TPMS programming tool? | The Garage Journal

why not just buy a replacement sensor made for your vehicle?

i'm not sure what you're asking. There are TPMS tools that allow you to clone a generic sensor to a specific make, model, year vehicle. Is that what you're asking about?

Even if you clone a generic sensor, on many vehicles, you would still need to perform a relearn procedure so, that your vehicle knows which tire is in which position.

Tell us more like what you're trying to accomplish? There are many TPMS tools out there to be had, Autel makes a decently priced one, there are some very cheap options at Walmart and such that I can't attest to. Honestly if you can't unmout and remount your own tires I can't see that it would be cost effective to buy the tool. The relearn process takes minutes for the tire company it is minuscule in the labor charge.

However, if you rotate your own tires then there could be an argument to own the tool, because it would be a pain to go to a shop just to tell the vehicle which tire is which. were the sensors you purchased specific to your make/model/year of vehicle?

If so, all you would need to do is perform a relearn procedure. The relearn procedure varies by make & model. some only need to be driven a certain length of time at a certain speed, other require the use of a special tool to ping each sensor establishing its location.

here are a couple examples:

http://www.maxitpms.com/tpmscms/product/701.jhtml
https://www.dormanproducts.com/pages/products/tpms/index.aspx

Check you tube for tpms videos also, would need make/model/year of your vehicle to narrow selections. Ateq and bartec are industry standard and will promgram most universal sensors and ones coded to vehicle specific

But try and find local as I have seen these defective out of the box from all tpms sensor manufacturers

And depending on scanner some vehicles you can manual enter code but most require tpms tool

Best option is to buy them and have shop install for you and code as most tire shops them

Best deal I have found was for a steel man tpms (rebranded ateq vt46) same as monster and Matco but cost me around 300

were the sensors you purchased specific to your make/model/year of vehicle?

If so, all you would need to do is perform a relearn procedure. The relearn procedure varies by make & model. some only need to be driven a certain length of time at a certain speed, other require the use of a special tool to ping each sensor establishing its location.

here are a couple examples:

http://www.maxitpms.com/tpmscms/product/701.jhtml
https://www.dormanproducts.com/pages/products/tpms/index.aspx

Check you tube for tpms videos also, would need make/model/year of your vehicle to narrow selections.

I paid the shop for the parts and labor, they said it is a compatible sensor for Lexus and the sensor was about $60 each. Plus Mount and balance all 5 and your typical tire shop wait.

Just now I went and search for vehicle specific and I found you can buy a sensor Denso genuine Toyota for $40.

Going forward I will be doing my tire dismount and balance so I am quite interested in getting one of the Autel programmer to be able to replace TPMS on my own. I thought it would cost more like 4 figures.

..Going forward I will be doing my tire dismount and balance so I am quite interested in getting one of the Autel programmer to be able to replace TPMS on my own. I thought it would cost more like 4 figures.

When I was shopping around, I noticed Autel has combination scanners/TPMS programmers that DO cost $+ Then I noticed my mechanic was able able to set my TPMS to relearn the old sensor with his sub $300 Bartec 400SD which for some odd reason his $10,000 Snap On combo scanner couldn't do.

I still haven't purchased one. i have the Autel 508 for my home, and we have the NAPA at work. Both work very well and cost under 350, the one advantage to NAPA is I can get sensors and sensor parts easily. For the Autel (which only programs Autel sensors) I have to order them from Amazon or other place or keep stuff stocked...which is not tough as most stuff is 315mHz.

Either one is great for everything a home shop would ever do for a decent price. While it may not be helpful to the OP, here's a trick with GM vehicles. It may be worth giving it a try on other models-
If you let air out of the tire, the pressure change will trigger the TPMS and it will ping the vehicle computer during the relearn procedure. I did this often when I worked at a GMC dealership. It was usually faster than finding the proper tool in the tool room. So, enter the relearn procedure -> let air out of the LF tire, the horn will honk when the sensor pings-> repeat at RF, RR, then LR -> relearn complete.
I'm sure this won't work on all makes/models, but it does for most GM vehicles.

