Every shop and service pro wants every service they perform to be profitable. If a service takes too long, the shop and the service pro can both lose out. In the past few years, shops have reported that it’s become more difficult to be profitable on TPMS service. Many techs report difficulty successfully completing relearns on newer vehicles. Some pros report that even when successful, sensor relearns take much longer than previously. Why is this happening?

New software and new relearn steps

TPMS software protocols have changed on the newest vehicles and latest sensors. Without the latest TPMS tool software updates and the latest trigger/relearn instructions on hand, technicians can’t successfully complete TPMS service on many newer makes and models. Many techs are starting TPMS service without having the software and instructions that they need to be successful. There’s little chance for profit in this scenario.

This roadblock is easily overcome. Most TPMS Tool manufactures provide free tool update downloads, and most sensor manufacturers have downloads for the new relearn steps that the latest generation of sensors requires. Links to the latest software updates for many of the most popular TPMS tools and downloads of the new trigger/relearn instructions can be found at: www.redi-sensor.com/updates

What causes comebacks on TPMS?

While a service that takes longer than expected can hurt profitability, service comebacks kill profitability for certain. Comebacks on TPMS service happen most often when techs skip the relearn step. Techs assume that if they’ve cloned the old sensors to new sensors, there’s no need to perform the relearn sequence. However, even with cloned aftermarket programmable sensors, the Tire Industry Association advises techs not to skip the vehicle relearn process, and here’s why: The only way to be sure that your cloning worked, and that the TPM System recognized the new sensors, and that the entire system is working safely and properly is to go through the full vehicle relearn cycle.

What could go wrong if you don’t relearn? If the sensor ID number may not be cloned correctly due to interference from any other OE or aftermarket sensor in the immediate vicinity, or due to a manual sensor ID keying error (each of the 4 sensors on the vehicle with a dead battery must have the old ID manually keyed into the cloning tool), or because the sensor ID cannot be accurately identified (may not be present or legible) on the OE sensor for cloning. In any of these cases, the likely result will be a malfunction indicator light (MIL) illumination after the vehicle has been driven for up to 20 minutes. That means a customer comeback, and no one needs those!

Why is TPMS service slower these days?

Even when they have the correct software and relearn instructions in hand, many techs report that the TPMS service steps are taking longer than they used to. One factor causing this is a lack of complete Tool / Sensor compatibility. Some tools will have difficulty ‘talking’ to some sensor brands. Or they may work well together for some vehicle applications but not for others. Techs often lose time in trial-and-error experimentation, of they have to perform the relearn steps multiple times before it finally works.

Another issue that’s slowing down TPMS service is the fact that the TPMS protocols have gotten more complex. If you’re cloning or programing a sensor, it’s taking more time to get all those lines of code onto the sensor. However, this is not an issue for REDI-Sensor Multi-Application TPMS Sensors. Because TPMS protocols are preloaded onto REDI-Sensors at the factory, there’s no time lost on programming or cloning. Techs can simply skip those steps as if they were using an OE, application-specific sensor. Many techs report that in addition to allowing them to skip the programming and/or cloning steps, REDI-Sensors seem to relearn faster than most other aftermarket sensors available today. And, when used with Continental Autodiagnos TPMS tools, sensor/tool compatibility is guaranteed.

Faulty out of the box?

Yet another factor slowing down TPMS service is a high rate of faults on aftermarket sensors. They’re simply coming out of the box unusable, but it can take the tech many minutes to realize the fault is with the sensor. Insiders say that when the sensor fails, some manufacturers aren’t even asking for it back for analysis. This suggests they know why it failed, but as of yet they haven’t taken steps to correct the problem. One thing that differentiates REDI-Sensor from other aftermarket sensors is that REDI-Sensor is made in the same factory, and on the same assembly line as OE sensors. As a result, REDI-Sensor’s quality must adhere to the strict levels of guaranteed quality demanded by OEMs.

To ensure fast, successful, and profitable TPMS service:

1. Make certain TPMS tools have been updated with the latest software.
2. Never skip the relearn steps and be sure you’re using the latest TPMS sensor relearn instructions. The latest relearn instructions for the most popular TPMS tools can be downloaded here.
3. Make sure your TPMS tool and sensor are compatible—check with the manufacturer if needed.
4. Choose a type of sensor that will allow you to work quickly on any make or model that comes into the shop, and is guaranteed to come out of the box with OE-level quality.

The REDI-Sensor advantage

The REDI-Sensor Multi-Application TPMS Sensor line includes just four sensors, but they can replace over 300+ OE sensors. The line provides coverage that exceeds 300 million vehicles in operation from 2002 to 2024. If a shop stocks a few of each of the four REDI-Sensors, they’ll have TPMS sensor coverage on hand for most vehicles that come in. That means drivers can get their vehicles back sooner, and shops don’t need to put the vehicle on hold while waiting for a TPMS sensor parts delivery. REDI-Sensor can replace, clamp-in, snap-in and banded sensors. Website: www.redi-sensor.com