My service manual says to tighten the sensor nut to 35 lb in. This seems very loose as finger tight is arroun 6-8 lb in. For export vehicles it is 106 lb in. Are these torque setting correct?

 

What model year is your car? There were 2 different types of tire sensors used on the C5 - one for model years 1997 through 2000 and the other for model years 2001 through 2004.

If you have the GM Service Manual specific to your car's model year, I'd follow that spec. You want to take care so as not to over tighten and damage the TPS.

Too, you may want to update your profile with your car's model year, model type (coupe, vert, FRC/Z06), mods and any other pertinent information. This information could be very beneficial to others here when attempting to answer your questions or assist you.

Good luck with the TPS.

 

I sure will update my profile. For what ever reason my original profile became electorns in space.

I have a 2001 Coupe and an real GM service manual for 2001. I just don't trust these numbers. BTW, what is the diff. between the export sensors and domestic?

 

Iwould say the manual is correct.I had two of these to fail after a bull in the perverbal china shop changed whls for me.Its not much fun either.I guess the sensors on the the right were republican neocons,as they were the ones to fail.What I did was to tell the bull to let me break them,& so I just snugged them up.Later on if it seems they might be leaking a bit,I retorked the rapid right wing sensors.Everything is now rosy......

 

Yes, that is correct and the same as my 02. The nut is plastic and you will find that getting to the 35 in-lb is a bit of a nail biter

 

Actually, I think they are aluminum and yes, they don't take much torque at all. Some here (me included) have experienced a slight loosening over time causing a very slow leak after doing an install. I had to go back and re-torque one of mine.
The best answer I have found is to use a drop or two (only), of Loc-Tite blue when installing. If you already have them installed, Loc-Tite green, which is a "wicking" type material and is made to be used on already assembled fasteners, is the way to go. Here again, one or two drops at the nut/stem area and it will wick into the threads.
HTH,
Robert

 

I found the retaining nuts loose on my 2003 with just over 5,400 miles on the clock. I found that I could turn them (all four) by hand!
I tightened them all finger tight by hand – (I am known to have a strong grip if that’s important).
Tires didn’t leak air before or after the retightening.

 

Guess I will need to check mine, I installed a new set on my Z16 wheels.

 

106 in-lbs for 1997 to 2000

61 in-lbs for 2001 and later

 

I am not at home, but installed new tire pressure sensors less than a month ago...
The GM service manual says 35 inch-pounds for my 2001
That's a little under 3 foot-pounds

 

Yep, 35 in-lb.

 

Nope, not 35 in-lbs, here is the page out of the Service Manual, it is 62 in-lbs:

Document ID# 1397363
2001 Chevrolet/Geo Corvette


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Tire Pressure Sensor Replacement
Removal Procedure
Raise the vehicle on a suitable support. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in General Information.
Remove the tire/wheel assembly from the vehicle. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation in Tires and Wheels.

Important
Before the tire is removed from the wheel note the following items to avoid tire pressure sensor damage upon tire dismounting.

Place the cap and the valve on a dry clean surface after removal, the cap is aluminum and the valve is nickel plated to prevent corrosion and are not to be substituted with a cap or valve made of any other material.
When using the tire machine to separate the tire bead from the wheel, position the bead breaking fixture 90 degrees from the valve stem.
When removing the tire from the wheel, ensure a tolerance is maintained between the tire machine fixture, or irons, tire bead, and the sensor.

Remove the tire from the wheel. Refer to Tire Mounting and Dismounting in Tires and Wheels.




Important
If any tire sealant is noted upon tire dismounting, remove all residual liquid sealant from the inside of the tire and wheel surfaces.


Remove the tire pressure sensor nut.
Remove the tire pressure sensor.
Installation Procedure
Clean any dirt or debris from the sensor's grommet sealing area of the wheel.



Insert the sensor in the valve stem hole with the air passage facing away from the wheel.

