GLOBAL CAT 2017

400
TIRE & WHEEL REPAIR
HOW TO PICK THE RIGHT TPMS SENSOR FOR YOU:
To understand TPMS Sensors and the technology, you must first understand 4 related, but
completely different terms having to do with successful TPMS replacement. Those terms are the following:
A. Programming / Criteria
B. I. D. Number
C. Vehicle Relearn
D. Re-I.D or Clone
Programming / Criteria:
This is the information that is stored in EVERY TPMS sensor that makes it possible for the vehicle's
computer to COMMUNICATE with the sensor. Without this CORRECT information, the computer will never
have the ability to recognize the sensor. Denso, VDO OEM, VDO Redi Sensor and Standard Quick
sensors ALL have this information ALREADY installed in them.
I. D. Number:
This is the critical piece that many don't understand that causes many problems. EVERY TPMS
sensor on EVERY vehicle, in the world, has its own specific ID number and no two are alike. The reason
is that TPMS communicates with radio waves and if sensors were the same, cars would read sensors on
similar cars parked near them. To avoid this, a cars computer is programmed to ONLY read data from the
specific ID numbers on those specific sensors on that vehicle. DENSO, VDO OEM, VDO Redi Sensor
and Standard Quick sensor ALL have a new ID number already programmed into them.
Vehicle Re Learn:
Considering the terms discussed above, whenever a TPMS Sensor needs replacement, we now
know that the replacement sensor will have a NEW and DIFFERENT ID number.
So if the replacement sensor has the correct "programming / criteria," the vehicle will be able to
recognize it and communicate BUT the computer must be told to RE LEARN the new ID number so it can
see the necessary tire data that the sensor is sending ( tire pressure, temperatures, battery life) and turn
the TPMS light off and on when necessary.
Every vehicle has a specific re-learn procedure that must be followed to accomplish this. Without
a proper re-learn procedure, the sensor replacement will not be successful . There are many places that
a shop can look up and find re-learn procedures for all vehicles. Many vehicles will require that the shop
has a quality TPMS tool to start and complete re-learn. For example, most Asian vehicles require a TPMS
or scan tool that hooks into the OBD II PORT for successful re-learn. Most European cars have automatic
re-learn but that means the tech may have to take the car and drive it for up to an hour for the re-learn to
take effect. Most American cars have what is called a manual re-learn, but that process can be very time
consuming especially without a quality TPMS tool.
Re ID or Cloning:
Considering all the previous information, if you could put the proper programming / criteria and
the exact same ID number into a replacement TPMS Sensor that the original sensor had in it, then there
would be no need to Re Learn since the vehicle computer would be fooled into thinking the exact original
sensor was back in the tire; that would save the shop a lot of time and hassles. This process is called
re-Id or cloning. This can be done to 2 sensors we carry. Alligator and Standard Quick Sensor. It is done
differently on each that will be explained later.
PROVIDED BY: JOHN HERRMAN