I'm trying the TPMS relearn for the first time, using an OEC-T5 EL-50448 relearn tool (recommended elsewhere on this forum). Following the process in the 2017 Volt manual, I successfully relearn the first 3 tires, as indicated by a horn beep, but the fourth (driver-side rear) tire fails to relearn. I leave the tool on for up to 3 minutes on the last tire, still within the 5-minute limit for all 4 tires, but it doesn't take. I tried moving the relearn tool around some along the sidewall in the area of the valve - no luck. Sometimes the other 3 tires take up to about a minute to relearn, but they always work. Could this be a bad TPMS unit in that tire? Anyone else have this problem? Tricks I could try?
TPMS relearn fails on fourth tire, driver-side rear
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Stop at a tire dealer. A better relearn tool is able to read the strength of the battery in the TPMS and tell whether the signal can be read. I wonder whether the higher frequency of the Gen2 models poses a problem for the EL-50448 units. The slowness of the other 3 wheels to respond, also seems unusual. Have you checked the battery in the tool?
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Is it possible you have in issue with the TPMS device within that tire?
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Try relearning in reverse order. Do the driver rear first. If the failure occurs on the driver rear it is probably the tire valve transmitter. If the failure is on the 4th tire (driver front) then it is the relearn tool. May be the tool has a weak battery or electronics. Battery you can change.
I put a set of winter tires and rims together with new TPMS sensors had it all mounted up at Les Schawb and my 4th tire would not relearn. Had the dealer try their tool and it would not learn. Replaced the TPMS sensor in that tire and it learned. You more than likely have a bad sensor.
Can we get a terminology consensus here, from most of the group? Is the TPMS sensor the gizmo in the wheel that broadcasts the pressure reading or is the TPMS sensor the gizmo in the body of the car that receives the pressure reading?
The TPMS sensor is part of the wheel and includes the fill valve to add air into the tire. It's usually a self contained air pressure sensor complete with it's own battery and radio transmitter to send pressure data to a receiver on the car. I think the key here is that it's a sensor which indicates it gathers data, in this case pressure differential between whats inside the tire and ambient air pressure.
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