If there was a software glitch, why are so few having this problem that some dealers say they cannot fix. Even for the small number of actual H3 owners on this forum, it is a small number with problems. Investigate, many complaints started in the fall, when ambient temps start to drop.
There has been no software update for the sensors, so don't understand a software glitch.
Could there be some defective sensors? Sure, they are man-made. However, any dealer, if they do the diagnostics correctly can find the bad sensor and replace. System really only consists of the BCM and the sensors, the I/P just displays whatever the BCM signals.
If the salesman had four sensors in a bag, he was shortchanged, or you were. There are five sensors installed, the spare also has a sensor.
I can see many dealers after the fall having doubts on whether the customer is adjusting their air pressures correctly, since that is by no doubt, the major problem facing the dealers today, and they probably getting tired of it.
I have never heard of the air pressure sensors being installed at PDI. PDI does not pay for this service, and if four were installed, it sure would be flagged by WINS when the claim was submitted; especially four (still wondering where number five is).
The sensors on a Vette signal a different module than the BCM. The RCDLR module sends sensor information to the BCM which sends the information to the "intelligent" I/P cluster, which has a larger character display and costs many many times more than the I/P cluster on the H3. In addition, the Vette uses a more intelligent system since there is no spare, and runflats will look fully inflated even with zero air pressure in the tire.
So far, the only time mine have gone off is when there was a large drop in temp over night, and my tires were under the recommended pressure during the normal daytime ambient temps. After one or two miles the warning went off. They did what they were supposed to do, warm me that I had not checked my pressures since the temps started to drop.
Since then, no other warnings.
The major problems with dealers and the tire pressure monitoring systems on vehicles without a pressure reading at the tires:
TPM problems, and assumed problems.
1. Dealer attempts to reset the sensors, and can’t get them to reset. One of the biggest problems is the TPM tool has dead or low batteries so they fail to reset the sensors. Too many dealers then assume the sensors are bad, replace the sensor, then still can’t reprogram the sensor, so they tell the customer it is something that cannot be fixed, and GM will eventually release a bulletin. Well, GM has issued a statement to the dealers to check the batteries in the tools.
2. Tire pressure system sets off warning in the morning then goes off while driving; primarily on adventure series vehicles. For all vehicles, this is an indication the tire pressure(s) in one or more tires is incorrectly set. Remember, read the label on the front driver’s door sill molding. Make sure to set pressures on a cold tire (one not driven for three hours). In addition, due to the larger tires on the adventure series, the 33” tire has a higher volume of air, it will experience a larger drop in pressure due to cold weather.
3. Dealer says it is the I/P. So far every I/P cluster returned has been tested and no trouble is found. The I/P, in regard to the TPM is dumb, it is only used to display a message sent by the BCM. So replacing it has been shown to be worthless, and does not cure the problem. A waste of time for the dealer, and more importantly, a waste of time for the customer.