Notice
Use the correct fastener in the correct location. Replacement fasteners must be the correct part number for that application. Fasteners requiring replacement or fasteners requiring the use of thread locking compound or sealant are identified in the service procedure. Do not use paints, lubricants, or corrosion inhibitors on fasteners or fastener joint surfaces unless specified. These coatings affect fastener torque and joint clamping force and may damage the fastener. Use the correct tightening sequence and specifications when installing fasteners in order to avoid damage to parts and systems.


Install the sensor nut and position the sensor body parallel to the inside wheel surface while torquing. Tighten
Tighten the nut to 7 N·m (62 lb in).


Important
To avoid tire pressure sensor damage when mounting the tire back on the wheel, ensure a tolerance is maintained between the tire machine, or irons, tire bead, and the sensor.


Install the tire on the wheel. Refer to Tire Mounting and Dismounting in Tires and Wheels.
Install the tire/wheel assembly on the vehicle. Refer to Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation in Tires and Wheels.
Lower the vehicle.
Learn the tire pressure sensors. Refer to Tire Pressure Sensor Learn .

 

GM Service Manual, Volume 1 of 3, page 3-111

Installation Procedure

1. Position the Sensor
Notice" Refer to Fastener Notice on Page P-9 in Cautions and Notices.

2. Install the Sensor Nut

Tighten

-For Domestic vehciles, tighten the nut to 4 N-m (35 lb-in)
-For export vehicles, tighen the nut to 12 N-m (106 lb-in)


What is the reference from which you are getting the (Document ID# 1397363 ), is it a service bulletin that supercedes the service manual?

 

No, that is GM's official on-line service manual.

 

Since all the printed manuals appear to have the 35 lb-in number and the on-line manual has the higher number, either GM changed it or the on-line manual isn't correct. Does anyone have access to any bulletins that would verify the torque value?

Just checked on Alldata and found this bulletin, not sure if it provides the new value but the title indicates it might.

05-03-10-003B APR 06 Wheels/Tires - Slow Leaks From Aluminum Wheels

 

The only bulletin that I found that mentions the tire pressure sensors is the following and it DOES NOT MENTION TORQUE:

Document ID# 758360
2001 Chevrolet/Geo Corvette


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Info - Wheel Pressure Sensors Unable to be Reprogrammed after Tire Replacement #00-03-10-005 - (Oct 27, 2000)
Wheel Pressure Sensors Unable to be Reprogrammed After Tire Replacement
1997-2001 Chevrolet Corvette

Some dealers may find it difficult to reprogram the wheel mounted air pressure sensors on vehicles which have replacement tires installed. If this is the case, verify the brand and model of the tires. One tire that is known to cause this condition is the Goodyear® Eagle™ F-1. The Goodyear® Eagle™ F-1 uses a unique "all-steel" case construction. The sidewall reinforcement, as well as the tread belts, are made from a woven steel strand material. The presence of this material may cause degradation of the signals generated by the wheel mounted sensors. Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) replacement tires must have Goodyear® Eagle™ F-1 GS EMT molded into the sidewall of the tire. If the tire does not have the GS designation, it is an all steel construction Goodyear® Eagle™ F-1 tire.

This type of interference may not be limited to the Goodyear® Eagle™ F-1 tire. As other manufacturers produce replacements for the Corvette, the individual peculiarities of those tires cannot be predicted. Using OEM replacement tires as identified above is the customer's best assurance of trouble free performance.

What to Advise the Customer
If an inspection of the wheel mounted sensor reveals no visible damage caused by improper installation of the tires, you should recommend that the customer install OEM tires to correct this condition. Further point out to the customer that the current aftermarket tires do not afford the run-flat feature of the original equipment tires. As the Corvette is not fitted with a spare tire, this could be a serious inconvenience to the customer.



GM bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, NOT a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform these technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, DO NOT assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition. See your GM dealer for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the information.
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© Copyright General Motors Corporation. All Rights Reserved.


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Document ID# 758360
2001 Chevrolet/Geo Corvette