I need TPMS Help

[CountryBoy19]

Out of my 2 sets of wheels (1 winter, 1 not-winter) I have 3 sensors bad. 2 are just low batteries. Are the batteries replaceable? I see some Ebay listings for used sensors come with a "service kit" but I thought you couldn't change batteries?

If not, what part numbers will work? 11514379 like should be original to my 05 seem to be the most expensive... grrr.... if batteries can't be replaced I'm probably going to need 8 new sensors, that gets expensive at $50 each...

Is there any other solution?

 

[Big Mama]

The batteries are not replaceable. Check amazon eBay and rock auto I got my set from amazon couple years back for 2 different vehicles and think I paid closer to $25 each.

 

[Sasquatch]

When my sensors died i did the best thing and it was free, I threw them away and replaced them with regular valve stems. TPMS to me are useless.

 

[14rcsbOH]

Just for the record have you tried reseting them, I had what was thought to be a “bad” one on my old truck, reset it and it was fine.

 

[CountryBoy19]

Just for the record have you tried reseting them, I had what was thought to be a “bad” one on my old truck, reset it and it was fine.

Reset how?

 

[Big Mama]

Good point I assumed you checked your tire pressure all around. There are instructions in owners manual how to reset or you can find it on the forum for your truck. Mine is an 07 so I go to DIC hit relearn and add or let out air until it honks this can be done with a tool as well

 

[HiHoeSilver]

Reset how?

 

[CountryBoy19]

Good point I assumed you checked your tire pressure all around. There are instructions in owners manual how to reset or you can find it on the forum for your truck. Mine is an 07 so I go to DIC hit relearn and add or let out air until it honks this can be done with a tool as well

Learn procedure is what I used to determine one is totally gone... I thought there was a different "reset" procedure you were talking about.

Full story: bought a 2nd set of wheels exactly like mine from a salvage yard to use for winter tires (better traction with ice tires and keeps my nicer wheels out of the salt). Before dropping off at tire shop to have winter tires installed I tried a relearn with those wheels. 3 of the 4 would "learn" but that 4th one, no matter what order I tried to learn them, simply wouldn't "learn". I came to the conclusion it's either a goner or battery is totally dead (goner).

Additionally, the set of all-season tires I have on now has 2 sensors with weak batteries. On short trips they're fine but longer trips, where they transmit more before getting a break/dormant period they start to have problems. I think these are the original sensors as it's a low miles xl and these tires have a date stamp of 2009 (they're getting replaced soon as well). If they're original I'm sure the other 2 sensors aren't far behind.

Lastly, I did some self education on aftermarket sensors. Many need programmed before they can be learned. Denso makes a direct fit sensor that doesn't need programmed before learning, it looks exactly like the 15114379 that is in my wheels except different color. They're same cost as OEM on rock auto but found on amazon for under $30... bought 8 of them...

 

[Big Mama]

Good call.

 

[MTHoe]

if you have a buddy mechanic or even a shop that is generous enough, they should have a sensor that can read tpms frequencies and determine which sensor(s) are bad and which ones are good. Did that when i first bought mine and assumed two were bad, got it scanned to find out only one was bad.

 

[CountryBoy19]

if you have a buddy mechanic or even a shop that is generous enough, they should have a sensor that can read tpms frequencies and determine which sensor(s) are bad and which ones are good. Did that when i first bought mine and assumed two were bad, got it scanned to find out only one was bad.

I think I know which are bad...

Winter wheels: the one I tried learning numerous times that wouldn't learn.

Summer wheels: the 2 on the left... any time I get the svc tpms error msg I use the DIC to check which ones aren't working and the FL & RL are always the culprits that missed a transmission (pressure just shows as "---"). Either way, I'll just replace them... and see if I can dissect the old ones to see how hard a battery replacement would be.

 

[steve45]

I've had to replace several TPMS sensors. I learned the hard way that some were not compatible or didn't work out of the box. I rigged up a test tube made of PVC pipe, end caps, and a Schrader valve. I put the new sensor in the tube (valve stem isn't necessary for testing), then pressure up the tube to about 30 PSI. I have a learning tool and use it to calibrate the new sensor to the vehicle. When finished, I throw the sensor in the console and drive it for a day or two. If it still works, then I take the vehicle to the gas station and have them swap the new sensor with the bad one.

