Tire Pressure Sensors

[DrNo]

Thinking ahead to winter. When I mount my snow tires and rims with TPS, do I have to take the car to a dealer to reprogram the TPS system like my Corvette, or does the car automatically reprogram itself like my Grand Cherokee?

ajn

 

[jchao]

I am on my 3rd set of tires and the 1st 2, nothing was done.
I just installed my 3rd and was told by NTB that I had to purchase a kit.
I questioned them why since the 1st 2 it was never done but was told that I had to install the kit.
It was $36. but never found out if it was even needed.

 

[brfatal]

I am on my 3rd set of tires and the 1st 2, nothing was done.
I just installed my 3rd and was told by NTB that I had to purchase a kit.
I questioned them why since the 1st 2 it was never done but was told that I had to install the kit.
It was $36. but never found out if it was even needed.

That's a rebuild kit, not actual sensors. TPMS sensors are considerably more. The rebuild kit replaces the components that hold it in place. If you don't replace them you risk leaks and seized sensors (meaning they are permanently stuck on the wheel due to corrosion unless you break the sensor).

 

[DrNo]

my question was, do the sensors have to be reprogrammed for the car or not?

ajn

 

[GenesisCaptain]

Not in the 2012. I cannot speak for a 2015 yet.

Out of curiosity, what was the reprogramming for the Corvette? Did the programming tell the car which sensor was in which wheel location? Or, was it something else?

On most modern systems I know about now, the sensors communicate with proximity-sensitive antennas in each wheel wheel, so you can move the wheels around, and the car will automatically know the location of the wheel/sensor based on its proximity antenna.