shop manual says to drop them into the tire b4 dismounting.

I've been thru several sets of tires W/O doing this and have had zero problems :cheers:

 

PKMOOSE...

The stem (silver metal piece containing the removable standard valve core) and sensor (black plastic housing permanently sealed containing pressure transmitter and battery) is all one integral part. It doesn't appear that the stem can be removed from the housing without damaging the unit to me. There would be no reason to. Read on...

The loose piece is an 11 mm retaining nut that screws OVER the valve stem to mount and retain the sensor to the rim. The nut is visible from the outside on all C5's so equipped.

EHS is probably just confused from pictures he has seen and has probably never handled one in person.

I just traded '97 - '00 sensors for '01/'02 units and they are as you say...One piece. There is a detent in the top of the stem to assure that they were installed on the rim correctly (the detent should face the center of the wheel).

One other item of note is that the new sensors for the '01/'02 are significantly smaller than the earlier version. Also, the retaining nut is a slightly different style (with no seating lip at the bottom), possibly so that the two sensors can be distinguished without removal from the rim.

-CKB :yesnod:


[Modified by bub, 11:01 AM 2/2/2002]

 

EHS,

I have to say, you are one very meticulous person and I loved the detailed photos along with your embedded comments. Great work!!! :D

 

Well, no actually, CKB, the reason I'm confused is because when I needed a new valve stem, the dealer charged me for a new valve stem, not for the whole, as you say, integral stem and sensor assembly.

That's why I thought they were two separate parts, because they changed out the stem from the much more expensive sensor -- without the damage as you indicate happens above. They did the "handling" for me, so you are correct, I didn't "handle" it. But it sure was cheaper to just buy the valve stem when I needed a stem, than to buy a stem and sensor, just to use the stem part, and throw the much, much, much more expensive sensor in the trash.
Also, the photos I posted above show the stem and the senors apart -- I know you think that's not possible without damaging the unit -- but next time you change a tire, please also replace the O-ring between the stem and the sensor (as others recommend above) -- your separate sensor will thank you for it. To do that, see the pictures above -- just remove the stem from the separate sensor.

BTW, although the stem and sensor are attached to the wheel (which has the tire attached), which is attached to the axle which is attached to the driveline, etc., etc., -- to me (and the parts department at the local Chevy dealer), they are all separate parts, although I guess the car is an integral assembly.

 

Quote.
BTW, although the stem and sensor are attached to the wheel (which has the tire attached), which is attached to the axle which is attached to the driveline, etc., etc., -- to me (and the parts department at the local Chevy dealer), they are all separate parts, although I guess the car is an integral assembly.

Thanks for clearing that up, I was getting confused and afraid I would need to purchase a complte new car had I damaged my wheel sensor and had to purchase a replacement. Even with the great pictures you posted that clearly show the stem and sensor seperate I was still confused and thought you might be running some sort of scam to get us to think we could get seperate parts to our cars when we really had to purchase a complete new car. Thanks again! :jester


[Modified by Sixguns, 10:53 AM 2/3/2002]

 

EHS...

Are you sure the dealer just didn't replace the valve core (i.e. the Shrader valve inside the stem) or was your stem physically bent?

I really wouldn't trust anything a dealer service ''advisor said'' anyhow. My guess, if the stem was bent, was that the ''technician'' just took a pair of Vise Grips to it and straightened it. The metal (aluminum?) looks pretty ductile.

I tried removing the stem by hand from the loose sensors I presently have, but was not able to remove it without risking damaging the unit.

I just snapped the following pics showing all the loose components of the sensors.

Note that this is an '01/'02 style sensor (it is much smaller than the previous design and the O-ring is actually a fabricated rubber sealing piece).



Another angle...


I don't mean to be terse, but I'll have to rest my case with the facts...as this is how misinformation gets started.

:cool:

-CKB :cheers:




[Modified by bub, 1:53 PM 2/3/2002]

 

EHS,

Your picture clearly shows they ARE one piece.
The piece that sticks though the rim is part of the sensor. The only pieces that are loose are the valve stem core and the nut that holds it to the wheel.


[Modified by louzon, 1:06 PM 2/3/2002]