Thanks, ChevyMgr. This is the specific info I was trying to find at NHTSA... it looks like my "schedule" was off by a year as I suspected in an earlier post.

Ahh.... the complexities of government regulation. By extension, my 2 other vehicles (1969 and 2006) are probably unsafe and get poor fuel economy. Wait, I did cut my finger the other day on the truck door... and the wife's X does get crummy mileage). Maybe they're right.

It is probably best that you've decided to go with new TPMS for the reasons you've indicated. It's also unfortunate that their implementation is so mediocre, and that the cost of vehicle ownership is directly impacted by this. I don't have to replace my seatbelts every 3-5 years )assuming they work for their intended life) and they haven't failed 3 times since buying the car in 2008. If they had, I suspect GM would be scrambling for a long-term fix to support the expectations that safety equipment actually work well and that the purchaser shouldn't have to reinvest in it so often.

 

While I prefer to have the TPMS system intact, it should be easy to "fool" the system. If anyone has wiring diagrams of the TPMS system to share, I would gladly evaluate a possible solution. I have 20 years experience as a diagnostician in automotive computer/electrical systems. Though I am no longer in the industry I continue to tinker with all things electrical and have equipment to run any necessary tests on my HHR Panel.

 

why not just trade out the TP stems, and put them on your new rims, or order a new set for the rims. I just looked them up $200+ for a set of 4

 

I understand the regulations from the gas mileage perspective, but the sensors are an added expense, a PITA when swapping out wheels, and just something else to go wrong down the road...and cost you even more money.

If they are gonna be around awhile, they need to make them cheaper, more durable, easier to use and program, and they need to be universal (as in, a single sensor will work with all vehicles, any make or model).

 

Blame your elected government. Remember they know what you need better than you do.

 

Good one. Those people look at the short-term benefits, and fail to look at the long-term implifications of their actions. The company I work for has idiots like this as well...No wonder this country is going down hill.

 

Sounds great !! Right now, its on all the time . I just checked the tires manually, w/ a guage & the pressures were fine. I HATE TPMS !!!

 

The hack is already out there, and it's much "simpler" than trying to signal-trick the computers in the car. Google for "TPMS bomb"... it's a small homemade PVC tank (about the size of your fist) with a Schrader valve in one end. Before you glue the thing shut, you toss all 4 of your TPMS sensors into it). After it's dry, you air it up with the Schrader valve to whatever your recommended tire pressure is. Then you toss it in the trunk or cram it under a seat. Car is happy because all 4 sensors are reading the same (correct) pressure... even if you just had 4 blowouts and are careening over a cliff.


Actually... blame ourselves. We elected them (usually because they have nice hair or said that one thing that made us feel superior to that guy down the street that we don't like), we almost never recall them (where that's even an option), and every fedreg process includes a considerable open comments period (In my digging last night for more info on TPMS, I found that the open comments period began in _2002_... and technically, is still open (for consideration of regulatory revisions, obviously, since the law is already in effect). The Federal Register is published monthly, and includes EVERY SINGLE proposed fedreg (for EVERY SINGLE entity with regulatory authority... not just NHTSA).

Having said all that... I think I'm going to go ahead and blame them anyway. Because it was probably at some overpriced lunch on K Street, between some House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee member and executives from Siemens, TRW, and Continental... each major players in the TPMS market. Worst of all, when TRW guy picked up the check, not only did he likely cause the Rep to violate House Ethics rules, but he probably expensed it... causing TPMS products to go up in price by $0.000001 each. Bastards.

 

I'm lucky, I was able to find a brand new '07 panel LT 8 mos, ago and it doens't have the temp. warning light. My wife's '09 Altima has it and I just run the custom wheels in the spring and summer with the light on, after awhile you ignore it.

 

While being a pain, the tpms has saved my butt once already. I cut a tire on my truck and if I didnt have the tpms I would have shredded the tire but luckily was right by a repair shop and had it patched for $17.