I have new inifiniti wheels installed onto the Z with new TPMS. Discount Tires did a free reset of the sensors. I've been driving for 100+ miles and the Z still cannot detect them. Local dealerships want $150, in which case I'd rather ignore the problem. Does the dealership do something different?

I've search and some say the dealership manually inputs the new sensor IDs. I dont see how this is possible if I dont know what they are. They dont remove the tire to read the sensors, right? Anyone try resetting the ECU and TPMS sensors simultaneously?

 

yes it is different discount tires just resets them.. the dealership actually has to register the tpms to the computer in the car..

 

The generic "reset" that a tire shop does is like a reboot - it just resets the sensors. The dealer will reprogram the computer to recognize the sensors - big difference.

 

Then there is no need for a technical explanation of TPMS.

 

find a different dealer , i shouldn't cost over 1/2 hour to do.

 

As Dave mentions, you need the dealership’s assistance when reprogramming TPMS sensors. Reprogramming requires Nissan specific equipment; and is necessary when you replace your sensors with new ones, or you have two sets of wheels and each set has its own set of sensors. Each time you swap sensor-sets, you need to reprogram.

If you simply move your sensors from one wheel-set to another, and you maintain positions (i.e., FL, FR, RL, and RR), in theory you won’t need reprogramming.

I’ve watched a technician doing the reprogramming operation. It takes about 10 minutes at most. If you add in time for the service manager to write-up the order and equipment setup, figure the job at less than 30 minutes. As Terrasmak mentions: “shouldn't cost over 1/2 hour to do.”

$50.00 would be a fair price for this service, or $75 on the “high side.”

--Spike

 

Thanks Spike, and Dave,

I'll see if I can find me a dealer to do it for under $50 then.

Thanks!

 

I think you have it the other way around. Its because they charge $150 that I am asking what is technically different between the dealership than Discount Tires.

 

You're not necessarily bound to the dealer for this service anymore. some of the larger tire shops now have the equipment to program your cars tpms.

call around, if you can find a shop that has either a bartec wheelrite tech400 or OTC genisys you're set.

Here's a video on the bartec unit ...it's a boring sales video but it does provide a little insight into the process.

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I think you're missing the point. Tire shops and other repair facilities have the tools to deal with the sensors. The majority of sensors are made by Schraeder and they sell tools for manipulating them. Schraeder supplies the sensors to several car manufacturers, including Nissan.

The problem in reprogramming them is on the ECU side. Accessing it requires Consult II or later which is the Nissan propriatary system. I've only heard of a few large Nissan specific shops that have shelled out the $5K+ for the Consult system.

 

Hence, thats why the dealer charges so much for the reset. I'm still getting quoted $150 here. Maybe I could show up with cash and speak directly to the manager. The person I spoke with at the dealership knew $150 was a bit of a ripoff. He apologized for quoting me the price and said he has no control over it...

 

They're probably quoting you 2 hrs labor to diagnose a problem with TPMS. It takes less than 1/2 hour for a tech to do the reset/reprogram so the charge really should be in the $50 range.

 

I guess I should feel fortunate that I didn't have to go through the hassles you seem to be experiencing - when I had my new tires and wheels installed they removed the TPMS sensors from the stock wheels and mounted them on the new wheels. No reprogramming what so ever. Filled up the new tires installed and ready to roll. Sorry to hear your having trouble with yours.

 

the two diagnostic tools I mentioned both handle the ecu reprogramming via OBD just like the consult II does, that's how they're able to do what the OP is asking about.



...the video even demonstrates that

 

Your good experience results from using a good tire shop. Your tire dealer obviously knows that it's essential to maintain the same positions (RF, LF, RR, and LR) when swapping out the sensors to a new wheel/tire setup. If you follow that protocol, reprogramming isn’t necessary, and you save $$’s.

--Spike

 

I tried doing this with a shop when I mounted snow tires for the winter season, but it failed. The problem seemed to be communicating with my car’s ECU. Doing the same exercise at my Nissan dealership was simple and fast.

The device you mention is generic and requires vigilant updating from its manufacturer to support a bunch of different TPM systems.

I’m sure it can work, but the shop needs to maintain the software updates from the company, and the device is very “technique sensitive.” The operator must follow the device’s protocols exactly.

--Spike

 

I am not sure if they reset my tpms sensors but on my work order it shows they did it under warranty for me.

 

My dealer did it for free!!

 

I've read the FAQ... but is there a tutorial on how to move the TPMS from the stock wheels to new wheels?

 

Tutorial?

Take sensor from old front left wheel, mark it FL.
Take sensor from old front right wheel, mark it FR.
Take sensor from old rear left wheel, mark it RL.
Take sensor from old rear right wheel, mark it RR.

Install sensor marked FL in new front left wheel.
Install sensor marked FR in new front right wheel.
Install sensor marked RL in new rear left wheel.
Install sensor marked RR in new rear right wheel.


If you keep the sensors in the same position that they came from, everything works the same. Note that this only matters on 03-06 Zs. After 06, they don't display individual pressures so it doesn matter which wheel it goes on.