TPMS Problem

[Towandrace25]

So I just picked up a 2013 2500 Suburban. The tire pressures were off on the DIC and when cycling through the options to relearn tire positions, it is not there. Very strange...ideas? The DIC is showing tire pressures and while wrong by verifying the pressures with a gauge, it still is showing a reading. But I cannot relearn with no option to do so! Any ideas??

[Towandrace25]

Can you no longer learn via the old method through the DIC, bleeding tires in order, etc?

[WireBender]

You have to use a TPMS reset tool. You can have this done at the dealer or a tire shop (takes five minutes). Or you can purchase one to use yourself.

Kent-Moore EL-50448 TPMS Tire Pressure Monitor Sensor Activation Tool

I usually swing by the dealership after I rotate my tires and have it done.

[montyss]

without the relearn option in the dic you can put the ignition key to acc truck in park ,then on the key fob press and hold the lock and unlock at the same time the horn will beep and you can start the relearn process

[Duelin]

Changes to the Service Procedure

 

GM Product Engineering has determined that in some instances the manual re-learn
procedure can cause the TPM system to pick up stray sensor signals from nearby vehicles
which can result in Diagnostic Trouble Codes being stored and parts being unnecessarily
replaced. To address this concern GM Product Engineering will be disabling the TPM
manual re-learn capability from the vehicle software starting January 2011.
A Special Service Tool is needed to perform TPMS Re-Learn
Due to the changes in vehicle software, a Special Service Tool is required to perform the
TPMS Re-learn procedure.
If your dealership currently has the EL-46079 (J-46079), you can continue to use this
tester for the Re-Learn procedure.
If your dealership does Not Have a special service tool to perform the re-learn procedure,
it is important that you purchase the new lower cost tool (EL-50448) that will perform the
Re-Learn function. The tool needs to be in your dealership in time to service TPM
equipped vehicles manufactured after January 2011.
TPM equipped vehicles manufactured before January 2011 can continue to use the
Special Service Tools (EL-46079 or EL-50448) or the manual procedure for TPM Re-
Learn.
Note: the diagnostic functions that are currently included in the EL-46079 will be built in
to Scan Tool Diagnostics. The new EL-50448 does not contain the diagnostic features
that are included in the EL-46079.

[Doug_Scott]

What does it say in the owners manual? I know in the 2010-2012 GMC Sierra manual for sure it has instructions like montyss has listed. I have a friend that bought a 2012 Sierra SLT and his son got a 2012 Sierra SLE, and both vehicles still have the manual way to set TPMS. With TPMS being a federally mandated item, there must be a free way to reconfigure after something simple like tire rotation.

 

Do not really see how the system could be picking up another vehicles sensors by mistake. The other vehicle would have to be adjusting the air pressures at the exact same time your vehicle is trying to learn yours. If that was the case, your own vehicle would cause this issue since there are 3 other sensors well within range. I know from my own experiences in 2010 before getting the tool, mine were set to 4 different sensors when change over to winter tires and wheels took place. At that time, there were 16 different sensors surrounding my truck while it relearned the sensors manually. Never had any issue of confusion.

 

I split the cost of the tool with a friend who also happens to be the guy that rotates tires on my truck(back injury, can no longer do the simpler things). Very handy tool to have.

 

I can't see the dealer doing this for free for everyone that comes in either. Having worked flat rate for many years, being asked to go out to the parking lot to perform a "couple of minutes" job for nothing gets irritating pretty quickly. The dealership also would not like having to pay technician .1 or .2 and not be able to recoup from customer.

 

I know this is getting off topic real fast, but, it brings to mind something that most customers never will understand, there is no such thing as a job that only takes 5 minutes to do. Unless the vehicle is delivered to your work stall(or bay), it takes a minimum of .2 to get the car to your bay or stall, and then returned to parking lot. The actual work is done in between those two actions, and are not included in the .2 min charge.

 

 

 

edit was to update content to address post before mine.

