How do I test tire sensors?

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May 10, 2006 | 09:55 PM

Daleford

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: Mar 2002

Posts: 1,065

Likes: 41

From: Kensington PE

How do I test tire sensors?

I plan on installing a new set of C6 style wheels on my c5 soon. I will be re-using the C5 tire pressure sensors. Is there a way to test them first?

May 10, 2006 | 10:00 PM

Oldvetter

Le Mans Master

Joined: Feb 2002

Posts: 6,937

Likes: 21

From: Waldorf MD

You can "learn" them. This will show that they are working NOW.

BUT, what year is your car? Unless it is a 2001, you may want to replace them. Gen I (1997-2000) are suppose to last 7-8 years. GEN II may be good for 10 years.

May 10, 2006 | 10:00 PM

Evil-Twin

Team Owner

Joined: Mar 2001

Posts: 21,325

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From: small town in S.E Pa. PA

St. Jude Donor '03-'04

you can check communications, but you can not test function.

May 10, 2006 | 10:09 PM

MgKenny

Instructor

Joined: Sep 2005

Posts: 110

Likes: 0

From: Sunrise, Florida

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daleford

I plan on installing a new set of C6 style wheels on my c5 soon. I will be re-using the C5 tire pressure sensors. Is there a way to test them first?

I'm thinking if they are not working correctly now, you would be getting errors appearing now before the change.

As long as they are handled properly during the change, they should be in the same shape as before you do the change.

May 10, 2006 | 11:06 PM

Daleford

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: Mar 2002

Posts: 1,065

Likes: 41

From: Kensington PE

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oldvetter

My car is an 01, and they seem to be working OK. Guess I'll go with them for now. Thanks

May 11, 2006 | 07:00 PM

Daleford

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: Mar 2002

Posts: 1,065

Likes: 41

From: Kensington PE

An update

Since my car was damaged and the left front wheel was cracked, I couldn't check the sensors out previous to making any changes. I replaced my left front wheel with one of my new ones and installed the old left front sensor. It looked excellant and we were carefull when mounting the tire. Now, I can drive the car around a little and take it over 15 MPH [as the manual says to do]
Problem is NO reading on the left front! The dash has info on the other 3 tires but is blank when it comes to the LF. I thought I'd get smart and temporarly switch the 2 front wheels. Result was the same exact reading.
Maybe this is a dumb question but how does the LF sensor know it is a LF sensor? It is now on the right and the dash reads 0 on LF wheel and 28 on the RF, same as before I switched!

May 12, 2006 | 03:01 AM

muncie21

Melting Slicks

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 2,252

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From: NE OH

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daleford

... how does the LF sensor know it is a LF sensor? It is now on the right and the dash reads 0 on LF wheel and 28 on the RF, same as before I switched!

You program the location (via the DIC) during install. In your case, I'll bet if you let all the air out of the 'new' LF wheel (previously the RF) the DIC will say the RF is low.

May 12, 2006 | 07:46 AM

Crooze

Advanced

Joined: Apr 2005

Posts: 60

Likes: 0

From: Columbus OH

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daleford

Maybe this is a dumb question but how does the LF sensor know it is a LF sensor? It is now on the right and the dash reads 0 on LF wheel and 28 on the RF, same as before I switched!

This is pure speculation but I would imagine that since it's required to go through a learn proccss to get the car to read sensors , they probably each have a unique ID. So it's you that's telling the car that sensor xxx is for the right front and sensor xxy is for the left front.

That's my opinion.... I could be wrong.