Hi All,

Well I attempted to reprogram my Tire Pressure Monitor Sensors (TPMS) today. I have not been able to get them to keep a pressure reading since an accident last year. I had to have the first one replaced. I reprogrammed it without reprogramming the rest ( it was the first one RF). I had them all working for a short period them they lost the reading and produced the dreaded XXXX. I typically go through the procedure then use a 150 tool magnet ( size of a small brick) to reprogram them. In order to successfully reprogram all the sensors all of them have to be programmed in sequence. I thought the signal from the sensors might be weak. So I put the vette up on jack stands, took the wheels and tires off to move them next to the sensors' receiver. At first I couldn't get anything. Then after multiple attempts the first and second TPMS' reprogrammed several times. But I could never get the third tire to reprogram. The receiver also works with the key fob which has worked without a problem. So the receiver seems to be fine.

Could the sensors' batteries may be running out? They were replaced with the tire and wheel combo less than two years ago. But I don't remember how old they were when I got them from a vendor. I want to determine if the sensor batteries are going out because I will be changing the tires soon and that is a good time to replace the sensors if necessary.

I hear the car battery can have an effect if it is old or weak. But the battery looks new and I have had the car less than two years. But I haven't driven the car since Saturday and the volt reading after the reprogramming attempt was 11.9 volts. The last time I was able to get the sensors programmed I had just stopped after a forty minute drive. I've tried to duplicate this several times over the last year (long drive then reprogram) but with no success.

So I am at a loss. I know these sensors can be a problem to reprogram. I just want this issue to be resolved.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

 

BS! The sensors (if working correctly) are easily programed! Period!

I use a Microwave (magnetron Magnet) to program mine without issue!!

Other magnets work well also!! Either you have a deficient magnet , bad battery in the sensor OR your doing the procedure WRONG!!

BC

 

Thanks for your input.

The magnet I'm using will pick up a putty knife off the ground at 6 inches. It was the biggest and strongest magnet I could find from Harbor Freight. I have been trying to get ahold of a hard drive magnet, or I have an old microwave. I may try to salvage one from there also.

The procedure I used is as discribed. I kept pushing the options button until the DIC was blank. Then I pressed reset until FOB Training appeared. Then pressed options one more time to set at Tire Sensor Training, push reset. Reprogram Left Front tire. I know this because i did it about 15 times in an hour. I could only get the front tires to reprogram.

The receiver must be alright since the two front tires have reprogrammed and the fob works. It is possible that the sensor batteries are going out. But on all of them? I had them all working at one time. But then they stopped reading. I'm trying to get them all programmed at the same time. Then if the reading are lost, I'll assume it's the sensor batteries.

Could it be a weak car battery? I've even considered that the wheels I have might have lead in them and are blocking the signal (made in China). But I think that's a long shot.

Appreciate everyones feedback.

 

That is wrong, Left Front is First!!!!!!!

 

Fixed, I was doing it off the top of my head. You are correct. the sequence goes Left Front, then Right Front, then Right Rear, and final left Rear.

So any possible solutions?

 

I have never tried it but since your front sensors are programming, instead of moving to the rears in the sequence, stay on the front wheels to see if they program to the rear receiver. Maybe this would determine if it’s a sender or receiver issue.

 

Sounds like the batteries are low/going out to me. The magnet is plenty strong.

 

Do the fobs work well without problems?

The same receiver picks up both the key fobs and the TPS. If one or the other works without issues, then most likely the receiver is OK.


-

 

The fobs work fine with no issues.

 

I watched my local guy resync my replacement sensors. He used a little magnet... the type you find on the end of those free screwdrivers:


One that was being stubborn - he moved from the tip of the filler valve to the base of the valve (where it goes into the hole in the rim) near the rubber tire portion and it worked.

Maybe instead of a strong w-i-d-e magnetic field - try using a smaller focused magnet

 

I used a magnet that was circular with a hole in the middle that the valve stem would fit through.

 

Is there an 'OFFICIAL' magnet sold by GM?

 

Yes, J-41760

Tire Pressure Sensor Activating Tool

But you don't need it, most any magnet will work. Go back and read Mikes' post, #10.

Last time I did mine, I had one that would not train. I heated it with a hair dryer for about 5 minutes, it then activated. 3 months later still working fine.

 

I just checked GMPartsHouse, and it says that is not a vaid part number.

I tried a very strong magnet, and a brand new sensor would not calibrate. I took my car to a shop, and they used a special magnet made just for this, and calibrated easy. Their magnet was horshoe shaped, and one side was tapered to match the taper of the rim.

 

That's because it's a Kent Moore tool number.

 

Well went for a long drive today . The two front sensors that I had programmed stopped reading at my first stop. Stopped at a Mall to get somethings. Tried to program the sensors there. After several tries, I was only able to get the first one programmed. This shouldn't be this hard.

I don't know why I keep loosing readouts from the sensors. I would think they would keep reading. Unless not having all the sensors programmed makes the remaining sensors loose a reading, I'm about to assume the sensors are going bad. I have never been able to get all of the sensors programmed at one time. But I have been able to get some of them programmed (even the back tires as the fronts). But none of them has held a signal for very long. They have all stopped giving a tire pressure shortly afterwards.

BTW, I disassembled a Microwave yesterday and got it's magnets. I would have to say while they are easier to use (smaller and washer shaped) the magnet I have been using is much stronger. I don't think a weak magnet has been my problem.

 

If a microwave magnet wont program it,,,,,it's BROKE or your doing something wrong programming!

I have the same magnet and it works fine everytime!

BC

 

Make this simple.

Go into the mode to program 4 separate times. Each time try starting on a different tire. If there is a particular wheel or wheels that won't program while the rest do fine--you know that they're the problem. I suspect 2 or 3 will do fine and 1 or 2 will give you trouble.

Personally I think the batteries are going dead in a few of the sensors, but I could be wrong.

 

This is the procedure I have been using. One exception, I have been using a magnet instead of the programming tool mentioned:

1. Turn the ignition to ON.
2. Press the RESET button in order to clear any IPC display warning messages.

3. Press and release the OPTIONS button on the DIC to scroll through the display options until the IPC display is blank.

4. Press and hold the DIC RESET button for 3 seconds.
Notice: Refer to Body Control Module (BCM) Programming/RPO Configuration in Cautions and Notices.

5. Press the OPTIONS button again until the TIRE TRAINING message appears.

6. Press the RESET button until the IPC LEARN L FRONT TIRE message appears in order to begin
the programming sequence.

7. Install the J 41760 Tire Pressure Programming Tool over the left front valve stem.
8. The horn will sound, indicating the left front TPM sensor is programmed.
9. When the horn sounds, proceed to program the next TPM sensor in the following order as directed
by the IPC messages:
- LEARN R FRONT TIRE
- LEARN R REAR TIRE
- LEARN L REAR TIRE
Programming Cancellation
1. The programming mode will be cancelled if any of the following conditions are met: - The program mode is exited through the DIC.
- The ignition is turned to OFF.
- All four sensors have been programmed.
- The TPM system has been in the program mode for longer than 2 minutes and no sensors
have been learned.
2. If the program mode is cancelled with less than four codes stored, the receiver will only accept the codes programmed up to that point.

I'm beginning to think the batteries are going out too. But these sensors are less than 2 years old. Actually they haven't been working since last September.

 

Thats the correct procedure. Here is how the TPS sits inside the rim:



Position the magnet directly over the sensor instead of the valve stem and see if that makes a difference.

BC