Programming unmounted tire pressure sensors
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 13
Likes: 2
From: Tiburon CA
Programming unmounted tire pressure sensors
Did a search and didn't see a clear answer to my question. I'm upgrading my tire pressure system in my 98 c5 to the later model c5s. Before I hand the sensors over to my tire installer, can I preprogram the sensors without them being mounted to a tire? Do they require air pressure for the car to see them?
I just want to make sure they work as It might be a few weeks before I actually get a chance to order and mount new tires. I'm looking to avoid hassle with the retailer if they don't work for some reason. I've already had one negative experience with them and want to be able to test them right away.
Thanks all!
I just want to make sure they work as It might be a few weeks before I actually get a chance to order and mount new tires. I'm looking to avoid hassle with the retailer if they don't work for some reason. I've already had one negative experience with them and want to be able to test them right away.
Thanks all!
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,938
Likes: 498
From: Fords, NJ
Yes you can program then but............make sure you mark them as you follow the programming, Ex : Right front, left front, etc,etc. This way you installer can mount them in the proper rims. Me personally ? I'd just wait until they are mounted and then do your programming.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 13
Likes: 2
From: Tiburon CA
Thanks for the quick reply. Yes, I plan to label them.
Even if they were installed in the wrong locations, you could just reprogram them again right? Like I said I want to make sure they work as soon as possible in case I have to return them. I've had a terrible experience with the vendor and want to put this experience behind me as soon as possible.
Thanks again.
Even if they were installed in the wrong locations, you could just reprogram them again right? Like I said I want to make sure they work as soon as possible in case I have to return them. I've had a terrible experience with the vendor and want to put this experience behind me as soon as possible.
Thanks again.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,152
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
There is no problem programming them before they are installed and no they don't require any air pressure. If you have a decent magnet then they are so easy to program that I wouldn't even bother marking them. I have a big ceramic magnet and it takes all of about a minute to program the sensors on the car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,498
Likes: 680
From: The beautiful Alabama Gulf Coast!!
I programmed my new sensors sitting in the drivers seat. I used a Sharpie to mark them LF, RF, RR, LR, then followed the programming instructions. Easy to do, worked perfectly.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
Likes: 752
From: South Dakota
Like the others have said, you can program the sensors before they are mounted in the tires. I did mine that way and then put them on in the wrong locations and had to do it again after mounting.
It will show 0 psi when you do it that way, so the car will think you have flat tires when you first start it. I got a message, however, as soon as I drove it they worked normally.
All of mine have been easy to reprogram while mounted on the car with a cheap small magnet, until this last set. I struggled to get them to program after installed. I bought a neodymium N53 1" by 2" magnet since it was the strongest I could find. That worked the first time on all the sensors, where my cheap magnet would not.
Good luck.
It will show 0 psi when you do it that way, so the car will think you have flat tires when you first start it. I got a message, however, as soon as I drove it they worked normally.
All of mine have been easy to reprogram while mounted on the car with a cheap small magnet, until this last set. I struggled to get them to program after installed. I bought a neodymium N53 1" by 2" magnet since it was the strongest I could find. That worked the first time on all the sensors, where my cheap magnet would not.
Good luck.
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You should have no problems with programming the sensors before they are installed on a wheel/tire. Program them, mark the location and then have the shop install each sensor to the right location.
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,968
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From: Shell Point (Crawfordville) Florida
Remember, even though they may be programmed ahead of time and mounted in their respective wheels, just like programing ones already in the wheels, they will all read 0 psi until the car starts driving and the wheels rotate numerous times, so don't freak out when you first look at the DIC and it says 0 tire pressure. Give it 10-20 seconds of driving to start registering.