[Duelin]

This was taken from a 2012 Owners Manual. Pages 10-67 &10-68

 

 

The TPMS sensor matching process is:

 

1. Set the parking brake.
2. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN with
the engine off.
3. Press the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter's LOCK
and UNLOCK buttons at the
same time for approximately
five seconds. The horn sounds
twice to signal the receiver is
in relearn mode and TIRE
LEARNING ACTIVE message
displays on the DIC screen.
If the vehicle does not have
RKE, press the Driver
Information Center (DIC) vehicle
information button until the
PRESS
V
TO RELEARN TIRE
POSITIONS message displays.
The horn sounds twice to signal
the receiver is in relearn mode
and TIRE LEARNING ACTIVE
message displays on the DIC
screen.

If the vehicle does not have RKE
or DIC buttons, press the trip
odometer reset stem located on
the instrument panel cluster until
the PRESS
V
TO RELEARN
TIRE POSITIONS message
displays. The horn sounds twice
to signal the receiver is in
relearn mode and TIRE
LEARNING ACTIVE message
displays on the DIC screen.
4. Start with the driver side
front tire.
5. Place the relearn tool against
the tire sidewall, near the valve
stem. Then press the button to
activate the TPMS sensor.
A horn chirp confirms that the
sensor identification code has
been matched to this tire and
wheel position.
6. Proceed to the passenger side
front tire, and repeat the
procedure in Step 5.
7. Proceed to the passenger side
rear tire, and repeat the
procedure in Step 5.
8. Proceed to the driver side rear
tire, and repeat the procedure
in Step 5. The horn sounds
two times to indicate the sensor
identification code has been
matched to the driver side rear
tire, and the TPMS sensor
matching process is no longer
active. The TIRE LEARNING
ACTIVE message on the DIC
display screen goes off.
9. Turn the ignition switch to
LOCK/OFF.
10. Set all four tires to the
recommended air pressure
level as indicated on the Tire
and Loading Information label.

[WireBender]

All the above information is true. Read the Changes to the Service Procedure posted by Duelin. You can no longer reset the TPMS without the relearn tool. But you can go to the dealer and have them do it for you. I don't know about where you live but all I have to do is drive into the service department and they keep the tool handy. It does only take five minutes and it is free. My vehicle does not have to go into a service bay and a technician is not called. Maybe I am lucky.

[Towandrace25]

Thanks all. Yes, I ended up going to a tire shop and they let me use their TPMS tool to complete the reset, which worked perfectly. I guess I understand why GM did this, I suppose, but Merchants Tire wanted $55!! I can only imagine how much the dealer would have wanted.

 

Thanks again everyone!

[Duelin]

Thanks all. Yes, I ended up going to a tire shop and they let me use their TPMS tool to complete the reset, which worked perfectly. I guess I understand why GM did this, I suppose, but Merchants Tire wanted $55!! I can only imagine how much the dealer would have wanted.

 

Thanks again everyone!

For another $15 you could buy the Relearn Tool.

[Towandrace25]

That's what I told them just before I walked out the door! Haha.

[Duelin]

[Doug_Scott]

This was taken from a 2012 Owners Manual. Pages 10-67 &10-68

 

 

The TPMS sensor matching process is:

 

 

Both of the 2012 Sierras my friend has (his and his son's) were both purchased in late Aug-early Sept 2011. And they are in Canada. Perhaps the change was done later in 2011 in Canada. Don't know, both owners manual have the old way of syncing wheels and tires.

 

Duelin, are you saying the relearn tool from GM $15 dollars, or $70? There are lots on ebay for less than $70. Does the GM relearn tool work on all brands of cars/trucks?

[Duelin]

My post was referring to around the $70 figure. I don't know if they work on other brands or not. All I own is GM.

[reef21]

My 2013 Sierra does not show the "Relearn Tire Positions" option on the DIC, after having applied parking brake and turning ignition to ON. I have an aftermarket remote start so I have no factory fob. When I push the Lock and Unlock buttons on the aftermarket fob, nothing happens. Further, the truck has no trip meter reset stem, therefore I have zero options available (from the Manual) for putting the truck into Relearn mode. Has anybody been in/ heard of this problem before? Garages here charge a half hour labour for this and I do not want to have to order the Autel ts601 if there is another method for initiating the TPMS Relearn Mode.