Learn me: TPMS reset/initialize DIY

I now own my first ever car with TPMS, a 2013 Honda Fit Sport. I'm writing this post from the Tires Plus lobby as I have snow tires mounted to the stock wheels, because they are narrow and (IMO) ugly. Part of my plan is to upgrade to a set of lightweight 16x7 wheels with 205-series rubber for the summer, which is easy enough in and of itself, but now I have TPMS to deal with too. (And before anyone says it, I refuse to live with the TPMS warning light on; half the reason I bought a newer car was because I was sick of seeing warning lights on all the time.)

I don't want to take it to the dealer or pay Tires Plus every time I switch my wheel setup; if I have Tire Rack send me a set of C1s with my choice of rubber and the TPMS sensors pre-installed, I just have to get the car to learn the new sensors when I install them, and every time I swap wheels from that point forward. Right?

So then, GRM, what is the preferred DIY method/tool for doing this? Amazon has a number of handheld TPMS tools that claim to be compatible with my Fit, with varying reviews (it's always hard to tell if they are non-car people bashing a tool they don't know how to use, or if the product really is crap). Does anyone have a tool they like and trust they'd recommend? Is there another way I haven't heard of? What does the GRM hive mind do for their TPMS-equipped vehicles that run separate summer and winter wheels?

Step One: read your owners manual! Some vehicles have a DIY procedure in the manual (my Transit Connect did). I got one of the tools to use because it eliminated several of the steps in the procedure from the manual.

Ford seems to use the same sensors and tool on most of their vehicles. Reprograming just involves resetting in a particular order (RF, LF, etc.). I have heard that other manufacturers use sensors that must be registered in the computer by serial number.

I don't know it the tool that worked on the TC would work on the Fit.

I still have the tool and another set of sensors (NIB) which I want to sell if any one is interested.

Find a place that uses Shrader EZ sensors and has a Bartec scan tool to program them.

You can buy 4 sensors and "copy" all your OEM sensors so both sets of wheels are seen as "the same" as long as you don't mix and match different wheel sets.

We use a Bartec Tech400 which is like $1200+, but they have this TPMS pad which is much less and could be worth the $380ish if you go in on it with a friend or two?

http://www.bartecusa.com/tpms-pad.html

Edit: looks like $660 for complete starter kit but includes several sensors. Still could be worth it with friends and/or a club or group.

https://www.google.com/search?q=bartec+tpms+sensor+pad&client=ms-android-verizon&biw=640&bih=78&prmd=sivn&source=lnms&tbm=shop&sa=X&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAWoVChMI_9m_4N7UyAIVDzKICh2V7Asd#spd=5338258185868213687&spud=0

The PDF page for the 2015 Fit (that I googled) says to push the low pressure button until it blinks twice and it will recalibrate automatically. Let us know if that works.

pointofdeparture wrote: (And before anyone says it, I refuse to live with the TPMS warning light on; half the reason I bought a newer car was because I was sick of seeing warning lights on all the time.)

just to do what you said not to .. because I/we're like that

that's what they make black electrical tape for

sorry … couldn't resist … carryon with the more helpful solutions from the others

though this is a method I will research if and when I replace the OEM wheels on my Sonic. can't give you the particulars, though I'm sure someone on here can, but I've read about folk that place 4 TPS sensors (calibrated to your car) packed in a capped PVC tube and stuck in the trunk … never have to re-calibrate again, regardless of what wheel/tires you're using

Hmm... it just dawned on me my '08 Caravan has TPMS and when I rotate the tires every oil change, it doesn't seem to affect the system at all.

TheToolWarehouse.net sells programming tools.

Once I got tired of our Tahoe reporting tire pressures in the wrong location after rotating tires, I bought one of these. Used with the procedure in the owner's manual, it works.

http://amzn.com/B00A3UNYW8

Used to be $10 cheaper...

