Attempt To Silence TPMS Complaints

[digitalfiend]

This is not my original idea, just my implementation of something I picked up browsing corvette stuff online. My TPMS sensors will not fit my wheel tire combination, so this is my attempt at disabling the alerts from TPMS. I put three of the sensors inside a pvc container:

Then I installed the fourth in the screw-on lid:

Then I screwed the top on. I had hoped to use the lid to easily gain access to the sensors if I needed. Unfortunately, I had to seal the lid with the pvc cement so that it would hold air:

Then I filled up the pvc container and programmed the sensors within it like you would the normally:

All four of the sensors were picked up when I programmed them. I then threw the pvc container in the back of the Tahoe where it was out of the way but the signals from the sensors could still be picked up. Unfortunately, after a couple drives I still get this error on the dash every time I start the truck:

I can't figure out why I'm getting this error even though the programming seemed to work. Does anyone know of a way to find out what's going on or a way to permanently disable TPMS?

 

[ezdaar]

Awesome, you made a compressed air bomb.
Sorry, I would deal with the error instead of driving around with that in my vehicle.

 

[NathanJax]

I can't figure out why I'm getting this error even though the programming seemed to work. Does anyone know of a way to find out what's going on or a way to permanently disable TPMS?

It is illegal to disable them, as they are a safety feature like your airbags are.

 

[rocky20]

I think they time out and turn off after a while.Tire rotatiin turns them back on again.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

 

[scoobyxj]

You have to program them each individually. From you set up there I don't see how you would have done that. I would make a new one with the sensors individually mounted on the side of the tube. That way you can program each one....

 

[THE YETI]

whoa boy...

 

[07Burb]

It is illegal to disable them, as they are a safety feature like your airbags are.

not sure if srs....telling you what your air pressure is at on your DIC is a safety feature and is illegal to disable? really? I can maybe be persuaded into the "safety feature" aspect although I've always felt it to be unnecessary except for the completely oblivious person. Personally, I hate the sensors and find them pointless but then again I'm the type of person who does a visual inspection each time I walk up on and walk away from my vehicle. I don't need another thing dinging at me for something I can take care of myself and I definitely don't need another "feature" that'll go bad after X amount of time. With that said, I doubt it's illegal to disable the feature. Extremely difficult? Absolutely!

Back to the OP's creation....that seems less than safe for sure

 

[Sasquatch]

I have the same message because i ditched the pointless sensors when i changed wheels. It very easy to hit a button on the steering wheel and the message disappears.

Like 07burb i`m always visually checking things out every time i approach my vehicle. I even notice my coworkers tires that need air when i`m walking in to work and let them know about it. They always ask why the hell i notice these things. I`m a car guy, It`s my job.

 

[THE YETI]

not sure if srs....telling you what your air pressure is at on your DIC is a safety feature and is illegal to disable? really? I can maybe be persuaded into the "safety feature" aspect although I've always felt it to be unnecessary except for the completely oblivious person. Personally, I hate the sensors and find them pointless but then again I'm the type of person who does a visual inspection each time I walk up on and walk away from my vehicle. I don't need another thing dinging at me for something I can take care of myself and I definitely don't need another "feature" that'll go bad after X amount of time. With that said, I doubt it's illegal to disable the feature. Extremely difficult? Absolutely!

Back to the OP's creation....that seems less than safe for sure

He's correct in a sense. It's a safety feature that the Feds say you gotta have. Like seatbelts and soon to be backup sensors.

 

[digitalfiend]

I think they time out and turn off after a while.Tire rotatiin turns them back on again.

This would explain them working initially. Meh. Back to the drawing board.

You have to program them each individually. From you set up there I don't see how you would have done that. I would make a new one with the sensors individually mounted on the side of the tube. That way you can program each one....

You have a point, but believe it or not, this isn't an issue. I pressurize the container at 30psi, then start the programming process on my Tahoe, then let air out of the container slowly. The TPMS computer picks up all four sensors because all four see the change in pressure as I slowly bleed it off. I had to test this a couple times to be sure, but in programming mode the horn signals four times - one for each of the sensors.

