How to Relearn the Tire Pressure Management System (TPMS) using non-GM sensors

Ctriopelle · Nov 17, 2024

So….decided to try something after reading a little more…
1) Hit relearn on tire pressure infotainment screen and car beeps 2x (may have been 2 honks, honestly don’t remember). Screen grayed out learning button and it looked like it wanted to do something but said nothing else.
2) got out and let pressure out of drivers front. After 5-6 seconds, car beeped again, same noise but single beep.
3) repeat pass front, same process. Proceed to pass rear and finish driver rear.
4) after last tire, car double beeped and all my sensors on the screen read about 39psi (was filled to 42ish initially).
5) Fill to 42 with compressor, confirmed 42 on screen.

All this with new 18x8 Sport Terrain TK17 rims (+45mm offset) with 433 MHz TPMS from Tire Rack and 245/60 R18 Vredestein Hitrac All Seasons. Also used Byenins Large Slotted Universal Magnetic Jack Pad from Amazon (3” Diameter, 1.35” tall with .4”x.62” slot) on my 3T low profile Daytona jack. Aside from not realizing how much effort the 140 ft-lb lug nut torque was going to take (and I’m a pretty big guy with a long 1/2” torque wrench), changeover went amazingly fast and smooth as these rims also don’t need diameter adapters like my wife’s snow rims on her ICE Kia do. Haven’t gotten on highway yet but ride seems smoother, quieter, and less annoying vibration than the stock 21’s at 55 and below.

Steverino · Nov 17, 2024

Excellent feedback, Ctriopelle. Thanks for posting the process and confirming post #1. I have updated post 1 accordingly.

Ctriopelle · Nov 17, 2024

Steverino said:
Excellent feedback, Ctriopelle. Thanks for posting the process and confirming post #1. I have updated post 1 accordingly.

The thing that was confusing from the first post, was that I assumed the screen prompted to let pressure out at some point (“as instructed”). The screen just looks like it’s doing something, but it doesn’t tell you what to do next, or that you need to initiate any actions. For all I knew, it never picked up the TPMS at all. I just happened to stumble into a post somewhere else that showed the specific air out sequence I posted and gave that a shot.

Figured I would post exact details of what I went thru just in case anyone else wanted to know specifics.

Steverino · Nov 18, 2024

Ctriopelle said:
Figured I would post exact details of what I went thru just in case anyone else wanted to know specifics.

Yes, absolutely, thank you Ctriopelle. That's how this forum can help, it's a group effort. I added your details to post #1 for those who don't read 21 posts to get the answer, lol.

DarkDan72 · Nov 18, 2024

Yeah, adding/dropping air is a traditional homeowner relearn technique. For example, my 09 Torrent can learn the sensors that way. The procedure IS described in the OM but the DIC doesn't prompt you to add/remove air there either.

You can also use a "triggering" type relearn tool to get the TPMS sensor to announce itself instead of changing the pressure in the tires and waiting for it to get picked up by the car. This is what the inexpensive relearn tools do.

The 3rd method I use nowadays is with a fancier Autel TPMS tool that can read and store sensor IDs and this has REALLY saved me a lot of frustration and even money. When the batteries in the sensors get old you typically have to buy new sensors. Often they still work for broadcasting pressure, but the battery is too weak to have them successfully "teach" the car. With the higher end tool I can just read the sensors quickly and reliably and then plug the tool into the OBDII port and download the sensor IDs to the car. First time, every time. I love it. It was about $300 for the tool but once you avoid buying a few sensors you quickly see the value of it. Not to mention avoiding the frustration of running around the car dropping air pressure and wondering if the car is going to catch it before it times out.

The one thing I don't know is if my fancy tool will work on the Equinox (yet). The tool is updatable so I have hope. I'll have to try it out sometime soon.

oldirtyewok · Nov 25, 2024

Just wanted to know if you have had a chance to try the Autel TPMSs? I have the tool (first time using it) Recently purchased some 433Mhz Autel TPMS (I think they're an older model, because I know the newer ones are 315 and 433 depending how it's programmed). Autel TS508WF

I was able to copy the ID's from OEM thru OBD port, and reprogram using the Autel programmer. Specific to the Equinox EV. Read all 4 for relearn and connected back to OBD to relearn. However, the issue I have now is that it misreports all 4 pressures as roughly 188 kpa (severely underpressure), throws DTC warning and asks to service TPMS system.

Tried several times to clear DTC's with Autel programmer, and retried relearn process with same results.

So stuck here now. Not a massive problem, at worst, I'll tough out for the winter and try to resolve in spring. But since there's not much information out there about specifically Autel TPMS and Equinox EV, i thought I'd give it a shot here.

