I just bought new Michelin Pilots and had ordered new Ac Delco TPSMs. However the tire shop said we have them here, so I cancelled my order. As it turned out the owner said he “was not able to get a signal” so they were not programmed! They pretty much sent me on my way. I paid $165 programming charge Later I noticed a comment they had recommended I go to an electrical shop about dash lights (?). They did no such thing. THEN I find out they used “Autel” not Ac Delco. So I don’t know what to do. I think they owe me the $165. And what is with the no signal? Further inquiry about the Autel brand, was told they program them when they take them out of the box and again when installed but were not able to. I am furiously crazy right now! How do I know they were even good to begin with. No signal because they are no good. Comments pleeze! Does this screw up my warranty. If they have to be checked it means unsealing the tire to get to them?

 

Same thing happened to me when I had a set of new Michelin Pilot Sports mounted on my aftermarket wheels. The tire shop tried to install their aftermarket sensors using their programming device but could only get one of the four to work. I then ordered a set of GM sensors from Amazon and brought them back to the tire shop who removed their aftermarket sensors and installed the GM sensors. They refunded me the cost of their sensors and did not charge me to swap in the GM sensors. I then programmed the GM sensors with a magnet. Note - You need to wake them up first by driving the car a few miles and then programming them with the magnet. I could not program them right out of the box and had to wake them up first on my drive home back from the tire service center.

Good luck.

 

Thanks for your response. A reasonable decision you made that worked out well. I kind of feel better already, I too will try that approach. Unbelievable and I thought I must be the only one. This guy was such an aloof jerk. Did you happen to have any dialogue beforehand? I’m thinking maybe I should keep to myself about it and not let him get into a defensive mode before I get there. I just took for granted oem are always used as standard procedure. Live and learn!

 

Sorry to hear about your troubles. I am not aware of an exclusion that voids your tire warranty due to tire remounting. I took a quick read of my Michelin warranty and saw no mention of voiding a warranty for having them mounted more than once.

Although the OEM sensors are no longer manufactured for my ‘99, I found some and went with them anyway. The working sensors I had removed were 12 years old so I am hopeful to get many years off this new set even though they sat on the shelf for a few months. I was determined to get my tires from Costco so that limited my options anyway. Costco would only take responsibility for TPMS installation if they sourced the replacements or I brought in the GM OEM service sensors. Since Costco’s supplier Dill did not make sensors for my C5 that meant OEM service sensors.

Now here is the irony. Costco did not know how to activate the sensors and told me I just had to drive around for a few miles. So I did drive around…….. and then triggered them myself after I got home with a big magnet from one of those magnetic parts trays. It took about 5 minutes. Hard to believe that a tire shop would charge you $165.

 

I would have never driven my car home. Tell them to order the correct TPMS, take your car back, have them fix it right. You paid for it, and should want it done the correct way. TPMS have been out for years. No reason a tire shop can’t get it right. They installed the wrong ones.

I ordered wheels and tires from tire rack, with Delco TPMS. Had it delivered to a Midas shop that my old man used to manage. Everything is fine and everything works. You just have to have the right TPMS. They took your money and bought cheap ones.

 

If they could not get the sensors to work, they should replace them with sensors that you purchase and refund the price you paid for their sensors.

 

pretty sure Schrader supplied the OEM sensors, and if yours is a 97-00, the model number is 28006.

 

Thank you! That is exactly what I thought! I was referred to the place by a neighbor who previously owned a Corvette saying they were a very good and reasonable shop for repairs and maintenance even though they were a tire shop as I mentioned several issues of concern with my 01 C5 and not sure where to take it.

As it turned out I experienced a problem with
my right rear tire that would not take air even though it was a run flat, started looking pretty flat to me. I stopped by Firestone and they told me the TPMS was bad. Well tires needed replaced and I’m not buying just one tire, so figured the shop I intended to go to could do the tires - they were tickled pink about my referral, “Yes, i can do whatever you need, if I can’t I will refer you to someone who can”. That never happened. Paid for everything in advance $2021 - tires were ordered for next day installation.
Man, I don’t know what happened overnight, acted like a completely different person, barely talked to me at all. Had another guy run a few words by me when they were done who referred me to Vette Clinic for programming, that I thought they only sold that I was pretty sure only sold parts, maybe I was wrong… Nope, I was right. OMG!
When they asked my mileage, I rounded it up to 127k thinking they would document correct mileage - 126008, NOT, didn’t bother or apparently did not know switching on parking lights easily displayed it.
I am so disenchanted, word of mouth used to be a good thing, not only do I still have my oil leak but have to backtrack to correct new screwups added to my list!
Pulling up my bootstraps for tomorrow’s task.
thanks for your input. I appreciate the support.

 

_zebra, mine is a 2001 C5, the TPMS ‘s installed are “Autel” . The OE are Delco 25773946 that were available at GM Parts Giant and RockAuto

 

I have Autel sensors in mine and they work fine. If they could not get the sensors to read/set, then either the sensor is bad or the installer is an idiot. You only program them ONCE, not out of the box and then again after install. Who ever told you that, you should not listen to anything they say. You CAN program them out of the box before they are mounted on the tire, but then you have to make sure you install the correct sensor on the correct tire per corner or the system will give you wrong reading for each tire as the tire sensor location wouldn't match where the car thinks that particular sensor/tire is. Sensors need to be the correct freq (315 or 433 Mhz) for your year. So you should go back and ask for the owner, not what ever guy/gal is working the desk. Make sure they get the right freq for YOUR car and then the reset is easy. I bought a 9 dollar tool off amazon to reset my new ones. I ordered my tires and rims with new TPMS sensors installed and tires balanced and had them shipped to my door. I installed them in my driveway and re-programed the TPMS in 5 min-

That shop needs to fix this-

 

what i meant was that Schrader made the original sensors for AC Delco (who relabeled them with their own GM part number), and it's cheaper/easier to buy them directly than to find somewhere selling them by the OEM part number... but since you now mentioned your car's year, the 01-04 system was updated & required a different sensor than the 97-00s. the point being that the two system styles cannot mix-&-match.

i never had experience with the Autel brand, but if you can get them to work, then great.

 

I wrote this up a few months ago when I got my TPMS sensors working: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...w-sensors.html

tl;dr Try the $10 tool and programming them on your own, if that doesn't work take those part numbers to the shop and have them get the right sensors.

 

That is correct. When I replaced my tires and sensors, last year, I bought Schrader sensors from Rock Auto parts.........

 

And if you order wheels, tires and sensors from Tire Rack, it comes all mounted with the correct (Schrader on mine) TPMS sensors. Only problem I had was that the "donut" magnet TR supplied would not go between the wheel spokes. So used one of those small high power Lowes magnets and just reached around the tire to put in against the wheel barrel.