Tried searching and couldn't find the answer; apologies if this has been asked before

I'm collecting multiple sets of wheels for my 06 Z06. I've put C6 TPMS sensors in both sets of C7 Z06 and GS wheels. Is it possible to have two sets of sensors programmed at once, or will I need to reprogram the car each time I swap out the set of wheels? I plan on running the GS setup primarily, but may swap to the Z06 wheels for shows or just a short change of pace. I like the assurance of having the TPMS active, just wondering if I swap out a programmed wheel set and install the other, will the car pick up the sensors, or does it wipe out any prior memory? my local discount programs the sensors when they were installed, but I don't have a programmer to do it in my garage...yet.

Thanks all

 

I have sensors in my street wheels, as well as track wheels. It must be repr0grammed for each set, when swapped. Or even from one side to the other (asthe location on the car changes).

I use one of these, from Amazon $16.99 (probably like U$10)
To program:
The TPMS system will cancel the learn mode If more then 2 minutes have passed and no sensors have been learned, or if the RCDLR has been in learn mode for more than 5 minutes.
If the learn mode Is canceled before any IDs are learned, the RCDLR will remember all previously stored IDs and their locations. As soon as the first sensor ID is learned, all other IDs are erased from the RCDLR's memory.
1) Turn Ignition switch to ACC position. Apply parking brake.
2) Simultaneously press the keyless entry transmitter's lock and unlock buttons until a horn chirp sounds, Indicating the learn mode has been enabled.
3) Starting with left front tire, hold antenna of TPM Sensor Activation Tool (J-46079) against the tire sidewall close to the wheel rim at the valve stem location, then press and release the ACTIVATE button and wait for a horn chirp.
4) After horn chirp has sounded, proceed as in step 3) for, the next 3 sensors In the following order: right front, right rear and left rear.
5) After left rear sensor has been learned, a double horn chirp will sound, Indicating all 4 sensor IDs have been learned. Turn Ignition switch to OFF position.

 

Ok, so follow on question: what happens if I run a set with programmed sensors, and then run a 2nd set for a week without being programmed.

Will I just get a message about check TPMS sensors until I remount the programmed set? Or will the car forget them once out of range?

Just looking at options until I manage to get a programmer and learn a routine.

 

The car will give all kinds of errors and be kinda in limp mode (I think after 30 min). TCS active handling, etc errors.

there ‘are’ ways to fool it to run without sensors (like putting 4 programmed sensors into a vacuum pipe filled with air, or having the BCM reprogrammed (there are vendors).

just not worth it. But the programmer (it’s a pittance) and easy peasy to use

 

You can also install cloneable sensors like the Autel MX. Clone them from your present sensors and install them in your second set. No reprogramming required when switching over.

 

interesting…never knew they existed.
I guess the downside is they probably cost as much as sensors, and you must put the wheels back in their learned positions.

i usually flip my track tires right/left to equalize wear.

 

You dont have to reprogram your sensors every time you swap wheels.

You reprogram a sensor to your vehicles make/model/year so that your car can detect it. Just because a sensor is 315 mhz does not mean it will work with other cars on using the same frequency. It needs to be programmed to the vehicle.

Once sensors are programmed to your vehicle make/model/year, it only needs to be relearned so your vehicle knows which sensor its connected to.

On the left is a programmer, that can program a sensor to basically any vehicle.

The right is a relearn tool that is used to tell you car which pre-programmed sensor you want the car to communicate with. You cant use this tool to switch a programmed sensor from a Chevy to Nissan to Audi, etc.


I have 3 sets of wheels, each with programmed sensors. I use the relearn tool to run whatever combination of wheels after the wheels are mounted on the car.

 

Can the max reprogrammer also do the relearn part as well?

 

Yes, it can do the relearn as well.

 

THX ttx350z

I see the Max programmer is quite $$ expensive! Maybe I can have my local tire shop program my schrader 33500's to my car, then buy one of the Kingbolen controllers to switch between wheel sets. I don't understand how that kingbolen controller works? it only has 1 button? can you explain it or do you have a good link that explains how it works.

 

Programmers are pricey, but a lot of vendors include the programmer when the shop buys a box of sensors. Doubt most of us will need 20 sensors at a time. It’s just how they incentivize buying/switching to a certain brand of sensor.

Yes, if you have a shop program sensors to your vehicle (to be technically correct, year, make, model), the kingbolen works perfect. That’s what i actually own and use.

When you put you car in relearn mode, it’s just looking for sensors in this order, FL, FR, RR, RL. The programmer just transmits the signal from the sensor to the TPMS receiver and assigns it those positions in that order. Just think of it like this. There’s a room full of people and you dont know who’s who but you need to talk to some of them (multiple sets of tires with sensors in your garage), you call out someones name (relearn mode), and they raise their hand (relearn tool), now your able to identify and communicate with them (tire pressure in DIC).

 

Life made easy, and just clone the sensors in the other wheels, to the TPMS on the car already (same tire potions).

 

Thx Dano,

Do you know of a link for this procedure?

 

Just need a TPMS programming tool that can clone, the correct clone-able sensors for your year of car to put in the other rims,

And just pulling the wheel sensors on the car one at a time, to clone that serial number into the new sensor for the corresponding wheel replacements for each tire location replacements.
Note, since the fronts and back tires can only go into those locations, installing a RR to RL tire location is not the end of the world, since the sensor it still going to work, but will just show up on the DIC as being on the wrong side of the car.

Attachment 48333004

As for the only time it gets funky, is when you have a extra set of tires on the trailer behind the vet to the track, since it can pull the wrong sensor readings out of one of the tires (if bounced enough), not on the car once in a while. At the track, your far enough away from the other tires while on track on the trailer, that is not a problem when moving.



Short of that, not hard to just put the RCDLR into learn mode, and using a cheap TPMS trigger tool, just program the TPMS into the rcdlr in the correct order (star with FL, work clock wise around the car, and RL will be the last TPMS learned) when you swap tires. Hence TPMS will each have their own different serial numbers, and that is what the RCDLR is learning in the correct order as you program them in.

 

Thanks again Dano! that was very helpful. I think I'm going to do it the latter of the 2 ways & let the tire shop program my Schrader 33500 tpms then assign them when I make the swaps back and forth. This is scarry because I feel like I now have a clue.......waiting for the other shoe to drop lol

 

As stated, trigger tool is only $13, and only take as a min to put the RCDLR into learn mode, to do a quick trip around the car to trigger the tire sensors one by one in the correct order, to program then into the car over and over at will with the different sets of tires.