TPMS woes - any input?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,803
Likes: 17
From: Walnut Creek, CA
TPMS woes - any input?
My GS has 700 miles now. I barely get to drive it, but I do take it out at least a couple times a week. On four separate occasions now, I've taken the car somewhere and it's fine - no issues. However, when the car has been parked for a couple hours on these trips and I then get in to drive home, the TMPS warning comes on saying that one or all of my tires are low. Then when I dismiss, the car says service tpms now. 100 miles ago, I did take it to the dealer, but the advisor made light of the issue and said my tires were probably low. They weren't, but he reset the system, or whatever they do. The light went away and didnt come back until tonight. Has anyone else dealt with something similar? Any suggestions for how to get this TPMS working properly?
Last edited by StoplightWarrior; Nov 10, 2019 at 02:33 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 2,014
Likes: 1,591
From: Clermont, Florida
My 2019 has a similar issue. If I am parked near a construction area where the workers have hand held radios I get radio wave interference and the TPMS goes off on the way home. It resets the next day when started or within a few miles driven. I went to the dealer four times about this issue and they determined it is radio interference since the TPMS uses radio waves. It is also mentioned in the owner's manual.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: I live my life by 2 rules. 1) Never share everything you know. 2)
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18
My 2019 has a similar issue. If I am parked near a construction area where the workers have hand held radios I get radio wave interference and the TPMS goes off on the way home. It resets the next day when started or within a few miles driven. I went to the dealer four times about this issue and they determined it is radio interference since the TPMS uses radio waves. It is also mentioned in the owner's manual.
(and no, there is nothing in the Manual about it either)
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 136,140
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From: I live my life by 2 rules. 1) Never share everything you know. 2)
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18
To expand a bit on my earlier comment(s), TPMSs work in the 433 mHz portion of the radio spectrum. The RF density levels from even 5 watt UHF handheld radios (commercial frequencies of 450 to 474 mHz) would be minuscule at the car so as to be a non-factor (VHF radios even more). Short of transmitting within a foot or two of the car, they'd have zero effect.
In a C7, the receiver used is the same as the RKE (FOB) and is located behind the driver side rear wheel well.
In a C7, the receiver used is the same as the RKE (FOB) and is located behind the driver side rear wheel well.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 2,014
Likes: 1,591
From: Clermont, Florida
I drove my car to work for three months after I got it new without issue. The buildings where I work started to be refurbished. The issue started when construction started. This is the only time I have an issue and the car is driven daily. The dealer confirmed with Chevrolet that everything is working fine and determined radio wave interference. Once the construction ended and the crew left the issue went away. So maybe not hand helds but there was some kind of radio wave interference going on.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 2,014
Likes: 1,591
From: Clermont, Florida
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 136,140
Likes: 2,432
From: I live my life by 2 rules. 1) Never share everything you know. 2)
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18
Operating electronic devices or
being near facilities using radio
wave frequencies similar to the
TPMS could cause the TPMS
sensors to malfunction.
being near facilities using radio
wave frequencies similar to the
TPMS could cause the TPMS
sensors to malfunction.
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: I live my life by 2 rules. 1) Never share everything you know. 2)
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18
NEVER
Reality check - GM's warning about "radio frequency interference" is more a CYA than reality
Last edited by KenHorse; Nov 10, 2019 at 06:05 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
A friend was driving the dealer crazy with intermittent C6 TPMS problems. Finally the tech told him to unplug his cellphone charger. He did and the problems disappeared. Can’t tell if it was rf through the air or back feeding through the car’s electrical system, but he fixed it.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 1,332
Likes: 630
I just bought one of those devices that resets the tpms for my wrx since Ill be swapping back and forth between winter tires. Only cost a couple hundred bucks and I figure its better than paying about $20-25 bucks and a trip to a shop every time I swap tires/wheels.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,803
Likes: 17
From: Walnut Creek, CA
I dont have a cell phone charger in my car - the only device I carry is my own iphone. It's off again now - next time it comes on I'll take it to the dealer again. Is it possible one of the sensors is just bad?
Lurker
Joined: Nov 2018
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From: Denton, TX
St. Jude Donor '19-'20
For some reason mine tend to get wonky when driving in the rain. Never fails, either 1 or both fronts will go dash lines.
These are sensors purchased from dealer 1 year ago when swapping over to new wheels and tires. Dont think I've had an issue with them when its nice and dry out.
Not sure whats going on, just live with it for now
These are sensors purchased from dealer 1 year ago when swapping over to new wheels and tires. Dont think I've had an issue with them when its nice and dry out.
Not sure whats going on, just live with it for now
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
colder temps can drop the tire pressure below the threshold.. I would make sure that there is correct tire pressure.. this issue can go away once the tires get up to operating temperature.. all tires will lose a little air over time.. oxygen molecule will diminish over time.. when I say this, I might be talking 1 pound over a seasonal temperature swing.. but one pound could move the low tire pressure parameter below its threshold.
Bill
Bill