Does anyone know if the computer has to be reset if you change wheels with one set of TPM sensors to another set using different TPM sensors and then back to the originals? I know you'd have to reset the first change for the TPM system to work, but I was hoping the computer would recognize the original set after driving on the second set for a while without going through the reset process. Please let me know if you've had any experience doing this. Thanks!

 

I switch between two sets pretty regularly, and I always have to reset them. The car would get pretty confused if it tried to read all 8 wheels in my garage at the same time.

 

Have you ever tried going to the second set and back to the originals without resetting?

 

You will have absolutely no problems when you switch back to the originals.

The tire sensors each have a unique ID# and they are "registered" with the Tire Pressure Monitor System computer in the car. If you switch tires/wheels without using a Tire Pressure Monitor Tool to register the new sensors, the original ID#s are still the ones the TPMS computer is looking for.

If the car can't get a signal from the sensors in your second set of tires that you did not register, of course you won't have the tire pressure indicated on the DIC. You also may have a problem disabling Active Handling and activating Comp mode (this is really only a problem for guys doing track events with no sensors - and some have these problems and others do not).

If you did not register your second set of tire sensors, once you put the original tires/wheels back on, the TPMS computer will recognize the ID#s and all will be well.

Bob

 

Actually it won't get confused at all. You can park next to 50 other C6 'Vettes and the only sensors your car will recognize are the ones that are "registered" with the TPMS computer.

Of course when you swap tires/wheels, you need a TPM Tool to "excite" the sensors in your tires, which sends the sensor's ID# to the TPMS computer (and it only stores 4 sensor ID#s). Once that is done, the TPMS computer knows which sensor is transmitting which tire pressure value so it can display "Tire Pressure - LF 31psi RF 29psi".

Bob

 

Yes, I have. Once you register a new set of sensors, the originals are erased from the system. Basically, the car will not remember more than 4 sensors.

When you think about it, it has to be this way. The car could never keep track of all the possible wheel/position/sensor combinations. It's not enough to remember the sensor ID, it also has to remember the position. What if I swap two sensors in one set of my wheels? If it remembered where that old sensor was 6 months ago, I would have a problem.

 

I know that it won't do it, been there done that. I'm giving him examples to help him understand how it works, and why it works as it does. In your first post, you said that he will have no problem going back to his original set. That is incorrect.


In his question, he says that he will reprogram for the second set of wheels. It simply will not remember his first set (which was his question).

 

Well, I guess I misunderstood his posting. I went back and read it again, and I still read it as he will not register the second set of tires.

SA Heat, when you swap wheels are you going to register the second set of sensors?

If so, then YES, YOU'LL HAVE TO RE-REGISTER THE ORIGINAL SET FOR THEM TO WORK.

If you just swap to your second set of wheels and don't register the sensors, when you swap back to your originals you'll have no problems.

Every time you swap tires/wheels you'll need to register the new sensors for the DIC to display the correct tire pressure. As Flareside said, the TPMS only remembers 4 sensors (the last 4 programmed).

Bob

 

IT CAN BE CONFUSING. OUT OF CURIOSITY I DIDN'T REPROGRAM MY SECOND SET OF WHEELS/SENSORS AFTER INSTALLING THEM LAST WEEKEND, AFTER ABOUT 45 MILES I GOT THE "SERVICE ACTIVE HANDLING" DISPLAY. I PULLED OVER WHIPPED OUT THE BARTEC AND REPROGRAMED ON THE SPOT. DISPLAY CLEARED AND LIFE WAS GOOD AGAIN! LESSON LEARNED FOR ME WAS "YES, YOU MUST REPROGRAM" BUT IF YOU DON'T YOU MAY NOT GET NOTIFIED IMMEDIATELY.

 

Bob, you answered what I what asking, albeit confusing. I wasn't going to register the second set....I was going to drive on the second set for a while, and then go back to the first set (which is registered) and was wondering if the first set would still be read correctly by the TPMS computer..... I'm going to try it to confirm. Thank you! By the way, I heard you were selling the reset tools and sent you a PM.

 

Tony

Yes, I've got a couple of TPM Tools still available. I PM'ed you about it but the PM isn't showing up in my "sent items" folder. Did you get my message?

Thanks, Bob

 

Got it and replied..... Thanks!

 

The Tahoe sounds like it works just like the C6.

In the C6, if you swap to tires/wheels with no sensors (or if you have a bad sensor or a sensor battery die) you will get a "SERVICE TIRE MONITOR" message on the DIC after about 60 minutes.

The tire sensors go into a "sleep" mode when the wheels aren't turning for about 15 minutes and only transmit about once an hour to save the internal battery in the sensor. When you start to drive and the sensors detect 15 to 20 mph, they start to transmit more often - something like every 15 seconds.

If you begin driving with tires with no sensors, the TPMS keeps looking for a signal. If it doesn't get one it will give you the "SERVICE TIRE MONITOR" message after about 60 minutes of driving.

When you get that message the Owner's Manual says:
This is the problem some owners have when they go racing. If you're running sessions less than 60 minutes, maybe you won't have a problem. Some drivers have their tires with the sensors mounted in the pits so that when they come in for a pit-stop the TPMS will pick up the signal from the tires with the sensors that are sitting in the pit area.

Like you say, having a tool to register the sensors in the tires that are actually on the vehicle is the best way to keep from having problems.

Bob

Edited to add link: BTW, I made a post about a month ago with some info I learned about tire sensors and the TPM Tool. There are some pictures of typical sensors, and in post#2 I've got some pictures of a typical TPM Tool used to program your TPMS. If you are interested and haven't read that info before, click below to go to that thread.

Tire Sensor and TPM Tool 101

 

I just switched my left front and right front (z51 tires) to even the wear. do I have to reprogram the sensors to avoid problems ??

 

No, you don't have to reprogram the sensors, butt......

It's not really a problem, however if you don't reprogram them the DIC will report the Left Front tire pressure as 28 psi, but it will really be reading the sensor that is in the Right Front tire (and vice versa).

You won't have any problems with Active Handling, Traction Control, or anything else. You'll just have to remember that if the DIC tells you your Right Front tire is losing pressure, it really is talking about the Left Front.

Bob

 

Beezeye,

Thanks for the info. I really didn't want to switch them back before my track day at Thunderhill tomorrow. You saved me the extra work.

These are the original F1 EMT's and they won't last much longer anyway. They'll be replaced by Sept.