2008 C6 TPMS wheel sensor - Can it be reprogrammed with wheel off of car? The GM dealer was unable to link up to the sensor because of my aftermarket rims. I want to remove the wheel and take it to America's Tire to get reprogrammed.

John

 

AFAIK, it has to be on the car or at least within an acceptable distance of the car.

I will be programming my CCW wheels later today once I get them mounted up.

 

No, it can't. You aren't programming the sensor. You are registering the sensor to the car. The TPMS sensor is doing nothing more than transmitting information on a specific frequency with a specifi ID. The car stores the location of that ID and frequency. You program the sensor by putting the car in to learn mode and then you have to program all four tires in the same session. Left front, right front, right rear, left rear as I recall.

 

Procedure:

1. Set the ignition switch in the ACC position.

2. To Enter TPM Learn Mode, press the electronic keyless entry transmitter's LOCK and UNLOCK buttons at the same time. The horn will sound twice, indicating entry into Learn Mode.

3. Starting with the left front tire, hold the J-46079 tool in a vertical position against tire near the valve stem. After pushing the appropriate button, the horn will sound. Repeat procedure for the remaining sensors in the order indicated.

1. Left front
2. Right front
3. Right rear
4. Left rear



Upon completion, a double horn sound will indicate that all sensors have been learned.

4. Switch ignition switch OFF to exit learn mode.

5. Inflate all tires to correct pressure specification as indicated on the Vehicle Tire Placard.

 

Unfortunately, the wheels must remain on the car . . .

Check out this video clip that shows how the programming is done:



(Courtesy of CF member BEZ06)

 

Great info!!!!
Not quite as easy as it was in the c5!!

 

The problem is I had to change the mounting of the sensor for the aftermarket rims. The sensors are now mounted in the dropped section of the rim, using a band that runs around the inside of the rim. GM was unable to link their TPMS tool to the sensor with the wheel on the car. Not sure how much effort they put into this, though.

John

 

If you believe that America's tire can do a better job just drive the car over and let them give it a shot. If not, worst case scenario is to purchase a set of TPMS relocation brackets and loose the band clamp. If whoever did the install using the band clamp method to install them and they are too far inboard (in the recess) the TPMS reset tool may not see them. I hope that they at least clamped them to the wheel near where the valve stem is which is the likely place that anyone doing the attempt at a reset is going to go to first since they are generally attached to the valve stem.

 

with pretty all the previous info and recommendations.

Butt....when you put the car into the learn mode, you'll only get one honk of the horn.

You can register the sensors with the TPMS with them off the car. You can register an unmounted sensor (one that's not mounted in a wheel/tire) and that's what I would have recommended that you do before mounting the tires on the wheels. Actually, if you used your original sensors you would not have needed to do anything at all if they were mounted back on the same corner they were originally mounted on.

Anyway.....you can program/register the sensors with the TPMS computer in the car as long as they are within about 20 or 30 feet of the car. They have to be close enough so that when the tool triggers the sensor, the transmission of the sensor can reach the receiver in the TPMS computer (actually part of the RCDLR module - Remote Control Door Lock Receiver).

BTW, many people with exotic wheels such as yours with sensor mounted deep inside the wheel have been able to trigger the sensor by putting the antenna of the tool on the tread area and shooting the transmission from the tool the shortest distance to the sensor. The tool only transmits several inches. You need to know EXACTLY where the sensor is located in the wheel, then try shooting the signal through the tread.

I'm sure the dealer tech didn't try too hard. They are used to working with OE mounted sensors and hold the tool's antenna on the sidewall right next to the valve stem. He probably didn't get too creative in trying to trigger the sensors.

You'll probably have better luck with a tire shop that works on many different wheels on many different vehicles. Have them shoot through the tread area so the antenna will be as close as possible to the sensor.

If that fails, you may need to take the wheel off the car, break a bead, then stick the tool into the tire to get it within a couple inches of the sensor.

Good luck!!!

Bob

 

I was talking to a service manager of a Chevy dealer in VA and he told me that the TPMS sensor programming can be done w/o the tool. The difference is instead of using the tool to make the sensor emit a signal, change the tire pressure up or down about 5 psi in the same sequence. I start to think that the receiver basically only needs to see a signal (in sequence) while in programming mode. Whether it's initiated by the tool or by changing pressure, it should do the job. I have not tried this method as I'm done with TPMS, but maybe someone out there could try it and avoid the mess and relatively high cost to get the tool.

 

That would be very nice!!

Butt.....it doesn't work with the C6 sensors.

The pressure change method will work with the sensors on some GM vehicles, but it definitely will not work on the C6.

Bob

 

Do you have to use the TPMS with aftermarket wheels? I am a newbe whi is in the process of getting aftermarket wheels. I have a 350Z with aftermarket wheels and the tire pressure warning light just blinks because I do not have the sensors in the wheels.

 

Unfortunately, I mixed up the sensors and installed them in the aftermarket wheels, so they work but the display does not match reality. Plus, one sensor has stopped working after hitting a good sized pothole. I am sure GM did not try hard to find the sensor, even though I carefully explained to them what the new condition was. Might have better luck with America's Tire.

John

 

Who sells the TIPS tool??? There website doesn't offer a sales link

 

Hi David

I think there are plenty of places to purchase a TIPS, but like you see in this link below it will be more than $200:

http://www.etoolcart.com/tips-pro-to...-tips003d.aspx


I think a better source for a tool that will work just as well is one of the forum vendors.

Katech sells the Bartec Trackside for $140:

http://store.katechengines.com/share...unt2=497794747


And Tire Rack sells the ATEQ VT10 for $105:

http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/detail.jsp?ID=111


Both the Trackside and the VT10 are basic tools. There are some other expensive high-end tools with screens which may have a little better diagnostic capabilities, but either of those tools will work well to trigger your sensors during a relearn procedure when swapping between sets of wheels with different sensors in them.

Bob

 

You can actually program a sensor outside of the wheel...I had the same issue with the dealers not spending enough time on doing it...Also, if you bought the wheels/tires mounted already, some of the vendors put the sensors 180 degrees out from the valve stem...Some put them right at the stem...I had to replace 2 so I bought a Bartec Trackside and it works great...Easy and I programmed the sensors out of the tires and then had them installed and my dash now reads right again...The trackside was about $149 from Bartec and the people there are great...Lisa is the inside sales girl and she was very knowledgeable...www.bartecusa.com..It is best to point it through the tires and not at the stem like stock, when using aftermarket wheels...That will give you best shot at getting them to learn..
Good luck!!!

 

I bought the Bartec from Katech and it works great! One other thing I didn't see listed above is on my HRE wheels I had to shoot two of the wheels from the inside of the wheel to get them to work. The Bartec would not pick up the signal from the outside of the wheel. It can be very frustrating but it can be done.

 

any chance of finding sensors at a decent price?????? I have several sets of wheels.

It's not a big deal to me, since I disable AH/TC completely, but my students need it. We can usually get Comp mode to work without the sensors, but probably 25% of the time the car is basically undrivable once the system decides you have 4 flat tires.