C6 and C7 Corvette Tire Pressure Sensor Programming Made Easy

Corvette tire pressure sensors are supposed to program themselves, but if they don’t, there is an easy fix.

The C6 and C7 Chevrolet Corvette in every form comes with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) that makes it easy to ensure that you have proper air pressure at all four corners. This system is designed to automatically self-program new sensors that are installed, but in some cases, one of more of them will not sync up with the vehicle’s computer system. When that happens, you get a message to service the system at your local dealership, which is not free.

Fortunately, Corvette Forum member “Glen e” shared the instructions on how to quickly force the new TPMS sensors to sync to the vehicle with help from “Texhawk0”, and with this information, you won’t have to face a costly trip to the dealership for something as simple as having them program the sensors in new wheels.

C7 Corvette TPMS Programming

When the OP shared this do-it-yourself write-up on how to quickly program the tire pressure sensors in a C7 Corvette, he provided a step-by-step walkthrough, after thanking the member who provided him with the instructions.

Thank you Texhawk0!!!

When you add new sensors to the car, the manual tells you just to drive for 10 min over 12 mph and they will auto-calibrate. That’s true with most of them, but for some reason every now and again you will get a set that won’t calibrate and it just says “service TPMS system”. Even when the TPMS part # is the correct one (13581560) Many of the wheel vendors have found this out. You can then take it to the dealer and he can do it…(for a charge)

But you don’t have to. Texhawk0 wrote me with this procedure, not sure where he found it, but it works!

1. start car – actual engine running – not the Acc mode
   2. Select the tire pressure display in the DIC.
   3. Press and hold the SEL button until the display changes and the horn beeps. It now says it’s in learn mode.
   4. Now drive just as it says in the manual – 10 min or so above 12 mph. – this is the new part – Chev says use a dealer tool – not necessary!
   5. Suddenly, it will find all 4 sensors and show pressure
   6. when you shut the car off , the “learn DIC” will show again and horn beeps.

Now you are done…so nice to find things, so you don’t have to go the dealer.

Later in the thread, the OP pointed out that in some cases, C7 owners had to drive up to 200 miles before the new tire pressure sensors began functioning normally. While that doesn’t cause any issues other than a warning light, that warning light is annoying and really, you want something like a tire pressure sensor to work in your modern Corvette.

C6 Corvette Programming

After some time, “Dogula” posted in the thread with the method for programming the tire pressure sensors in the C6 Corvette, which uses a very different method.

This procedure worked on my 2011 Grand Sport:

TPMS re-set:
1. Put ignition in Acc mode

2. Hold both the lock and unlock on the remote wait for the the horn to sound it will now be in the learn mode should pop up in DIC
3. start at the l/f (l/f park light will be lit)…let a bit of pressure out (10 secs) wait for horn
4. move to r/f (r/f park light will be lit) … let a bit of pressure out wait for horn
5. move to r/r (r/r park light will be lit) … let a bit of pressure out wait for horn
6. move to l/r (l/r park light will be lit) … let a bit of pressure out wait for horn

You will get a 2-beep horn confirmation when all 4 tires have been reset. Just make sure you get the 1-beep confirmation at each wheel before moving on to the next wheel.

The magnet method will not work on C6s but will on C5s.

No reset tool is needed. BTW, if you have a Costco or Sam’s membership they will do this for free.

Finally, the thread goes on literally for years, with people sharing information on the part numbers of the TPMS assemblies for the various years and models, so if you need help with your sensor programming, click here to post in the thread.

Photos: GM Media

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