06 Silverado Tpms System

5star44 · October 13, 2009

I'm a new member to this online community who recently bought a one owner 2006 Silverado LT3 Z71 ... a fantastic truck indeed. I need to replace the existing (noisy) 285 70R 17 Firestone Destination A/T tires but before I do, I am wondering if someone can help me determine whether or not this truck has the TPMS ystem installed. Here are some known facts. The existing valve stems are rubber, not metal. I have no idea if there are sensors inside the stock alloy wheels as I know some sensors use the rubber valve stem. The truck did not come with key fobs or a manual (someone told me they think this feature works with the key fob ... I don't know). The steering wheel has all the buttons for audio, DIC, OnStar, etc. I bought a pair of key fobs from eBay, programmed them to my VIN to lock and unlock the doors and set the alarm and they work fine for that. From the steering wheel controls, I can toggle between odo reading, hours, average mpg, fuel used, range, trip 1 & 2, a blank space and back again to odo reading but so far, that seems to be it. Nothing shows up about tire pressure monitoring ... no light, no message. When I have the new tires mounted, I will learn at that time whether or not there are TPM sensors inside the wheels, but I'd be willing to bet there are none currently. Now IF this truck has the TPMS capability, I would then have the proper sensors installed (if they prove missing or damaged) so I can use the system. If the truck does not have this capability, installing 4 new sensors inside the wheels would make little sense. So first, I would like to know if this system is installed in my truck and if so how to activate or access it from the DIC, or key fob or whatever. Since I have no manual, I have no idea how to check for this option. If someone can tell me how to verify whether or not this truck has this capability, it would be much appreciated and I would be one happier GM camper. Many thanks in advance for your thoughts ... Jon

bigredmariner · October 13, 2009

Jon, welcome to the forum. I have the same truck as you and I don't think that the TPMS was an option for the 2006. If someone else has better info they will chime in I'm sure.

5star44 · October 14, 2009

Jon, welcome to the forum. I have the same truck as you and I don't think that the TPMS was an option for the 2006. If someone else has better info they will chime in I'm sure.

Thanks a bunch, Jarrod. I believe this forum will prove a good thing, for sure! About the TPMS, I kinda' fingered as much. It just seemed to me that if the system was installed on my '06 truck I would have discovered it by now, even without the manual ... but then, seems like I read somewhere that from 2005 to current production year models, the TPMS was required by the Feds to be installed on all vehicles but not necessarily "activated" unless that option was purchased new or activated later. I'm not sure where I read that but am sure it was in some other forum ... maybe edmunds ... I don't remember. Anyway, I have read there are some 2005 Silverado trucks with TPMS factory installed, so I just thought possibly mine has the option but maybe the sensors are missing from the wheels since the current Firestone tires are definitely not OEM and were changed out at some point before I bought the truck. I understand there are many aftermarket options for TPMS from which to choose, so if it proves the production year 2006 trucks do not have this option after all, I may consider one of the aftermarket brands. I just want to get rid of these noisy Firestones that roar like the dickens! My truck has the factory stock alloy 17" wheels, but the previous owner installed 285 rubber instead of the OEM 265 70R 17s. I am considering 20" wheels with a super quiet Michelin that will maintain OEM aspect ratios for my truck. Most of my driving is highway so a smooth, quiet ride is important to me and having the ability to monitor the tire pressure via a quality TPMS is of equal importance as well as safety. I recently had a blowout at 70 mph on the interstate due to low tire pressure I was unaware of until I felt the pulling and roughness. When I began coasting to pull off to the shoulder, it came apart before I could even cross the white shoulder line. TPMS would have long prevented this. Actually, the fault was the oil exchange shop where I had my oil changed 30 minutes earlier. They checked air pressure to all 4 tires but failed to properly reinstall the "mechanical Wal Mart" tire sensor gadgets I had and the tires leaked down to the point of one blowout 30 minutes later. Besides the blowout, I had two other tires that were half flat and hissing away from the valve stems! I was steaming, to say the least! This was on my work truck, BTW ... a '95 GMC, not my newer Silverado in question. So now you can see why TPMS is important to me. Thanks again for the welcome, Jarrod! I look forward to my honest contribution to this fantastic community ... and if anyone else can shed more light on 2006 TPMS systems, (if it is lurking, hidden somewhere in the truck computer ROM waiting to be awakened by some secret code) or whatever, let's hear it! Best, guys ... Jon

5star44 · November 16, 2009

Jon, welcome to the forum. I have the same truck as you and I don't think that the TPMS was an option for the 2006. If someone else has better info they will chime in I'm sure.

