New OEM Wheels and Tire Pressure Sensors on my 2009 Vibe... Help!

[honda3504f]

Finally swapped out the OEM alloys with OEM Pontiac steel wheels, sensors, and Firestone Winterforce snow tires... what a difference!!! In snow, my 2009 Vibe tracks like it is on rails! Here is the new question/problem: Now, my TPS light is on all the time. I went through the re-set procedure several times, with no luck, and I am sure it must be the different set of sensors. These wheels and sensors came from another 2009 Vibe in a salvage yard. The owners manual says that new codes (?) may have to be entered by the dealer? OK, here are the $64,000 questions:What can anyone tell me about these codes? How does the dealer determine what the new sensor codes are, and how does the programming process work? Can I do it myself, or am I facing a spring and fall visit to the dealer, every time I change from summer to winter wheels and vise-versa? Can an independent tire store do it? Any help and advice is greatly appreciated!

[ou.grizzly]

Is there a possibility the sensors were damaged in any way? Otherwise, see if Discount Tire or such can reprogram (this is where I would start) - calling them and asking is inexpensive. I am sure other establishments besides the dealer is able to do do this repair.

[kowell]

Aren't you suppose to have your system reconfigured by the dealer each time you use a different set of sensors? (at every tire change)

[star_deceiver]

Quote, originally posted by honda3504f » What can anyone tell me about these codes? How does the dealer determine what the new sensor codes are, and how does the programming process work? Can I do it myself, or am I facing a spring and fall visit to the dealer, every time I change from summer to winter wheels and vise-versa? Can an independent tire store do it? Any help and advice is greatly appreciated!Yes, the dealer needs to put in a new code.... and might have to remove the tire from the rim to do it! Independent garage might be able to do it, but you'd have to ask them! Good choice on tires BTW, same ones I have!!!! http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=39909

[leemur]

Are you actually telling us that we have to kiss the Dealer's rear every time we want to change tires? That just seems way over the top for "Big Brother" manure.And something as simple as a tire change. "I got a flat mister dealer, please charge me lots of money to make my tire pressure sensor work again."

[kowell]

Quote, originally posted by leemur »Are you actually telling us that we have to kiss the Dealer's rear every time we want to change tires? That just seems way over the top for "Big Brother" manure.And something as simple as a tire change. "I got a flat mister dealer, please charge me lots of money to make my tire pressure sensor work again."Yes and No.You need to have the system reconfigured only is you use different sensors. If your summer wheels have sensors in them and your winter wheels also have 4 different sensors you will need to have the system reconfigured with the new sensors when you swap wheels in the fall and in the spring.If you have the OEM wheels with sensors in the summer and another set of wheels without sensors for the winter, you will not need to have the system reconfigured. You will just have the small light on your dash all winter.If you have a flat somewhere down the road you will also not need to have your system reconfigured since you are still using the same sensors on the same wheel but with a new tire. Of course, some shops will actually charge you a small extra to fit a tire on a wheel with a sensor since apparently "they need to be extra careful as to not damaged the sensor"... Yet they fit the tire in the same careless way that they would be doing with a regular wheel with no sensor.I can speak from personal experience that if you have a flat, you will not need to have the system reconfigured... I can thank my gf for that piece of experience...twice.

[leemur]

Thankx for the quick reply. I'm safe for awhile then, no new wheels in the near future.

[Caretaker]

right, it is about the wheel, not the tire when dealing with TPM. If you changed out the wheel, then a system reconfiguration probably is required.