Awesome, you made a compressed air bomb.

I appreciate your concern, but 30psi is not nearly enough to be a bomb. Besides, it's wedged between cargo far in the back of the Tahoe, so it's far enough away from the soft and squishy parts of the driver and passengers.

 

[ezdaar]

roll them up and smash them into tube. no more flopping around.

 

[digitalfiend]

roll them up and smash them into tube. no more flopping around.

You know, I hadn't worried too much about them flopping around...but your idea, pardon the pun, is the bomb!

not sure if srs....telling you what your air pressure is at on your DIC is a safety feature and is illegal to disable? really? I can maybe be persuaded into the "safety feature" aspect although I've always felt it to be unnecessary except for the completely oblivious person. Personally, I hate the sensors and find them pointless but then again I'm the type of person who does a visual inspection each time I walk up on and walk away from my vehicle. I don't need another thing dinging at me for something I can take care of myself and I definitely don't need another "feature" that'll go bad after X amount of time.

Yeah, I can see it being something that may prevent you from passing a safety inspection, but I don't see it as being illegal to disable. I feel the same way about having to pay money to replace these non-serviceable tpms sensors when they go bad, which will inevitably happen.

I'd have used the tpms sensors but it didn't look like they'd have clearance inside my wheel/tire combo. On my aftermarket rims the valve stem is near the center of the rim and doesn't allow the sensor to sit flat on the inside of the rim the same way the stock rims are. I'll snap and post a photo of the valve stem on my rims and see if anyone has any novel ideas on adapting the tpms sensors to fit them.

 

[Chiggy]

I have a couple quick questions. What do I do when I rotate my tires to keep them straight with the positions in the dash computer or will it figure it out, or is that just silly to worry about it? I guess I'm a little ocd.
I have new wheels picked out, where do I buy new sensors and what do I need to do to program them to correct position and calibrate psi?

 

[digitalfiend]

I have a couple quick questions. What do I do when I rotate my tires to keep them straight with the positions in the dash computer or will it figure it out, or is that just silly to worry about it? I guess I'm a little ocd.

For me, if I had my TPMS sensors working properly I'd do a walk-around on my Tahoe to make sure everything was properly inflated instead of trusting the computer to know...but I'm picky that way and I'm also untrusting of computers. As far as reprogramming them after rotating your tires, I don't know how you unprogram and reprogram...maybe someone else can help shed light on this?

I have new wheels picked out, where do I buy new sensors and what do I need to do to program them to correct position and calibrate psi?

I'm not sure that they make different shaped sensors for aftermarket rims, but you may not need to buy new sensors after all. I started this thread because my OEM sensors would not fit properly in my aftermarket rims. Since my last post I found out that there are TPMS Adapters and TPMS straps. The photos in the links should be explain how they work. I think using either of those methods should let you run your OEM sensors in your aftermarket rims. I'll update this post accordingly once I get the adapters and get them installed.

 

[choodock]

I'm running the bands or straps on my TorqThrust rims on my NNBS Silverado, though 3 of the sensors are no longer working. TPMS is a giant pain in my butt. At least all 4 still work on my Tahoe.... knock on wood

 

[PlazaEJ]

Depending on which set up your vehicle has... Some will tell you specifically, which tire is low. That's why it makes a difference that the computer knows which sensor is 'programmed' to which tire location. If yours only says "Low Tire Pressure", but not a specific tire, it's not such a big deal which sensor gets 'rotated' to which location.

Now, that being said, early versions of TPMS systems could be programmed from the DIC. However, later models must be programmed with a tool, at the dealership, or a reputable shop.

Your "Air Bomb", for lack of a better term, might be a good start. I would suggest trying this, drill 4 holes in the side of your tube with a sensor in each hole. That way you can 'program' each sensor, individually, the way your supposed to. And, they won't bounce around inside. And, I agree, I don't think 30 psi is all that dangerous. PVC is pretty tough stuff.

