I just received my new set of rims and tire pressure sensors, I'm wondering what I need to do now in order to have both sets of TPS and wheels work with the car. The original rims tires and TPS will be stowed away and the new rims TPS and Tires will be staying on the car. Im sure a dealer has to be involved in this process to hook them up. Just curious what everyone else has done.

 

I haven't done it yet, but from what I've read, the car will only recognize one set of sensors. So every time you switch your wheels, you'll have to go to the dealer and have them retrain the car to recognize the "new" sensors. Or you could buy your own tool, I think they go for about $200, and do the sensor relearn process yourself.

 

mostly!

Yes, the TPMS computer in the car can only store 4 sensor ID#'s in its memory, so each time you swap wheels you need to program the new set of sensors.

However, you don't need to go to the dealer. Since Sept '07 (with the start of the 2008 model year) the government has required that ALL new 4-wheeled vehicles less than 10,000 lbs MUST have sensors, so all tire shops know how to work with sensors and will have the tool.

The tire shop mounting up your new tires will have a tool and do the relearn procedure for you to program the new sensors.

Those of us that swap from one set of wheels to another regularly, like for track to street and back, have our own tools. There is one available for about 100 bucks if you find you need your own.


BTW, although every tire shop should have a tool to deal with sensors, and they should have a guide book that tells how to put each different vehicle in the "learn mode" and the procedure required to do the procedure on all different vehicles, it might help if YOU know the procedure to help them if they're having problems. The whole procedure only takes just longer than 1 minute, so if they're having problems you might need to make sure they know how to work with the Corvette. Below is a video that shows how to do the relearn procedure on the C6.

As you can see in the video, first put the car into the "learn mode" by pushing the bottom of the ignition button to get into the ACC mode, then simultaneously push the "lock" and "unlock" buttons on the Fob and hold them a couple seconds until you hear a honk of the horn confirming you're in the learn mode.

Then, starting at the LF tire, put the antenna of the tool on the rubber sidewall of the tire right next to the valve stem of the sensor and activate the tool to "trigger" or "excite" the sensor to send its data to the TPMS computer in the car - and you must hear a honk at each wheel (2 honks at LR) that confirms the data was sent and received correctly.

Good luck!

Bob






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I bought a TIPS tool for about $100. Simple procedure with instructions
and it only takes about 3 minutes to reset.
This worked great when I bought new WCC Chromes with tires and monitors.
This would be a worthwhile investment for anyone planning to change wheels often, such as using a different track set.
It's been a couple of years, but I was able to find a forum member that sold the tool. A search should be able to find it.

 

Thanks for the help. I think I'll just buy my own tool. If anyone has one for sale PM me.

 

My local Les Schwab did it for $20. Wasn't worth me buying a tool for that as I don't plan on changing wheels

 

I drove over to my Discount Tire Store and they calibrated my TPSs at no charge. After the calibration my DIC tire pressure readings exactly match my dial indicator tire pressure guage. I have done business with them previously so they work with me.---John

 

iagree: mostly!

One thing missed (and learned by me and others) is once you use the FOB to get into "learn mode", to make sure you put your FOB into your pocket! Do not leave the FOB in the car!

Should you purposely or accidentally close the door with the FOB inside, your doors will lock on you, even bypassing your disabled
passive locking system. Its a quirk in the security programming when using the FOB for "learn mode".

 

Only if you have auto lock selected as a personal preference.

 

Not so. Even if you have auto lock/passive locking disabled, then use the FOB in "learn mode", leave it in the car, and close the door.....the doors automatically will lock.

This "quirk" only occurs when using the FOB to get into "learn mode" with the TPMS system.

 

That's why whenever I do anything involving the fob (tuning via HPTuners, dynoing the vehicle, programming the TPS), I ALWAYS lower the windows first.

 

Have the TPS's changed from what was used in the C5's? All you needed to train the sensors was the steps for putting the DIC in tire program mode and a strong magnet. Those ones from old computer hard drives work great. Just have to be careful not to get too close that you drop the magnet and scratch the wheel.

 

Yep!!! The C6 requires a tool that sends out a radio frequency to trigger the sensors.

Well.....there were a very few very early 2005 C6's that had a sensor that could be triggered by a magnet, but all C6's built from about Sept 2004 on have the sensor that requires the RF tool.

All C6's use the same sensor, GM Part# 25758220 that are made by Schrader (you can get one directly from Schrader that has their part# SB20076 - it looks exactly like the one below except it's red in color).

Below is a picture of what our C6 senors look like.

Bob






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I put aftermarket rims on my 08 C6 coupe and had to reposition the sensors. The new rims have the valve stem hole in the center of the hoop, so I had to buy a banding kit with mounting bracket to move the sensor into the drop in the rim. That allowed the tire to be moved over the sensor. However, I did not pay attention to sensor location and moved them to different wheel locations. The sensors still work, but the display locations are wrong. I had Chevrolet dealer try to reprogram, but they said they could not get close enough to the sensor with their programming tool to communicate with the sensor and reprogram.

John

 

Yes, it can be very difficult to trigger sensors that are mounted deep inside after market wheels with bands or brackets.

As you can see in my video, you normally put the antenna of the tool on rubber sidewall of the tire right next to the valve stem to get within a couple inches of the sensor when they are mounted in the OE manner with the valve stem sticking out of the wheel.

When the sensors are mounted with bands or brackets deep in the wheel, some owners have had success shooting through the tread to get as close as possible to the sensor.

Your tire shop should have made sure they mounted the sensors back on the same corner of the car they came off of and nothing would have needed to be done.

With exotic after market wheels, you may have to break down the bead on one side of the tire to get the tool in there close enough to the sensor to trigger it, or program the sensors to the TPMS computer in the car before they are mounted in the wheel.

Bob