore
I originally purchase my donut magnet on Amazon. Under $10 and got it next day. Good to have one on hand. Just remember that you hung it on a nail next to your work bench.
I stick mine on the front of my metal toolbox. It won't fall off, that's for sure!!....
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Old Aug 25, 2021 | 12:05 PM
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Originally Posted by TCFS
https://www.amazon.com/Schrader-2014...872440&sr=8-53

Good luck. My tire shop was never able to trigger the tpms with their tools, I finally got another corvette owner to share his donut magnet and it was done in 10min.
TCFS
$47.45
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Old Aug 25, 2021 | 12:24 PM
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Originally Posted by knewblewkorvette
$47.45
But look at all the fancy writing on it...

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Old Aug 25, 2021 | 02:08 PM
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Originally Posted by knewblewkorvette
$47.45
Originally Posted by Yello95
But look at all the fancy writing on it...

ok ok... . I agree, I coughed when I saw the price....but it was just to show an example.
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