I think Bartec discontinued the Trackside model that Tire Rack sold for around $105.

However, there are several sources that have the TIPS Tool available at price similar to the one in the link below, which is $71.57:

http://www.spx.usatoolwarehouse.com/...-TIPS003A.html


If you have a couple sets of wheels/tires/sensors such as for the track, the tool is necessary for the 2005-2009 C6.

Although the 2010 and newer C6 has a different TPMS that uses a different sensor that can be triggered by changing air pressure in the tire, a tool will also trigger the sensors. The tool would be easier and quicker than changing air pressure and then using an air source to go around and adjust pressures back to normal.

Bob

 

I agree this is the best way to go. But if you can't make it work with a pvc pipe, then use a 8 inch dia tubless tire wheel sold at Harbor Freight. Program the 4 sensors with a tips tool to your car. Then tape them to the inside of the rim and inflate the tire to 32 lbs. The DIC will read 32 lbs all around as long as the wheel is in the trunk. The most difficult part of this project is reinflation or seating the bead of the little tire. I went to tire kingdom for this as you need a ton air to bead it up.. The tire, sensors, and wheel weight 6 lbs. This is easily done and very reasonibly priced.

 

I have a 2008 and keep limping along w/ broken TPMS on some Iforge wheels that came w/ the car... I just bought some CCW's for the track tires and retiring the IForges ( the initial install put the TPMS's on the rear of the wheel 1/2 from the tire bead... has clearance issues w/ the upper ball joint and the brake cooling ducts...
I am putting TPMS's in the CCW to avoid the AH/TC issues..
Last month used a set of Z06 track wheels w/ R6's on them and no TPMS was only able to dc the TC and could not turn off the AH.. Bitch in the Braking zone and turn in.

TODAY remounted the street wheels and after 10 trys to resink the sensors w/ my TIPS unit i only got one to register.. Any hints... I held my tounge out the left side of my mouth and i loaded up christmas tunes on the radio..
Gave up and went inside for the eggnog...

About ready to take it to the dealer to let him inservice me in the resetting.
I even took it out for a drive to turn up the transmission interval.. no luck.
how long after the first horn beep do we have to get the first TPMS to register?

 

Hmmmm.....might work!!

I see in your profile that you've got a 2008, so according to the Owner's Manual you've got 30 minutes before you will get the "Service Tire Monitor" message at which time you won't be able to go into Comp mode or turn AH completely off.

I have done the experiment with both my old '05 and my '06, and they both take "about 60 minutes" just like the manual says. Actually the '06 took about 1 hour and 15 minutes until I got the message - I was running in Comp mode and the AH automatically went back to full on.

I need to try it in my '09 to confirm the "about 30 minutes" that the manual has mentioned since 2007.

As I mentioned in a previous post, when in the sleep mode the sensors only transmit once every 60 minutes. In a 2007 or newer C6 that gives the "Service Tire Monitor" message after "about 30 minutes", after driving for 30 minutes you're likely going to get the AH to automatically come back full on because the sensors may not have all checked in if they're only transmitting once every 60 minutes.

Unless......you can spin your small tire faster than 20 mph to wake up the sensors!!!

I'm going to do some testing with my '09, but it won't be until after the holidays.

Bob

 

If you can't go into Comp mode, then you won't be able to turn off AH completely either.

There are 4 different modes you can select with the AH/TC button on the console:

1. default mode when you start up the car is TC on; AH full on
   
2. one push of the button turns off TC
   
3. a second push of the button within 5 seconds puts the AH in Comp mode (TC is off; AH is still on but lets the car slide/skid around a little more before it intervenes)
   
4. push and hold the button down for 5 seconds until you see a message that TC and AH are both OFF - you'll have no assistance at all if the tail end gets out of whack

So.....if you can't go into Comp mode, you won't be able to turn AH off all the way either.

With sensor or TPMS problems the system is designed to protect you if you try to drive aggressively when it thinks you may have a tire that has lost pressure, or if it doesn't know pressures because of a bad sensor or no sensors installed.

Driving straight down the highway you just can't tell if you lose all pressure in a runflat. The stiff sidewalls don't give any handling feedback. However, if you try to take a corner in a spirited manner with a runflat with no pressure in it, you'll have likely have serious handling problems when a sideload builds up. That's why the EBCM is programmed to react to put on individual wheel brakes and the PCM will reduce power if the AH yaw rate sensor detects aggressive driving with a TPMS problem - first by pulling timing, and if that doesn't work it will cut off injectors to reduce fuel flow and thus power.

So....that's why the whole interface exists between the Active Handling and the TPMS/sensors, and why the PCM can reduce power - it's all to protect you if you lose pressure in a runflat tire.

Bob