Steverino · Nov 25, 2024

oldirtyewok, please update your account Signature (displays below your posts) and your account Vehicle Details (displays below your avatar) with your Equinox EV details. It's easy, see How to Add Your Equinox EV Details to Your Signature

DarkDan72 · Nov 25, 2024

oldirtyewok said:
Just wanted to know if you have had a chance to try the Autel TPMSs? I have the tool (first time using it) Recently purchased some 433Mhz Autel TPMS (I think they're an older model, because I know the newer ones are 315 and 433 depending how it's programmed). Autel TS508WF

I was able to copy the ID's from OEM thru OBD port, and reprogram using the Autel programmer. Specific to the Equinox EV. Read all 4 for relearn and connected back to OBD to relearn. However, the issue I have now is that it misreports all 4 pressures as roughly 188 kpa (severely underpressure), throws DTC warning and asks to service TPMS system.

Tried several times to clear DTC's with Autel programmer, and retried relearn process with same results.

So stuck here now. Not a massive problem, at worst, I'll tough out for the winter and try to resolve in spring. But since there's not much information out there about specifically Autel TPMS and Equinox EV, i thought I'd give it a shot here.

No I haven't tried it yet, and I won't for some time. I just got my new Equinox in Sept, and I decided to just run my old car this winter and save the Eq for nice days. Because of that, I haven't bought snow tires yet, and haven't needed to program them.

I have the Autel TS508WF also.

Disappointed to hear it didn't just work for you. My suggestion is to contact Autel or scour the Autel forums for advice. If you learn anything, post it back here and I'll do the same when I eventually get there.

pingu · Nov 27, 2024

I bought a winter tire package for a 2022 Blazer LT with TPMS sensors installed from a company here in Canada. 2022 Blazers also use 433hz. I have them pumped up to 42PSI.

However I'm unable to relearn the tires using the EL-50448 without success, no beeps no matter the positioning or length I hold he button.

I tried the manual way as well with releasing the air pressure from 42PSI, and still no beep confirmations.
I emailed the shop to ask and verify what sensors and freq they would've installed, waiting to hear back.

Was wondering if anyone has experienced something similar - and what they did? Do I need to buy new sensors now?

acedeuce802 · Nov 27, 2024

I also bought a used set of wheels/tires from an XT5 (should be same as ICE Blazer) and have been unsuccessful in getting them paired. I also tried both the relearn tool and by letting pressure out.

pingu · Nov 27, 2024

Hurray! It's not just me haha.

It looks like the XT5 and Blazer uses a different OEM sensor (13540606), vs the 13556202 that is used for the Equinox EV - though they both use 433hz.

I didn't use a fresh 9V battery with my relearn tool, I heard of some failures if you don't use a fresh battery, so I'll try again later today to see if that fixes anything.

Would something like the Autel MaxiTPMS TS501 PRO fix this problem, without the need to purchase and replace the TPMS sensor? This is all new to me so I'm not sure.

PeterD123 · Dec 3, 2024

I have recently bought a winter tire and wheel package from my local tire shop and they installed AUTEL MX-SENSOR 315-433MHZ UNIVERSAL TPMS SENSOR and "cloned" the original wheel's TPMS ID's onto the new sensors. They said the ID cloning was to make future tire changeovers easy for them (they do it for free). But they said it wasn't easy to do. And after I left my car ended up saying to service the TPMS system. So I brought it in to the tire shop today and the technician tried the relearn with an activation tool and it didn't work. So he read the ID's off the tires using the tool, plugged into the OBD port under the dash and tried to do it that way. He cleared the warning light and sent me on my way. I noticed that the TPMS display showed pressures that may have been from the old tires and they never changed even after the car was parked for hours. Later, after 10 miles or so the car is saying to service the TPMS system and the TPMS warning light is back on.

Steverino · Dec 3, 2024

PeterD123 said:
Later, after 10 miles or so the car is saying to service the TPMS system and the TPMS warning light is back on.

You or the tire shop should get the OEM sensors, remove the "universal" sensors, refund the money, install the OEM sensors, Or, they need to make the non-ohm sensors work.

pingu · Dec 5, 2024

PeterD123 said:
I have recently bought a winter tire and wheel package from my local tire shop and they installed AUTEL MX-SENSOR 315-433MHZ UNIVERSAL TPMS SENSOR and "cloned" the original wheel's TPMS ID's onto the new sensors. They said the ID cloning was to make future tire changeovers easy for them (they do it for free). But they said it wasn't easy to do. And after I left my car ended up saying to service the TPMS system. So I brought it in to the tire shop today and the technician tried the relearn with an activation tool and it didn't work. So he read the ID's off the tires using the tool, plugged into the OBD port under the dash and tried to do it that way. He cleared the warning light and sent me on my way. I noticed that the TPMS display showed pressures that may have been from the old tires and they never changed even after the car was parked for hours. Later, after 10 miles or so the car is saying to service the TPMS system and the TPMS warning light is back on.