Now, one last thought. Temperature, also, plays a part in air pressure, in tires. Filling tires when cold, and outside temps are warm, won't very greatly. However, as the outside temps drop, so will the air pressure in your tires. If the temps are far enough below what it was when you programmed the sensors, the computer will see the lower pressure as a 'low tire'. That's one reason why you should check your tire pressures, regularly.

Sorry, for the lengthy post. But, I have to remind the Mrs. and my daughter, often.

 

[scoobyxj]

Awesome, you made a compressed air bomb.
Sorry, I would deal with the error instead of driving around with that in my vehicle.

At 30psi you would be well below the max pressure of PVC. Most water systems are between 60-90psi.

I think they time out and turn off after a while.Tire rotatiin turns them back on again.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

They do not time out. They just quit working. I'm guessing the battery in them goes dead. Rotating your tires requires them to be reprogramed (at least on my 04 and I'm guessing all NBS, or at least the 03-06).

You have a point, but believe it or not, this isn't an issue. I pressurize the container at 30psi, then start the programming process on my Tahoe, then let air out of the container slowly. The TPMS computer picks up all four sensors because all four see the change in pressure as I slowly bleed it off. I had to test this a couple times to be sure, but in programming mode the horn signals four times - one for each of the sensors

You may think it's working but all you are doing is programming the one you are putting air into to each location. Once the computer realizes it's the same sensor at all four locations it throws up an error code.

I have a couple quick questions. What do I do when I rotate my tires to keep them straight with the positions in the dash computer or will it figure it out, or is that just silly to worry about it? I guess I'm a little ocd.
I have new wheels picked out, where do I buy new sensors and what do I need to do to program them to correct position and calibrate psi?

It will not figure it out. You will need to reprogram them when you rotate your tires. Rock Auto has them I think. I would check with the seller of the new rims to see if the OEM sensors will fit.

Depending on which set up your vehicle has... Some will tell you specifically, which tire is low. That's why it makes a difference that the computer knows which sensor is 'programmed' to which tire location. If yours only says "Low Tire Pressure", but not a specific tire, it's not such a big deal which sensor gets 'rotated' to which location.

Now, that being said, early versions of TPMS systems could be programmed from the DIC. However, later models must be programmed with a tool, at the dealership, or a reputable shop.

Your "Air Bomb", for lack of a better term, might be a good start. I would suggest trying this, drill 4 holes in the side of your tube with a sensor in each hole. That way you can 'program' each sensor, individually, the way your supposed to. And, they won't bounce around inside. And, I agree, I don't think 30 psi is all that dangerous. PVC is pretty tough stuff.

Now, one last thought. Temperature, also, plays a part in air pressure, in tires. Filling tires when cold, and outside temps are warm, won't very greatly. However, as the outside temps drop, so will the air pressure in your tires. If the temps are far enough below what it was when you programmed the sensors, the computer will see the lower pressure as a 'low tire'. That's one reason why you should check your tire pressures, regularly.

Sorry, for the lengthy post. But, I have to remind the Mrs. and my daughter, often.

Your comment on the pressure change with the rise and fall of the temp might be something you need to consider sense the tube is much smaller than a tire. You may constantly get pressure errors because there just isn't the volume there compared to the tire...

 

[tt54l32v]

IF that would work ( meaning it does not have to be wheel specific) why not just put them in the spare tire?


But since I dont think it will work, a strap or essentially a giant hose clamp and some way to attach the sensor should work.

Also that system might actually work and one of the senors is bad and still throwing the warning.

I may do some digging in the wiring diagrams tomorrow and see if there is a real way to bypass this at the module. WML.

 

[JochenWoern]

IF that would work ( meaning it does not have to be wheel specific) why not just put them in the spare tire?


But since I dont think it will work, a strap or essentially a giant hose clamp and some way to attach the sensor should work.

Also that system might actually work and one of the senors is bad and still throwing the warning.

I may do some digging in the wiring diagrams tomorrow and see if there is a real way to bypass this at the module. WML.

If you find a way to do it, that would be awesome as I as well would like to bypass this stupid message.

 

[tt54l32v]

No dice on bypassing it at the source. The only way I see to do it would be to build a radio transceiver and program to it run the way the system is designed.
Or turn it off with a programmer.