While it may not be helpful to the OP, here's a trick with GM vehicles. It may be worth giving it a try on other models-
If you let air out of the tire, the pressure change will trigger the TPMS and it will ping the vehicle computer during the relearn procedure. I did this often when I worked at a GMC dealership. It was usually faster than finding the proper tool in the tool room. So, enter the relearn procedure -> let air out of the LF tire, the horn will honk when the sensor pings-> repeat at RF, RR, then LR -> relearn complete.
I'm sure this won't work on all makes/models, but it does for most GM vehicles.

This used to work not anymore, it may have been earlier then when I first noticed it. Guess it was too easy for us to do at home. FWIW, some tire stores will attempt to bullshit a customer, using outright lies and partial truths:

1. "We can't install tires if the TPMS isn't working; it's the law." Outright lie. The law only says a shop may not disable the dashboard warning light which indicates a problem with some part of the TPMS. It's not a good idea not to have the TPMS operational, but it's not against the law.

2. "We can't install TPMS sensors we don't supply. Ours are $79 each." If it's their policy, pay them or take the sensors you bought for cheap to an independent shop which will install them for you.

3. "It's really complicated to reprogram the TPMS when we install new tires or rotate yours. Our labor charge is $12 per tire to reprogram." Total BS - it takes one minute to do all four tires.

jack vines OK guys, I did some research and come back.
I checked the coverage with the Autel I plan to buy, the TS508, against the current cars I have for now.

2 of them 315 Mhz, ODB relearn
1 of them 433 Mhz, Auto relearn or ODB relearn

None of the vehicles seem to care or have indication of the wheel positions.

So I wanted to do 2 things I can think of right now

1) scan the existing TPMS sensors and write down their IDs. if/when the TPMS fails in the future, I buy the autel TPMS sensors in the correct frequency and program them with the set of IDs, the vehicle won't need to relearn them. Although, it seems like the 508 can do a ODB2 reset and let the vehicle start learning NEW IDs, if for whatever reason I lost the IDs.

2) I want extra set of wheel and tires for one of my vehicles (say, snow tire), I want to get 4 Autel TPMS sensors and program them with the same IDs that as the first set.
When I swap the tires the vehicle won't notice any difference.

Can I do the above with the TS508?

Yeah I understand I am locked into the Autel sensors only, but they are not too terribly expensive. Whatever tire shop installs your tires/sensors should be happy to program them for you. Make sure you either write down the codes on the sensors or take pictures of them before they go in the tires though!


Myself, I use Techstream on my laptop to program Toyota/Lexus's for new sensors. If you have the 5 codes written down, A dealer (or anyone with the software) can program the car for you in 10 minutes.


I also prefer to use OEM or Denso sensors. They typically go for $40-$50 CDN if you look around.

I had a set of new wheels put onto my truck today along with new Autel TPMS sensors. I used these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089FYJ9QR?_encoding=UTF8

The tire shop told me that they can’t program the sensors without an Autel tool and their tools only work with certain aftermarket brands. Is this true? I even tried taking it to a dealer and they told me they couldn’t promise they’d be able to do it either, but wanted to charge me $130 whether it did or didn’t work.

I know that these are clonable, but do I need my old sensors to do that? Because those are long gone.

I don’t mind buying the “Autel tool” and doing it myself, but if I need the old sensors to do that then it’s a waste of time.

I’d like to figure out how to make these sensors work since they’re already installed.

Getting new wheels/tires put on my OR. Leaving the OEM's intact to put on my mother-in-laws TRD. Anyone else use these Autel's with any success? With or without their relearn tool? I don't want to demount my OEM's to get the ID's, but if this tool can clone them it seems worth the $137. I don't see why any reputable tire shop wouldn't have all of the tools/readers to clone OEM sensors. If the crickets continue - I will just throw my OEM's in a wheel barrel tire in the bed!

So the tool definitely works. You do not need the old sensors to clone them, the old TPMS codes are stored in the ECU. The instructions that come with the tool will walk you through how to retrieve those. It’s very easy.

Be sure that before you try to scan the new ones, you go into the tool’s settings and turn off the pressure limit or whatever it’s called. I can’t remember exactly. If you do this, you won’t have to let all of the air out of your tires.

Also, use the tool to clear all codes when you’re finished. I could not get the tire light to reset by doing the factory reset procedure, but clearing the codes with the tool did the trick.