Tire Pressure Monitoring System ??

mhraracing · March 2, 2004

Hey Guys - Heres a question for you .... On my wifes new 04 Z-71 Tahoe it has the Tire Pressure Monitoring system......What do I need to do if I want to put on another set of Rims ???

I really have my eye on a set of the stock Z-71 rims that have been chrome dipped. They look really sharp.....but I just remembered...what the hell do I do about the TPM system ??

Also - for any new Tahoe owner...check out your owners manual on what you need to do when you rotate your tires......

Turn your headlihgt switch on and 3 times. or untill the horn beeps ....

Then run to each tire starting at the LF and let 10 pounds of air out of it...untill the horn beeps...then to the RF - RR then finally LR. If you dont do this in the allotted time...you have to start all over again ????

Then pump your tires back up to the proper pressure.....then

Say " There's no place like hime Toto" !?!?!?!?

Could they make it any simpler...

Anyways....back to the questions at hand.....What do I need to do to replace the Rims and Tires with another set ???

Thanks for your help !!!

Ben · March 2, 2004

They must think the general comsumer is stupid...

All of this because too many don't check their tire pressure, so cause accident when tire blows.

I'm a big fan of Darwin and think anyone who doesn't check their vehicles is stupid.

Well, maybe getting a nail and the tire goes flat slowly...but then I check all tires min at each gas fillup...but it can happen to anyone, that nail or slow leaker.

I'll live with the nail and slow leaker, but the "convience and safety" of this type of bells and whistle is something I'd remove, if had a new vehicle.

It's mandated by NHTSB, so must be illegal to remove...

Any GOOD tire shop should know HOW2 manage. Issue really is the dash light that will say low pressure if you remove the sensor. Stuff read to date has it straped onto the wheel, inside the tire. So assume there is a kit to cut the old strap and then re-strap into new wheel/tire combo.

mhraracing · March 2, 2004

Stuff read to date has it straped onto the wheel, inside the tire. So assume there is a kit to cut the old strap and then re-strap into new wheel/tire combo.

Thats kinda what I thought....I guess I will pull of a wheel this weekend to check it out.

but if anybody has done this or anything else it would be appreciated.

D

JimG · March 2, 2004

I've seen somewhere on GM's Techline a TPM system where the monitor is attached to the valve stem. Seen an aftermarket system with the bands, and the sensor mounted to the center of the wheel. Not sure what system your Tahoe has. However, if it's the system with the sensor on the valve stem, the problem lies in the equipment to mount the tire - potentially damaging the sensor. But like Ben said, any good shop will know how to deal with it.

And I agree, it's something I'd never want on my vehicle. Probably just pull the bulb in the dash or something equally simple and kill the system. I *think* it shares the receiver for the remote keyless entry system.

carguru · March 2, 2004

The sensor is in the valve stem. You should be able to remove the valve stem (probably replace the seal?) and put them on the new wheels. I believe they are bolted in place like the metal valve stems. I asked my GM parts guy about them the other day when he was over at my place checking out the fleet. He is in process of finding out more on the part numbers for the valve stems, etc. I'll post what I find out.

You forgot about having to stand on one leg while you make the wheels relearn the sensors.

To keep from flipping through the owner's manual, you could register your vehicle at GM owner link and download the electronic version of it. I just did that the other day. A lot faster than thumbing through the paper manual.

mhraracing · March 3, 2004

Thanks guys....carguru Please let me know what you findout about the valvestems. The Rims the wife wants already come mounted with Goodyear Wrangler HP's. I have a tire machine to break the bead to install new valve stems.....if I i can get the right valvestems.

FWIW - The manual says - if you need to replace a rim - visit your local stealer - they will know what i rim you need. ?

I honestly cant believe that there is not 1 04 Tahoe owner that has replaced their factory rims yet ???

Thanks

D

carguru · March 3, 2004

I still haven't gotten any info back from my parts buddy yet. From the looks of things the valve stems are easily removable. They are made just like the metal valve stems. There is a nut on the inside and a hex on the outside of the stem. Should be able to just transfer them to the new set of rims. I saw a Z71 Suburban at the dealer today with 24's. I noticed that the stems looked like they were transferred over. If the only difference from the rims you have now is that they are chromed, you should be able to just transfer them over (replacing the rubber gasket).

I kinda like the rims on there now. I was thinking about getting a set for the Silverado. Oh well, that'll have to wait. I just got an Alpine Nav system and sway bars to put into it. Just got the Nav system yesterday, so hopefully by this weekend, I'll have everything in.

mhraracing · March 3, 2004

Thanks - I like the factory z-71 rimd too.....they look awesome when they are chromed. Transferring the valvestems seems to be the answer..... Looks like we are back in business.

D

carguru · March 5, 2004

Here is the official word on the TPM sensors. Here is what they look like:

To remove, take the nut off from the outside of the valve stem. The entire unit will feed through from the inside of the wheel. Modern mag wheel tire machines will not damage the sensors. Just don't use a tire iron anywhere near to ensure you don't damage the sensor. Another tip I was given was that you will want to break the tire bead opposite the valve stem to ensure you don't accidentally damage the sensor.

My friend told me that currently they only replace the entire unit. He doesn't have a replacement gromment only. He did say that as new as it is, as long as you torque the stem to spec when reinstalling on the new wheels, it should be fine. The torque spec for the stem is 35 in-lb or 4 Nm (not ft-lb).

Hope that helps. Good luck with the chrome wheels.

mhraracing · March 6, 2004

Thanks Guru !!!

But now Im thinking I want to keep the stock rims and tires for winter.....and use the Chrome ones for the summer.

Cant justify mounting and dismounting the tires every season....kinda defeats the porpose of have 2 sets of tires.

Friggin TPMS.......just because a bunch of Soccer moms Husbands are too friggin lazy to check their wives tires !?!?!?!?!

carguru · March 6, 2004

Anytime!

I actually like having the the TPMS on there. The advantage of having it is to let you know if you've run over something and flattened a tire. There has been several times I've been driving along and had the tires deflate without me knowing(from running over and object on the road, from breaking a bead while off roading, etc.) For the Tahoe, it is actually a good safety device since it has mid temp range tires, tall profile tires, a short wheelbase and high center of gravity.

The biggest problem of having it is if you were to swtich to aftermarket wheels or having a set of winter wheels/tires. I guess you could always ignore the low tire pressure light or just buy an second set of sensors. I've had the older system on the 'vette for years. I bought a second set of sensors when I got new rims. It was well worth it. The problem with the ones on the earlier 'vettes is if you aren't careful dismounting the tire, you destroy the sensor. So, if something happened to the ones on one set of wheels, I do have spares.

Just a thought, you don't have to fully dismount the tires every season, all you have to do is break the bead on the front side of the wheel and dismount the valve stem/sensor and mount it on the other set of wheels.

mhraracing · March 7, 2004

Anytime!

Just a thought, you don't have to fully dismount the tires every season, all you have to do is break the bead on the front side of the wheel and dismount the valve stem/sensor and mount it on the other set of wheels.

Yep.....I was thinking the same thing....

Buying a second set is what I was thinking .... Im bringing my 02 HD in for service next week...I will check with the stealer to see how much the sensors are.

They cant to much ...can they ???