You're sure there wasn't a midget hiding in the driver's seat, playing a trick on you?

You are messing with a guy on the edge. :D

Guy had a brand new Snap-On gizmo. No wires. Smelled of $800.

I will call him in the morning.

Seriously, I get more of these TPMS sensor problems than I ever anticipated. I want the tool but I don't know how it works. The cheap one. Not the howitzer.

Yes I have one of those gizmos as well. When I swap my winter to summer rims the sensors have to be re-set. The sequence is in the owners manual.
I only paid $100 for the tool( Ateq VT5 reset tool).
Before I bought the tool I had to either let air out or add air until the horn beeped. When the horn beeps the car computer can now read the sensor.

Good info. So at least some cars can be done without the tool.

Manufacturers are different. My old Acura MDX would read new sensors no problem. Never threw a code. Toyota product I was told only hold one set of sensors in the computer, therefore each time you switch winter to summer and back, you need to have the sensors codes and re program them into the vehicle. Of course now I have a Tacoma and the wife's Lexus. I've just been having the tires swapped by the tire store but would love to get separate wheels for each. One can always pull out the black tape to hide the little flat tire on the dash I suppose.

During my research, I came across a video of a Chevy Volt being done with the same tool I had bought and that car didn't need to have the info entered into the OBD port.

The Volt actually lit up the turn signal on the corner of the car that you where supposed to read next and then honked when it registered!

Tool should arrive tomorrow and I'll give a report.

Yep, I have that same gizmo, smelled a lot like $800.00. Sometimes I hate this business.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1493240318.jpg

Did it look like this ?

I have this one. It works for our Scion and Subaru. Initially you need to plug it into the OBD port to capture the tps codes that are in the car and save them as winter or summer. When you get new tps you need to get the codes from the seller. You then hook the unit up to your computer and load the codes into the unit as either summer or winter.

Yes, Sir. It was a touch newer. I did call him today. He said it was in the $450 range. Maybe a bit longer in size. I am pretty sure I saw Snap-On on the box but he also has Blue Point tools.

He also said that the GM vehicles require the reset procedure but many (most) do not. It's a bummer I did not check out what he did with the dash buttons before he performed the procedure.

You are right with a bit of exception based on his input. That's what you get with an observer guy (me) that has a statistical mass of one car repair experienced.:)

If you would like me to find the population of cars that he is aware of that require it, I pass by his shop frequently. Would be glad to ask him and forward the info to you.

That tool is one Bad-ass B I T C H.

And no, I did not swear!

Guys,

A quick update of my own personal misery. I received the TS501 that is supposed to do the whole job- well it won't even read the sensors; I went through all the software updates just in case and still nothing. Started thinking maybe the sensors were "sleeping" or something, so I tried the TS401 I had gotten first and it read the sensors.

Aarrgh- spent hours on this stupid thing, probably, no, for sure would have been less hassle to have the tire shop just do it, but now it has become personal and I have to do it myself.

Sent an email to their support mailbox- we'll see.

Best,
Rutager

With the right tool, a shop can opt to program a generic sensor for the specific vehicle requiring no further connection to the car. Or they can opt to program them through the OBD port.