2014 TPMS Failure -- Advice?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 233
Likes: 70
2014 TPMS Failure -- Advice?
Today, a few minutes after I got on the highway, I got a TPMS error / failure that reported that my front left tire was down at 9psi. I pulled over, got out my tire gauge and checked all four tires -- and they were all at 29psi.
Over the course of around 90 minutes of driving, the TPMS would report that the front left tire was at 9psi to 22psi, without much of a pattern other than the reported pressure was usually higher after sustained highway driving. The other three tires rose from (as indicated in the cluster by the TPMS system) 29psi to 31psi during the same time period, as expected. By the time I parked it, TPMS was reporting the front left at 20psi.
Thanks in advance for any advice you can give.
Over the course of around 90 minutes of driving, the TPMS would report that the front left tire was at 9psi to 22psi, without much of a pattern other than the reported pressure was usually higher after sustained highway driving. The other three tires rose from (as indicated in the cluster by the TPMS system) 29psi to 31psi during the same time period, as expected. By the time I parked it, TPMS was reporting the front left at 20psi.
- Has anyone experienced this?
- What is the quickest way (other than swapping the front wheels left-to-right) to establish whether this is in the tire, or maybe in the car's interface to the TPMS?
- Is there an easy way to reset a TPMS sender in case it's on the fritz?
Thanks in advance for any advice you can give.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 732
Likes: 138
From: Allen (DFW) Texas
8 years is about the extent of the battery life so most likely cause is battery is failing and you just need to replace the sensor. Swapping left to right should confirm problem moves with the sensor and validate need for replacement. If so might consider replacing all four as if it is the battery the other three likely will soon exhibit the same issue.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,820
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
8 years is about the extent of the battery life so most likely cause is battery is failing and you just need to replace the sensor. Swapping left to right should confirm problem moves with the sensor and validate need for replacement. If so might consider replacing all four as if it is the battery the other three likely will soon exhibit the same issue.
Bill
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 233
Likes: 70
Thanks you for your replies -- but I have to ask -- is this the failure mode that people have seen? Because I would have expected that a sensor would report that its battery is exhausted, or not give data, or similar.
It seems odd that the sensor would give bad data as its battery died. That sort of behavior could lead to all sorts of unnecessary dealer trips (and costs to GM) if it were true.
FWIW, all of the original (Ford) TPMS sensor from my 2008 Ford Expedition are still working just fine ... with much more time and miles on them. Hence my surprise.
It seems odd that the sensor would give bad data as its battery died. That sort of behavior could lead to all sorts of unnecessary dealer trips (and costs to GM) if it were true.
FWIW, all of the original (Ford) TPMS sensor from my 2008 Ford Expedition are still working just fine ... with much more time and miles on them. Hence my surprise.
Moderator emeritus
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 18,599
Likes: 3,954
From: Jacksonville Florida BWO Dayton, Cincinnati, Bloomsbury NJ, Cincinnati
2015 C7 of the Year Finalist
The C7 sensors have:
GM part# 13581560 2014 - 2017
GM part# 13598775 2018 - 2019. (Note: This is now for all C7s 2014 - 2019)
Tire Rack sells Shrader 20223 for 2014 - 2019.
Rock Auto sells the Shrader 20223 for $22.79 (No temp info)
The C7 tire pressure sensors transmit their data to the TPMS module on a frequency of 433MHz.
GM DEaler 13581560 $72.94
Cultrag 13581560/13598775 $45.59
Elmer
GM part# 13581560 2014 - 2017
GM part# 13598775 2018 - 2019. (Note: This is now for all C7s 2014 - 2019)
Tire Rack sells Shrader 20223 for 2014 - 2019.
Rock Auto sells the Shrader 20223 for $22.79 (No temp info)
The C7 tire pressure sensors transmit their data to the TPMS module on a frequency of 433MHz.
GM DEaler 13581560 $72.94
Cultrag 13581560/13598775 $45.59
Elmer
Last edited by eboggs_jkvl; Apr 14, 2022 at 01:28 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,775
Likes: 138
From: cyberspace NY
I have 2 intermittent sensors in my truck. They throw errors in cold weather, then they don't once it warms up. It' s just annoying. One day I'll spend $100 at the tire monkey. Nothing last forever.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 233
Likes: 70
Interesting -- today, I deflated the tire completely, then re-inflated it.
On the road today, the reported pressure varies from 17psi to 21psi (when the other tires were at 29-31psi).
It's as if the calibration of the sensor has gone bad.
