Originally Posted by
stevedmc
...I can purchase four of the Se10001hpr sensors...have them installed next time I buy tires, and then drive down to the dealership to pay whatever they charge for a reprogram.
Correct. My dealer charges $90 for this. I normally replace TPMS sensors when I get new tires (if the sensors are more than 5 years old).
They tried doing a program after replacing the sensors and were not successful.
If you install new (non-cloned) sensors on a Mirage, you need a scan tool that can communicate to the ETACS module via the OBDII port to write the new Sensor ID's into the computer. I have not seen an aftermarket tool yet that can do that in a Mirage. My TPMS tool can do this in a Honda...but the Mirage is a no-go. Even my local shop was surprised when their $$$ tool didn't work on my car. So if you put new TPMS sensors in a Mirage, plan on making a trip to the dealer to have the ID's stored in your ETACS module.
...I have no clue what IDs are programmed in the computer.
That can be frustrating. For convenience, I read each TPMS sensor ID and put it on a label inside the barrel of each wheel. If a sensor dies, I won't need to remove the tire to read the ID off of the sensor.
Originally Posted by
Mark
You can check the psi of each tire on the Impala by pushing an info button the dash.
I like GM's approach. Most GM cars are amazingly easy to program, too. You can do it with your key fob in most cases. Checking the air pressure on the dash is really convenient, too. I don't know why everyone doesn't offer this feature.
Originally Posted by
stevedmc
I was wondering about the battery life. Does the sensor drain battery power 24/7 like a digital watch, or is it only activated when the wheel turns?
Each sensor has an accelerometer in it...so it knows when the car is moving.
I got bored one day and actually read the Service Manual. Here's what it says...
How often is the pressure data transmitted to the Mirage's computer?
As soon as the car starts moving, the reading is sent every 15 seconds for 30 transmissions.
Then every 1 minute when the car is moving faster than 25km/hour.
When the car is stationary, the signal is sent once every 13 hours.
So the sensors do "sleep" if the car doesn't move for a certain period of time. If your car has a ton of miles, I would expect that your sensor batteries may be close to their end of life. Some TPMS tools tools can tell you the condition of the battery...but I don't know how accurate this is.