Letting this bother me may be something for the OCD thread

mazdeuce wrote: The PDF page for the 2015 Fit (that I googled) says to push the low pressure button until it blinks twice and it will recalibrate automatically. Let us know if that works.

First off, that seems to involve recalibration of the TPMS sensors you already have, not matching a second (new) set to the car. Also, the 2015 Fit is a completely different beast, that's a third gen car. My 2013 is a second gen and has no such low pressure button.

Everything I have read says mine has the setup where the serial numbers need to be matched to the computer. Pretty sure I'm gonna need a fancy tool of some kind, just wondering if someone else has been through this before and has any advice...

Ian F wrote: Hmm... it just dawned on me my '08 Caravan has TPMS and when I rotate the tires every oil change, it doesn't seem to affect the system at all. TheToolWarehouse.net sells programming tools.

I think that's because you aren't adding or removing any sensors, you're just changing where they are. If the system ever reports a tire with low pressure, it probably won't be the at the wheel the system is telling you.

Karacticus wrote: Once I got tired of our Tahoe reporting tire pressures in the wrong location after rotating tires, I bought one of these. Used with the procedure in the owner's manual, it works. http://amzn.com/B00A3UNYW8 Used to be $10 cheaper... Letting this bother me may be something for the OCD thread

Hey, I'm right there with ya. I'll have to see if that tool will work for me. Naturally, every manufacturer's system is just a little different...

In reply to pointofdeparture:

Possible. Whenever it's gone off, it doesn't say which tire is low. Just gives a "Low Tire Pressure" warning on the OBC display and I have to find it. Fortunately, once I fill the offending tire and restart the car, the OBC re-sets.

If/when I ever get a more modern car - or buy dedicated snow tires & wheels for the van - I'll probably buy something like this: http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/autel-ts401-P157811.aspx $211 isn't cheap, but less expensive than the $2000 version they sell.

pointofdeparture wrote:

mazdeuce wrote: The PDF page for the 2015 Fit (that I googled) says to push the low pressure button until it blinks twice and it will recalibrate automatically. Let us know if that works.

First off, that seems to involve recalibration of the TPMS sensors you already have, not matching a second (new) set to the car. Also, the 2015 Fit is a completely different beast, that's a third gen car. My 2013 is a second gen and has no such low pressure button. Everything I have read says mine has the setup where the serial numbers need to be matched to the computer. Pretty sure I'm gonna need a fancy tool of some kind, just wondering if someone else has been through this before and has any advice...

My gfs 2012 civic is a pita also. Bought winter tires and rims made her pay for sensors 4 times back to the installer before they got the light to turn off. That lasted until the summer tire change over. Figured it would go back out when the winter tire were put back on. No such luck it's on no matter what set is on the car and it's not worth 4 trips to the installer to get it turned off just to have it come on again in 6 months when the tires are changed again. I feel like a schmuck for making her spend the extra 300 bucks on the sensors.

In reply to lrrs:

If the winter tires are already matched to the system, IIRC you can reactivate them with some kind of air-pressure procedure; something about letting pressure out for 5 seconds and then filling them back up quickly or something like that. AFAIK reinitializing sensors already tied to the computer is pretty easy, it's the changing sensors/getting the computer to learn them that's a PITA.

Finally found a vehicle-specific procedure for my car here: http://www.moderntiredealer.com/article/312435/honda-fit-2008-2013-tpms-service

Now to look into these damn tools...

In my WRX, I had to take it in every time. I ended up with a very loose general understanding that the Japanese mfrs were more prone to the "program specific IDs" method.

If I had winters for that car to do over, I'd probably have tried one of the setups where you can set the new tires' sensors to the old tires' sensors' IDs.

Happy that the incoming Mini apparently uses a system which you can get to interrogate and learn the sensors without going to the shop. I contacted Tire Rack for that info.

As an aside, so aggravating that this isn't an OBD extension I could just adjust using the Torque android app...