I dropped my car off last night to have some new tires installed on the OEM rims. I got a call this morning saying that they can't install the tires because of the OEM TPS sensors. They say that they need a 'kit' to do the job the right way, and that there isn't a kit availible for our car (they say its a dealer part).

Anyone run in to this? They are basically saying that they need to detach the sensor before removing the wheel, and in doing so they will need to replace a rubber seal.

They also told me that the TPS sensor might not work with my slightly larger tire (255-45-18). I have heard of VDC issues with different sized tires but never TPS issues.

Anyone know anything about this?

 

What tire store was this? I think they are full of chit on all counts. Sounds like they just didnt want to work on your car because they either don't know how or do not want the liability if they screw it up. I've personally changed out EMT tires on a Z06 with sensors and didn't have any problems.

 

Big O Tires.

I bought the tires from Tire Rack. I don't think that they just don't want to work on my car because I 'know' someone there. They may not know what they are talking about though!

They said that it is their policy to remove the TPS from the rim, which I can't say I blame them. I have read several accounts where the sensors were damaged. When you removed the sensors did you need to replace the seal on the sensor to prevent it from leaking?

 

That tire shop either is trying to rip you off or they don't know what they're talking about. You don't need to remove the TPS on the rims when unmounting or mounting tires. Size of the tire is irrelevant.

You need to make sure that the tire shop is tracking which corner the rims were removed from. Otherwise, if the rims (w/ the corresponding TPS) are not mounted where they were originally removed, your TPMS will not recognize the TPS.

 

Also you need to make sure that they are super careful dismounting the tires since it is quite easy to damage the sensors when they are removing the tires.

BTW, there is no "kit". Take your wheels somewhere else.

 

That's BS. All they need is a socket to loosen the TPS, so it comes out with the tire, so that they don't damage it. Go somewhere else.

 

OK, I got it all taken care of. The 'kit' consists of a grommet, a sleeve (nut), and a cap. You can reuse them, but there is a chance they won't seal properly (the seal is a compression type seal).

My local Nissan dealership stocks the grommets, they ran my $5 and some change. The sleeve should be reusable and the cap is a special cap designed for TPS systems that has an Oring in it. I am missing one of my caps and that is why they recomended I replace it. The O-ring keeps moisture out of the tire, which can damage the TPS sensor.

After talking to the dealership and the tire guy I believe they are doing the right thing. I would much rather spend $5 on virgin seals and virtually eliminate the chance of a leak then to try and reseal the grommets that have already been compressed.

Z-U-Later, are you sure it won't recognize the TPS? I was under the impression it would just indicate the wrong tire when there is a problem. The TPS sensors work on the same RF frequency that the keyless remote works on, so how would the reciever know which direction the signal was coming from? The only problem I see with mixing them up is when I have an issue and the diagnostic light flashes which tire the issue is with. Since X sensor was registered to RL wheel no matter where X sensor is it will report a problem on the RL wheel.

dmroberson - the problem is reinstalling them, not taking them out without damaging them.

Thank you everyone for the advice, I'll post back if there are any other issues.

 

If you mix them up, they will not work and you will be making a trip to the dealer to reprogram them.

 

Again, as long as the same 4 sensors are still on the car how does the system figure out which is where? They are wireless sensors! The receiver has NO idea what tire is where.

Anyway, here is what I found in the service manual about my situation:



This is what I am talking about. The grommet is the little black washer looking thing that goes around the sensor. This is from the Nissan service manual.

Please note at the bottom that Nissan recomends replacing this grommet EVERY time you change the sensors. Hopefully this will clear up my issue.

 

The installer has to reprogram each TPMS with a wireless handheld tool to teach it just that. Not sure if shops other than the dealership can do it.

 

I'm 99% positive that they will still work, they will just report the low tire pressure on the wrong wheel. The sensors are wireless, there is NO reference to position to the receiver.

 

Hey man I can actually say from experience, between taking off between winter/summer wheels, that it won't work if they are not in the same position as originally synced up to the car. I once switched the two rears so right-->left side, and vice versa.. and got no read-out on the display. Had the little dashes going through the middle (just as if I didn't have the TPS installed at all) Why, I don't know. And it sucks, but just from my personal experience. And I was driving around for quite a while, atleast 30 min to notice, so it wasn't like I just drove around the block and didn't give the system a chance to read or anything.. it just didn't work!

 

So how did you fix it? By swapping them back or having them reprogrammed?

 

We keep telling you the TPMS will not recognize the TPS if you don't install them in the original location. The TPMS has been programmed to recognize that a particular TPS is installed in a particular location. If it's not there, you will not get a reading. If it's not working, you can leave it where they're at and if you want them to work, the dealership will charge you ~$80 to reprogram your TPMS. Just trying to help you since I've taken out three sets of TPS recently and have reinstalled them correctly so I know how they work.

 

listen KP, reinstall in the same location = no problem
reinstall indifferent location = problems.
Listen to those who have been there.

 

I'm just asking out of curiositly, calm down. If it didn't work of you then I want to know why. The system uses your keyless entry receiver to get the signal. thats like saying your keyless entry remote will only work if you are in a certain position. If it won't work there HAS to be a reason why. What is that reason?

My tires are back on and I have no TPMS issues, but, like I said, my curiosity is leading me to ask questions now.

So, my question is, if sensor A is programmed to be the front left tire, how does the reciever know where sensor A is? I understand that each TPMS has a unique electronic serial code that it transmits with the tire pressure signal, but that is obviously non directional. Anyone have any ideas?

I appologize for asking so many questions, but please note that 4 people gave me bad information about the original seal problem (about needing to replace the grommets - posts 2,4,5, and 6). I'm the type of person that likes to know 'why' something won't work, I'm never happy with a simple 'just because'.

 

I agree. I'd like to know WHY also.

 

Here's another question, similar yet unrelated, I guess .. anyhow, when installing TPS to a new set of wheels, is it easy to take the actual "sensor" off of the valve stem itself? Bc I would probably use a new set of chrome valve stems for my wheels, or maybe a set from the factory (if they need to be "special" for use w/TPMS)? Any ideas??

I heard the whole "they have to be metal" thing, but do chrome valve stems work?

 

The TPS includes the valve stem. You cannot separate these two -- it is one unit together.

 

It sucks I have directional tires, if not I would swap them tonight just to see what happens!