Know this to be true from personal experience. Didn't haft a dead battery, had a flat with zero pressure & didn't go into limp mode 
TPMS Life Span
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 26,243
Likes: 4,362
From: Chirper Island
There is no limp mode due to tire pressure, just a message on the DIC. You can even clear it, for that ignition cycle, by pressing reset
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,800
Likes: 565
From: Mesquite NV
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,959
Likes: 526
I've seen them for sale on EBay for reasonable prices. Shopping around helps as I've seen the prices vary widely. It's also possible to refurbish the old ones if you're handy digging out the battery and soldering a new one back in its place, then silicone it back in there.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 729
Likes: 97
From: Lancaster NY
Does anyone know how hard it is to install these on new rims? I'm thinking it would save me a little coin if the tire shop doesn't have to remove the old ones and re-install in the new wheels. I can install them myself and have them ready for just a tire swap. Might justify the extra $150 for new ones. My wife is already giving me the evil eye at the money I'm throwing at the car lately! 
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 11,351
Likes: 2,445
From: Eastern
10 year lifespan seems very reasonable. I have a 2006 with 80K miles with the original sensors. I plan on replacing my tires next summer, so at that time, I will also get all new sensors. I need to have those working as I run Non Run flat tires. When I get a low pressure alarm, I need to know its reliable, and not a failing sensor.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,061
Likes: 130
On top of ssmike56's question, what is the average labor cost to swap the sensors on existing wheels?
It seems to me that preemptively changing them may not make much sense if they potentially could go 75-90k miles. I just hate to replace good OEM parts when that money could go towards something that makes a performance improvement.
It seems to me that preemptively changing them may not make much sense if they potentially could go 75-90k miles. I just hate to replace good OEM parts when that money could go towards something that makes a performance improvement.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,800
Likes: 565
From: Mesquite NV
On top of ssmike56's question, what is the average labor cost to swap the sensors on existing wheels?
It seems to me that preemptively changing them may not make much sense if they potentially could go 75-90k miles. I just hate to replace good OEM parts when that money could go towards something that makes a performance improvement.
It seems to me that preemptively changing them may not make much sense if they potentially could go 75-90k miles. I just hate to replace good OEM parts when that money could go towards something that makes a performance improvement.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,959
Likes: 526
There may not be any limp mode due to air pressure loss, but if your TPS goes South it will mess with the traction control system and active handling. It will usually take away the ability to shut off/over ride the handling systems.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 26,243
Likes: 4,362
From: Chirper Island
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,108
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,108
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Does anyone know how hard it is to install these on new rims? I'm thinking it would save me a little coin if the tire shop doesn't have to remove the old ones and re-install in the new wheels. I can install them myself and have them ready for just a tire swap. Might justify the extra $150 for new ones. My wife is already giving me the evil eye at the money I'm throwing at the car lately!
Happy wife = happy life.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 287
Likes: 55
From: Arlington Wa
So my best friend bought a vette back in 1995. C4, brand new off the lot, the tpms light was always on. He'd take it in, supposedly be fixed, half a day later, light back on. Have they come a long way or what? My 2010 still has the original tpms. Still working but only 23k on the clock.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,959
Likes: 526
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,108
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
BTW, you can't trust the service manuals to be accurate. My '08 SM still shows several C5 parts and procedures.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 26,243
Likes: 4,362
From: Chirper Island
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,409
Likes: 129
From: Fairview Heights IL
My Red is about three weeks short of 10 years old. The right front TPMS sensor battery died last month. I plan to replace the other three when I buy replacements for my winter wheels in October. CULTRAG charges $80 each. Delco OEM TPMS sensors are available on Amazon for about $30, but there's no guarantee that they're set to the correct frequency to work with a C6. Note too that the part number was changed for model year 2009 and later.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,959
Likes: 526
Instructor
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 245
Likes: 41
From: Crystal River Florida
I wouldn't think it matters how much you drive, only the age from manufacturing. They probably put out a signal even on the shelf, 24x7. Would replace them after 10 years and avoid the ones from China and go with OEM.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 729
Likes: 97
From: Lancaster NY
I decided to keep the wife happy and re-use the original sensors. Had the tires and sensors swapped to my new wheels with no problems! I'll see how long they last now. Total cost for mounting, balancing and swapping sensors was $120.