[FIXED] 5 x TPMS sensors with full sized spare in rotation

So...I recently purchased a new matching wheel and tire and now I have 5 x full sized tires with a full sized spare in rotation. When the new tires and wheels were installed, I also had 5 x TPMS sensors added to each tire, and the four tires on the ground got programmed. At first, all was good, that stupid TPMS light finally turned off and the 4 TPMS sensors worked as expected. When I rotated the 5th full sized tire into rotation, the TPMS light now turns on after driving about 30 minutes. I keep the 5th spare in my garage next to my truck, so when I turn on the truck it finds it, and the TPMS light goes off, but after driving for about 30 minutes it cannot see the 5th spare in the garage and now the TPMS light comes on until I get home near the garage again. I know there is a TPMS sensor in all 5 tires, so how I do get the ECU to monitor all 5? OR, is the correct answer that I can only monitor 4, and I must use the SET button to re-learn the 4 senors someplace not at home and not near that 5th full sized spare in the garage? The end goal is to obviously be able to monitor the 4 tires sensors that are in use, I don't care about the spare, until next time I rotate, then I have to re-do this set learn again? Is there any OBD or other hack or dealer software tool that can program and store and keep all 5 sensors ?

 

I believe it can only monitor 4 at a time. I could be wrong though.

 

You can only store 4 sensors as the spare normally wouldn’t have TPMS. This means a relearn at each rotation.

I myself have the same setup but keep my 5th in the bed. That keeps idiot lights off.....I don’t reprogram each time since I check pressures the old fashioned way and am only concerned with keeping dash lights off.

 

The TPMS ECU can only store 4 IDs starting in 2009 I believe. I also rotate 5 in and have to use a TPMS tool to reprogram which 4 I want the system to monitor with each rotation.

 

This is why I decided against a 5 tire rotation. Just too much extra cost and hassle to get the TPMS working properly.

Although, a partial solution... why store your spare in the garage? It's not really doing any good as a "spare" unless you actually carry it with you.

 

I don't need a full sized spare when I drive to the grocery store or park near my house. No need to waste $ fuel on carrying around 80lbs of dead weight. The only time I load up the full sized spare is when I go camping, long road trips, 4-wheeling, etc. If I get a flat in town near home, then I will have a friend bring me my spare, but that has never happened..... I also have on-board air and tire plug repair kit, so I doubt I will actually need the spare near home, so I dont keep it mounted all the time. Sun UV damage is also a real risk with a full sized spare mounted outside the vehicle, since the full sized spare does not fit under the bed. So yeh, spare stays in the garage most of the time until I go on an adventure or time for tire rotation. Even if I did carry the spare, the TPMS is only reading 3 tires on the road, and the spare, the 4th tire on the road is not being read and THAT is the real issue, TPMS for the 4 tires on the road is the goal. I am going to attempt an OBD2 TPMS reprogram on Monday and then I will post a follow up reply with the fix.

 

Update and Fix notes for anyone else who ever has to deal with this: I noticed a pattern...after driving for 30+ minutes the TPMS light would come on as stated above in OP. So, I drove it around town for 30 minutes and waited for the TPMS light to come on again, then took it to my friendly local Discount Tire shop that did the rotation for me. They brought out their OBD2 scanner tool, turned the truck on, confirmed the error, then re-scanned all 4 tires and updated the new sensor ID into the ECU. Poof, the TPMS warning light went off instantly. For all future tire rotations, TPMS must be re-scanned and updated to read the 4 tires currently in use.