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Setting TPMS with out a horn

8K views 33 replies 9 participants last post by  jso2378 
#1 ·
Is it possible to set the tpms if my horn does not work? My 2007 was a police car and they had the siren hooked to the horn so my horn does not work. I had to replace my right front wheel so DIC said it did not recognize the right front. I tried setting it today about 7 times. The first time I guess I got lucky and it was reading pressure in all 4 tires,but I left the car on and added the proper amount to each tire. Doing that erased all the settings and now has no readings in any of them.
 
#2 ·
GM makes a special hand-held tool that enables the vehicle owner to relearn the TPMS sensors - but it also relies on the vehicles horn to confirm the sensor is learned (and tells you to move on to the next tire). I don't remember the tool number by part number, but can post it later if you need it). I have used it on numerous GM vehicles in the family.

A dealer can program the sensors via their TECH II computer system, but I do not know if they also rely on the horn honk to confirm learning.

Would it be difficult to remove the siren connections and reinstall the two horns (which still may be mounted on the car)?
 
#3 ·
I am trying to figure out how to get the horn to work. I found a tan wire that had been cut and spliced into under the dash on the passenger side. When I ground this wire the horn blows but I do not see the other end of the wire. The tan wire goes through the firewall into the under hood fuse box.
 
#8 ·
I got my son to help me by watching the turn signals while I let the air out of the tires. Did LF, RF, RR, LR. After we were done we had a reading on each tire and all was good. Turned off the ignition, put air in all the tires. Turned the ignition on and had no readings on any tires and the service TPMS was present on the DIC again. What am I doing wrong?
 
#9 ·
I'm not sure - the only guess I would have is the TPMS receiver is defective.

I have dealt with the GM TPMS system on numerous cars in my family, including 4 Impalas. Other than replacing the TMPS sensors on my Corvette, I have never had a problem with the receiver.

I think the receiver is also used for the keyless remote lock / unlock. Are you having problems with that?

When I have trained the sensors on my Impalas (after tire rotation), I always shut-off the ignition after completing the process (which was in the run position and engine off). Did you start the car without turning the key to off first? If so, that may prevent the final step in learning.

Good luck.
 
#13 ·
The LF wheel is the one I replaced. Said RF by mistake. I did not replace the sensor in the wheel. I got the tire and rim off of a 2006 9c1 in a junk yard. I guess a new sensor is next in line to try. I wanted to put a better tire on the wheel anyway. We drove the car a couple of times after trying the relearn and still had no readings.
 
#14 ·
Probably obvious - but I would replace the sensor in the new rim with a GM / Delco one. It is possible you obtained a wheel from a different year than yours - and it is not compatible or functioning.

When the original TPMS sensors began to die on my 1999 Corvette, the DIC would display the pressure of all functioning sensors except the one with the dead battery. Before I got the new sensor, the original began working again for a week or so (the Corvette sensors have batteries glued inside the sensor base). I was able to program all the sensors.

Before I replaced the sensor, the sensor that had "died" and began working again, stopped working again. I tried learning the sensors again and once I got to the "dead" sensor wheel, the system would not let me continue programming past the dead sensor. The programming of the Corvette sensors is done diffferently than your car (a magnet is used at each sensor), but the programming starts with the LF tire and wheel.

If you have a dead / incompatible sensor at the LF - that may be why the system will not program the rest of the sensors.

Good luck.
 
#17 · (Edited)
Yeah, the tools are dirt cheap now (I paid about $80 a few months ago and now you can get them for about $30 brand new on Ebay) - assuming that the same tool that works for a 2012 works for older Impalas - which may be a bad assumption (the 2012+ *need* to use the tool to reset them). Search Ebay for an "EL-50448" - and check to see if it works for the older Imaplas. Sure does make it nice and easy to set them after a tire rotation! :)

EDIT: Actually, it looks like this tool is only for 2012+ vehicles - sorry for the mis-information!!

Although, I'm sure that there is a comparable tool for pre-2012 as well (not sure model # or cost though). If someone knows, please post!

Sent from my Hi10 pro using Tapatalk
 
#25 ·
Yeah, but @1999 White C5 Coupe states above that it worked on his 2008 & 2011 Impala as well, so I'm sure it'll work with the 2007 as well. I couldn't find a definitive list of what vehicles it supports, but many say it'll work with most 2003+ GM vehicles. It seems that it's "backwards compatible" with the older, much more expensive tool that could be used on the pre-2012 vehicles.

You can't trust the Ebay compatibility lists - they are just a guide. I think the tool was released after it became necessary to use a tool on the 2012+ vehicles, but that it also works for the older GMs as well.

I think you'll be fine.

Sent from my Hi10 pro using Tapatalk
 
#30 ·
Sensors are weird. I never had to replace the sensor in our 2001 Cadillac that we owned from 2002 until 2013. Never. Yet....... I've had to replace a sensor in our 2010 enclave........ my sister has a 2007 Grand Prix that she's never had to replace a sensor in. Go figure.
 
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#31 ·
You're in Michigan, so that may be a factor. The sensors use Lithium coin cells (non-rechargeable, primary cells - ie, watch batteries) for power. These have very low self-discharge rates, but it's a function of temperature. I would expect the higher temperatures in the more southern latitudes to shorten the useful battery lives. So living in a more moderate climate such as the Great Lakes region might help stretch the battery life.

We make and sell clock chips where I work. We can get over 20 years of battery life from one, but that requires keeping the temperature below ~40°C (~100°F).

Doug

.
 
#32 ·
I got my horn working this afternoon and 99% sure I know what the problem is now. I put the car in relearn the TPMS. The horn blew two short beeps. However I let all the air out of the left front and no horn blow. I reset the TPMS relearn and filled the tire with air. Must have put 60 lbs of air in the tire and still no horn. I am pretty sure the LF tire sensor has to be bad.
 
#33 ·
Today I changed out the sensor. I had a dented rim that was on my 2009-9c1 that the bead was already broken from the tire. Was a real pain breaking the bead on the 07 wheel though,but got it done. I bought a new valve stem from oreilly and put the sensor from the 09 on it and installed them in the 07 wheel. It started pouring down rain before I finished so never got the tire and rim back on the car. Going to put it on in the morning and hopefully I can get the TPMS reset now.
 
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