Ok, my friend(s). This is what I discovered thus far from a mechanic who worked at the local GM dealership. The 2006 Silverado truck (2005 also, I believe) DID come with TPMS but unless this option was purchased with the truck when it was sold NEW, factory TPMS sensors installed inside the wheels and the TPMS module, (which is part of the PDM [passenger door module]) activated, the system is dormant (in other words, it's turned off). The PDM is part of the passenger door power window and door lock assembly and can be "turned on" or activated by the dealer with the Trek II (or anyone having access to one) once the factory TPMS sensors are installed in each wheel and then the TPMS system will operate normally as intended via the DIC once it's been calibrated. However, it seems once activated, the system CAN NOT be turned off or deactivated and the TPMS sensors will need to be maintained during the life of the vehicle. If a sensor should ever fail, the DIC or low tire pressure light on the instrument cluster will report a problem with the system until the malfunction is corrected. This would mean breaking down the tire to replace the sensor inside the wheel or live with the warning indicator light or message on the DIC until the sensor is repaired or replaced.

At any rate, the TPMS is certainly a very nice feature to have in my opinion since I do a lot of open road traveling. The peace of mind knowing my tires are properly inflated is a nice luxury, not to mention a fantastic safety feature, considering how low tire pressure can quickly heat up a tire going down the road at 75 mph possibly causing a blowout and other terrible consequences. This recently happened to me in my work truck. By the time I realized I had a low front tire from the pulling and road noise, it was too late and the tire exploded just as I was slowing to pull over unto the shoulder of the interstate.

Since there is no TPMS message on the DIC in my truck, I now believe there are no sensors in the wheels. I haven't yet had my PDM activated mainly because I need to buy 4 TPMS sensors and have them mounted inside my wheels when I replace the existing Firestone Destination A/T tires at some point very soon. Also, I believe the sensors are year and model specific. 05 and 06 Silverado seems to be the same part number whereas previous to 05 and 07 on up are different.

It would be great to get some additional input from anyone who may have further information or personal experience with the TPMS system in a 05 or 06 Silverado ... and especially if some of the information I have learned and mentioned above is incorrect. I'll also add to this post should I discover something new. Until then, I'll happily continue seeing the USA in my Chevrolet.

minibike132 · November 17, 2009

06 Silverado's have TPMS. Depending on the options the signal is either recieved by the Passenger Door Module (PDM) or the Remote Control Door Lock Reciever (RCDLR). The system cannot be turned off, lower a tire to 20 psi and take a ride around the block, no blow out potential in that, the light should come on.

5star44 · November 22, 2009

06 Silverado's have TPMS. Depending on the options the signal is either recieved by the Passenger Door Module (PDM) or the Remote Control Door Lock Reciever (RCDLR). The system cannot be turned off, lower a tire to 20 psi and take a ride around the block, no blow out potential in that, the light should come on.

Thanks, sparkstech. My Silverado has the LT3 options (whatever all that means). I lowered the tire pressure on the passenger rear tire to 20 psi and drove under 45 mph to the post office and back (about 5 miles). No lights came on nor any message on the DIC. I'm thinking either there are no sensors installed inside the wheels or the system has never been activated. But then again it seems if it was activated and since it can not be turned off once activated, I should have a light or warning of some kind on the dash to tell me the sensors are not working properly. I'm just curious, where is the RCDLR located in the 06 Silverado Z71 crew cab? If there are no sensors inside the wheels, can I install 4 new sensors and have the dealer activate the TPMS in my truck if it proves in fact it's not yet active? I would really like to have the factory system working properly if possible because I sure as heck could use the peace of mind driving down the interstate across country so any help would be greatly appreciated.