 

[89Suburban]

When my sensors died i did the best thing and it was free, I threw them away and replaced them with regular valve stems. TPMS to me are useless.

Hell yeah.

 

[Rocket Man]

I've had to replace several TPMS sensors. I learned the hard way that some were not compatible or didn't work out of the box. I rigged up a test tube made of PVC pipe, end caps, and a Schrader valve. I put the new sensor in the tube (valve stem isn't necessary for testing), then pressure up the tube to about 30 PSI. I have a learning tool and use it to calibrate the new sensor to the vehicle. When finished, I throw the sensor in the console and drive it for a day or two. If it still works, then I take the vehicle to the gas station and have them swap the new sensor with the bad one.

Have you figured out how to activate brand new sensors? I have some I bought for my 08 and made a pvc tube but later found out they come in sleep mode and the service manual says they need to spin at 20 mph minimum for 10 seconds in order to open their internal switches so they become active. Plus I get conflicting info on whether Nnbs sensors work on nbs vehicles even though the frequency is the same. I just want to leave them in a pvc tube, pressurized ,if I can get them to work.

 

[CountryBoy19]

Have you figured out how to activate brand new sensors? I have some I bought for my 08 and made a pvc tube but later found out they come in sleep mode and the service manual says they need to spin at 20 mph minimum for 10 seconds in order to open their internal switches so they become active. Plus I get conflicting info on whether Nnbs sensors work on nbs vehicles even though the frequency is the same. I just want to leave them in a pvc tube, pressurized ,if I can get them to work.

I picked up Denso 550-2402 which is made as a drop in replacement for the OEM 05-06 sensors. They really were drop-in; put tires on and synced them up just like the OEM sensors.

Many companies make "universal sensors". Those have to be programmed to initialize before they can be synced. Usually the tool to program them is cost-prohibitive for diy.

ETA, I forgot to mention that I tore into a sensor to gauge battery replacement difficulties. It's not too bad...

 

[Rocket Man]

I picked up Denso 550-2402 which is made as a drop in replacement for the OEM 05-06 sensors. They really were drop-in; put tires on and synced them up just like the OEM sensors.

Many companies make "universal sensors". Those have to be programmed to initialize before they can be synced. Usually the tool to program them is cost-prohibitive for diy.

ETA, I forgot to mention that I tore into a sensor to gauge battery replacement difficulties. It's not too bad...

Mine are AC Delco. I guess they need to be spun. I’m just gonna wait until I swap tires on the Silvy over to the new rims, and the new sensors will go on the new rims. Then I can try the old sensors on the Tahoe.

 

[CountryBoy19]

Mine are AC Delco. I guess they need to be spun. I’m just gonna wait until I swap tires on the Silvy over to the new rims, and the new sensors will go on the new rims. Then I can try the old sensors on the Tahoe.

I would be tempted to try to activate them some other way to be sure they work... nothing worse that putting them in, putting the new tires on and finding out they don't work...

I've never installed a new OEM so I don't know much about activating them.

 

[Rocket Man]

I would be tempted to try to activate them some other way to be sure they work... nothing worse that putting them in, putting the new tires on and finding out they don't work...

I've never installed a new OEM so I don't know much about activating them.

They’re brand new AC Delco and the correct part # for the truck. I’m not worried.

 

[steve45]

Have you figured out how to activate brand new sensors? I have some I bought for my 08 and made a pvc tube but later found out they come in sleep mode and the service manual says they need to spin at 20 mph minimum for 10 seconds in order to open their internal switches so they become active. Plus I get conflicting info on whether Nnbs sensors work on nbs vehicles even though the frequency is the same. I just want to leave them in a pvc tube, pressurized ,if I can get them to work.

I didn't know that. However, the ones that didn't work were mounted on the vehicle and driven for a couple of days. All the ones I put in the tube did work before mounting on the wheels. All GM part numbers.

 

[mountie]

My "service tire monitor" just came on...... I wonder if doing the "You Tube" test might show me which is bad, or maybe reset the monitors?