Well im about to replace the front wheels with a set of oe replica wheels and was thinking of buying a set of schrader tire pressure sensors for 24$ off rock auto. My car didnt come with a key fob when i purchased it and it appears all the wheel batteries are dead.

Can i purchase just one schrader sensor and is it possible for the round magnet to slip over the sealed package and program the correct front left sensor by the fuel tank and the car WILL HONK under "tire training" or is it too small and have to be opened or do they come in a box with no bag? Reason is i want to confirm my car can learn tire pressure sensors before blowing 120$ on a set of 4. If it doesnt register sensors i can return the one to rock auto or just be out 30$ on one sensor attempting to get the car to read tire pressure sensors.

So its possible with one good wheel sensor to see if itll relearn or tire training? The car will honk or flash its lights. Even under options with "alarm-lights only" doing a tire pressure sensor relearn the car will still honk correct when doing tire pressure sensors and not just flash the lights?

Also if i have all 4 Sensors programmed to the car but didnt mount the rear set will it still read the front right left tire pressures and blanks on the rear as theyre programmed but possibly just kept in the trunk area until i get time and funds to install them.

 

This is what my go to C5 mechanic told me when I asked him about sensors (did not know if/whether previous owners replaced them) when he was replacing the tires, "if one fails bring it in and he will replace that one. That was 6 years ago and no failures yet. My normal rule, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

yeah i tried my originals under "tire training" and the front left didnt honk so im assuming the batteries are dead on the originals.
So is it possible to purchase one schrader from rockauto for 24$ and attempt to program it with the round magnet wait for it to honk before spending the 120$ on all 4?
Im about to purchase some new front rims and tires and dont want to have a low pressure blowout damaging the rim but it should ride the rubber and save the wheel if it gets that bad.

 

Yes. I always train my sensors ahead of time to prevent any surprises when the tires are mounted.

 

Within the past few weeks I purchased four of the $24 Schrader sensors from Rock Auto as my old ones were kaput. I placed all four on the convertible top of my 2004 LeMans Commerative and proceeded to program them in sequence for installation in the tires. I marked them as LF, RF, RR, and LR for each of the four locations they were to be installed in. Using the magnet for programming while standing alongside the car prior to installation and going around the car is a no brainer, much simpler for me to do.

There was no problem with programming, the horn chirped on the first one in about 10 seconds or so and was followed by chirps from the other three in order to complete the four. So, I have no doubt that you could check your system to see if the TPMS is functional with only a single sensor since during programming the car has no idea as to whether you have only the single sensor in your possession . . . . . . . .

 

Would it be earth shattering if one did away with all the tire sensors? Any specific problems from deleting them completely? I grew up checking my tires frequently and don't see the benefit vs the added expense.

 

The Z06's didn't have TPMS.I think they can be turned off in the earlier C5's but I am not completely sure.

 

Well not always true. I use HRE wheels and must be mounted with a no touch machine by trained tech. I use BMW dealers cause they have the best equipment including Hunter Road Force machine. It is expensive to mount/dismount tires to replace a 53 dollars part from Tire Rack. I always replace the sensors when I replace the tires. Just put two new 265/35/18 on the front with two new sensors. Could not find my usual powerful magnet (not the donut) but used a weaker mag and it still worked. Cheaper for me to replace now than wait for the failure. Expect 10 years max for the sensor but can fail at anytime.

 

I took the runflats off several months after buying new in Atlantic City in 2000. So knowing I have the proper air pressure as I enter a high speed turn is comforting. The expense is minimal and the sensors last a very long time.

 

Just thinking out loud here - I'm supposed to believe that someone pulls up the air pressure info on the DIC (assuming it is still functioning) before entering every high speed turn? In my case the DIC is dead and I'm not certain when or if I will ever repair it. Sure, the information is handy, but does not having it at your fingertips disqualify the car completely? Too many other vehicles out there on the road without this feature to believe that is the case.

Lol...drove the car a short distance this morning and got a chime/alert on the dash..."high air pressure LH front".

 

if the air is low or high, the display tells you. You can always monitor two tires without having to push buttons.

 

Has anyone bought sensors recently? Especially for a 2000 ? The last set I got from rockauto but they are out of the Schraders and others want $60 per sensor. I know some have bought the eBay ones and had good luck but the one time I did it they wouldn’t program to the car so I’m guessing I got some that really didn’t work for the 97-00 models

 

I just bought GM genuine for my 99. Installing in a few weeks.

 

I have my four original tire pressure sensors that need new batteries. Is there a member that rebuilds these? I have seen the videos on You Tube showing how to do it; I just don't have the time. They are currently loose and can send them to someone willing to rebuild them.

 

Along that line, I have 2-3 sets of old sensors that are in good physical shape, but most likely could use a "battery transplant". I hate to simply toss them in the trash, but I don't want them "hanging around", either. Do any of the "TPMS rebuilders" take them, for at least the cost of postage, to their location?

 

Dads - PM me if interested. I haven't done any of these because on the '01 and newer it's easier, cheaper, etc to replace with new universal sensors. I have some spare time and an electronics lab in my basement so wouldn't mind making some extra cash with my soldering iron.

leadfoot - PM sent.