Anyway, I'm waiting on my TPMS diagnostic tool to check it out.
On the road today, the reported pressure varies from 17psi to 21psi (when the other tires were at 29-31psi).
It's as if the calibration of the sensor has gone bad.
Anyway, I'm waiting on my TPMS diagnostic tool to check it out.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 1,355
Likes: 635
From: St. Louis
f you do find a bad sensor, I would recommend the Schrader 20223 from Rock Auto. That sensor will be the same as the GM part since Schrader makes the GM part for AC Delco. The 20223 part number is used to designate the part as aftermarket, but it is physically the same as the AC Delco part. I have used the 20223 and it works perfectly.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 233
Likes: 70
Looking forward to getting the TS508.
New tires on new wheels with old sensors (I replaced the (cast) wheels because one spoke was cracked) -- probably bad luck in my case. Argh!
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 1,355
Likes: 635
From: St. Louis
If you do have to replace the sensor, get quotes before you let them do it. It should be very inexpensive especially if you can bring the wheel in off the car. You don't have to take the tire off the wheel. You just break the outer bead and force the sidewall of the tire in to get access to the sensor. Since the inner bead is not broken, the tire cannot move on the wheel and therefore you don't need to rebalance. Should be a $20 charge or less. I would do it for free if you lived near me.
Moderator emeritus
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 18,599
Likes: 3,954
From: Jacksonville Florida BWO Dayton, Cincinnati, Bloomsbury NJ, Cincinnati
2015 C7 of the Year Finalist
I have the TS508 and it will tell you the pressure the sensor is reporting. If the sensor is reporting the correct pressure and the TPMS system is saying different, you have a problem with the TPMS module. I suspect it is just a bad sensor. The tool will also report battery condition, but that seems to be of little use. Every sensor i have tested indicates the battery is good. It does not tell you voltage of the battery, it only tells you if the tool thinks the battery is low.
f you do find a bad sensor, I would recommend the Schrader 20223 from Rock Auto. That sensor will be the same as the GM part since Schrader makes the GM part for AC Delco. The 20223 part number is used to designate the part as aftermarket, but it is physically the same as the AC Delco part. I have used the 20223 and it works perfectly.
f you do find a bad sensor, I would recommend the Schrader 20223 from Rock Auto. That sensor will be the same as the GM part since Schrader makes the GM part for AC Delco. The 20223 part number is used to designate the part as aftermarket, but it is physically the same as the AC Delco part. I have used the 20223 and it works perfectly.
I don't think the 20223 gives a temperature status to the car. Your tires will remain "cold" no matter what the temperature.
Elmer
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 233
Likes: 70
I tried my new TS508 TPMS tool on a Toyota, and it does report both "good" and "low" states for the TPMS on that car. Original senders, over 10 years old ...
As soon as I drive the C7 I'll test it on the C7... I don't think I can "wake" the C7 sensors without driving (or starting?) the C7 ...
As soon as I drive the C7 I'll test it on the C7... I don't think I can "wake" the C7 sensors without driving (or starting?) the C7 ...
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 1,355
Likes: 635
From: St. Louis
2014 through 2017 are the same. 2018 and 2019 use different sensors. Sometimes you have to move the tool to different spots to get it to read the sensor. Close to valve stem works sometimes / with some wheels. Other times you need to be up on the tire (just above the sensor) so the wheel is not blocking the signal. Did you try all four wheels and none of the sensors were recognized by the tool? If so, try a different year in the selection menu. Maybe someone replaced the sensors with newer ones already. The new sensors are reverse compatible with the old system. The old sensors do not work with the 2018 / 2019 system.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 233
Likes: 70
Yeah, it was user error -- there are two 2014 C7 options (#5 315MHz (!?) and #6 433MHz), the first time, I chose 315MHz. This time, with the 433MHz selection, I was able to scan one sensor (the front left).
Sensor says OK voltage, 19C (probably correct), and 146kpa = 21.2psi (wrong).
So I am not having a (TPMS) battery issue, as best I can tell.
Am I able to reset the pressure of such a sensor, i.e. tell it "This is 30psi, not the 21psi you think it is"? Via TS508's Program Sensor menu item?
Sensor says OK voltage, 19C (probably correct), and 146kpa = 21.2psi (wrong).
So I am not having a (TPMS) battery issue, as best I can tell.
Am I able to reset the pressure of such a sensor, i.e. tell it "This is 30psi, not the 21psi you think it is"? Via TS508's Program Sensor menu item?