Same behavior happened to me when I tried to copy the sensor ids into the Equinox via OBD.
Thought it worked for a minute... but nope.

jimpolkowski · Dec 6, 2024

Steverino said:
For $25 each, I'd get the GM ones that work with the car's TPMS. That's about what I paid at TireRack for some generic sensors a few years ago.

Dealer price to install is $120 I may wait and have this done on my one year free service at Chevy dealer in the spring when they said they will rotate the tires and do the switch out of the winter tires. Maybe a little less expensive

Steverino · Dec 6, 2024

jimpolkowski said:
Dealer price to install is $120

Seems steep at $30/tire. It's all labor so lets say a half hour to hoist the car, remove the wheels break the seal, unscrew the old sensors, screw in the new, re-inflate, remount, relearn. That's $240/hour. Even if it took them a hour (!), it's $160/hour. I'd ask Discount Tire what they'd charge.

LouNY · Dec 6, 2024

The shop were I got our snow tires thought he could read the GM sensors and clone some new aftermarket ones. Took the car up to him a week before the new tires came in and he couldn't read the sensors with his tool. Tried ordering GM sensors on line and all I got was out of stock back ordered. The dealer we got the car from had them in stock but he was $12 over msrp for them the Caddy dealer had them for msrp so I ran up and got them there. After he mounted the new tires and sensors on the used wheels I brought up the car wouldn't relearn on it's own. So this morning I put it in the learn mode again and whet around letting air out of the tires till it chirped the horn at each corn then aired the tires back up. Be taking the car up to the dealer today to pick up some keys my wife left in her old jeep. We will see if it has learned the new sensors then.

Liquidsilver · Dec 13, 2024

Ctriopelle said:
So….decided to try something after reading a little more…
1) Hit relearn on tire pressure infotainment screen and car beeps 2x (may have been 2 honks, honestly don’t remember). Screen grayed out learning button and it looked like it wanted to do something but said nothing else.
2) got out and let pressure out of drivers front. After 5-6 seconds, car beeped again, same noise but single beep.
3) repeat pass front, same process. Proceed to pass rear and finish driver rear.
4) after last tire, car double beeped and all my sensors on the screen read about 39psi (was filled to 42ish initially).
5) Fill to 42 with compressor, confirmed 42 on screen.

All this with new 18x8 Sport Terrain TK17 rims (+45mm offset) with 433 MHz TPMS from Tire Rack and 245/60 R18 Vredestein Hitrac All Seasons. Also used Byenins Large Slotted Universal Magnetic Jack Pad from Amazon (3” Diameter, 1.35” tall with .4”x.62” slot) on my 3T low profile Daytona jack. Aside from not realizing how much effort the 140 ft-lb lug nut torque was going to take (and I’m a pretty big guy with a long 1/2” torque wrench), changeover went amazingly fast and smooth as these rims also don’t need diameter adapters like my wife’s snow rims on her ICE Kia do. Haven’t gotten on highway yet but ride seems smoother, quieter, and less annoying vibration than the stock 21’s at 55 and below.

Thanks for the step by step process regarding letting the air out for each tire to program to TPMS. It worked for my OEM TPMS.

Why can’t GM make it easy like Tesla TPMS ?

SwissEV · Dec 27, 2024

Just went to discount tire and got new tires, wheels and TPMS sensors. I checked there that the system works, and it seemingly worked showing 37 psi. At home I filled it to 42 as per spec but the TPMS did not reflect this.

I found this post and unbelievably the releasing air system works (FYI the car honks so you can hear it outside the car) and now my TPMS sensors work.

PeterD123 · Dec 27, 2024

SwissEV said:
Just went to discount tire and got new tires, wheels and TPMS sensors. I checked there that the system works, and it seemingly worked showing 37 psi. At home I filled it to 42 as per spec but the TPMS did not reflect this.

I found this post and unbelievably the releasing air system works (FYI the car honks so you can hear it outside the car) and now my TPMS sensors work.

What kind of sensors did they put in? My tire shop put in Autel MX and there are having trouble getting them to work.

How to Relearn the Tire Pressure Management System (TPMS) using non-GM sensors

Ctriopelle

Steverino

Ctriopelle

Steverino

DarkDan72

oldirtyewok

Steverino

DarkDan72

pingu

acedeuce802

pingu

PeterD123

Steverino

pingu

jimpolkowski

Steverino

LouNY

Liquidsilver

SwissEV

PeterD123

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