New Trailering App and Trailer Tire Pressure Monitor System

The all-new 2019 Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500 (Fig. 1) offer available trailering systems that feature a trailering app, trailer tire pressure monitors, and HD cameras.

Fig. 1

The trailering app that is part of Chevrolet’s Advanced Trailering System and GMC’s ProGrade Trailering System (RPO ZL6) includes a Pre-Departure Checklist, Maintenance Reminders, Trailer Light Test, Trailer Electrical Diagnostics, and Trailer Tire Pressure and Temperature Monitoring. As part of the Trailer Tire Pressure Monitor System (RPO PTT), four additional tire pressure monitor sensors are included in the Loose Ship Components package for installation on up to four trailer tires.

When on the road, additional assistance is provided by the available side-view cameras and trailer-mounted HD camera. (Fig. 2)

Fig. 2

Many of these trailering features are accessed using the infotainment system or are available with the myChevrolet or my GMC mobile app. (Fig. 3)

Fig. 3

Trailering App

The in-vehicle trailering app on the infotainment screen helps with a number of trailering features, including:

  • Hitching and setup with pre-departure checklists (Fig. 4)
  • Maintenance reminders
  • Trailer tire pressure monitoring
  • Trailer light testing
  • Customizing and saving trailer profiles
  • Trailer Gain settings saved for each trailer profile.
  • Trailer theft detection (requires an active OnStar service plan)

Fig. 4

Trailer Tire Pressure Monitor System

The Trailer Tire Pressure Monitor System includes the trailer tire pressure indicator module and a set of four wireless tire pressure sensors that need to be installed on the trailer by the customer. The system can accommodate a trailer with up to six tires. Additional or replacement sensors are available as a GM Accessory. Sensor functionality requires that the trailer tire pressure monitor system be ordered with the vehicle and installed by the factory.

The sensors must be mounted onto each tire and wheel assembly, and the sensors must be learned by the vehicle. The sensors monitor the air pressure in the trailer tires and transmit the trailer tire pressure readings to a receiver located in the vehicle. The tire pressure and temperature values can be viewed in the trailering app on the infotainment screen. (Fig. 5)

Fig. 5

Learn Mode

The Trailer Tire Pressure Monitor System uses the instrument cluster, center stack module, trailer tire pressure indicator module, up to six radio frequency transmitting pressure sensors, and the serial data circuit to perform the tire pressure monitor learn mode functions. The sensor learn procedure must be performed after every tire rotation, trailer tire pressure indicator module replacement, or sensor replacement.

 

Learn Procedure

The Trailer Tire Pressure Monitor System can be paired with up to five individual trailers. The learn procedure applies only to the trailer tire pressure sensors for the selected trailer profile. (Fig. 6)

Fig. 6

Follow the trailer tire pressure sensor learn procedure in the appropriate Service Information. During diagnostics, the TPM sensor learn activation procedure may have to be repeated up to three times before determining a sensor is malfunctioning.

The learn procedure for the trailer tires requires using the EL-46079 Tire Pressure Monitor Diagnostic Tool or EL-50448 Tire Pressure Monitor Sensor Activation Tool, just as when learning the tire pressure sensors on a vehicle. If the trailer is not available, the trailer tire pressure sensors can be learned using the new EL-52641 Trailer Presence Simulator Tester (Fig. 7), which can simulate the presence of a trailer. The tool can be helpful when a customer would like the trailer tire pressure sensors learned without having the actual trailer at the dealership.

Fig. 7

Use the trailering app or the special tool to initiate the trailer tire pressure sensor learn mode. A double horn chirp will sound to indicate the learn mode has been enabled.

Once the learn mode has been enabled, each of the sensors unique identification codes can be learned into the trailer tire pressure indicator module memory. When a sensor ID has been learned, the trailer tire pressure indicator module sounds a horn chirp indicating the sensor has transmitted its ID and the trailer tire pressure indicator module has received and learned it. The trailer tire pressure indicator module must learn the sensor IDs in the proper sequence, depending on the number of axles a trailer has, to determine correct sensor location. The turn signals will individually illuminate indicating which location is to be learned in the proper sequence.

Start with the left front trailer tire, and then the remaining sensors in the following order:

  • Right front if the trailer has one axle.
  • Left rear, right rear, and right front if the trailer has two axles.
  • Left middle, left rear, right rear, right middle, and right front if the trailer has three axles.

TIP: If a sensor is activated and the horn doesn’t chirp, the sensor signal may be blocked by another component. Rotate the wheel so that the valve stem is in a different position.

When using the trailering app on the infotainment screen, the current tire is highlighted while the tire sensor is being learned. After a sensor is learned, a checkmark appears next to the tire.

When the last sensor has been learned, a double horn chirp will sound, indicating the learn process is complete. The trailer tire pressure indicator module will exit the learn mode. If a double horn chirp is not heard, confirm that all of the tire pressure sensor parameters display YES.

If the trailer tires are rotated or if the tire pressure sensors for the trailer are replaced, the trailer profile in the trailering app must be updated under the Trailer Profile view. Select Tire Pressure Setup and follow the on-screen instructions to relearn the tire sensors, which will overwrite the current sensors for the selected trailer profile.

– Thanks to Dave MacGillis

New Look for TechLink in 2019
New EL-52641Trailer Presence Simulator Tester

14 Comments

  1. Ron Derksen says:

    If a customer needs the .625 valve stems, what sensor should be used? Or is there a service pack to adapt the GM supplied ones?

  2. 23 feet from the rear of the truck is an issue for many customers with longer trailers and 5th wheels. Is there a way to boost the signal (i.e. signal booster like many after market TPMS systems) or move the module from behind the license plate or add an external antenna?

  3. What is the maximum tire pressure allowance for the tire pressure/temperature monitoring valve stem provided with the truck (to be installed by the customer).

  4. High or low trailer tire pressure does not affect the trailer tire pressure sensor learning. The maximum tire pressure that can be transmitted is 102 psi. However, if a sensor reads a higher pressure, it will still be learned. When learning the sensors, ensure that each sensor is within the maximum distance (23 feet) from the rear of the vehicle. Refer to the appropriate Service Information or consult TAC if there are any additional issues with the learn process.

  5. ANASTASIOS NEDELKOS says:

    Ah so if the trailer is running over 100psi which seems to be the max PSI for the trailer sensors, they might not learn correctly? I think the customer had 110psi in his trailer tires. If we were to lower them below 100psi, would that allow them to learn?

  6. The EL-52641 Trailer Presence Simulator is only used to connect to the truck 7-way (X88) connector to allow the trailer lamp control module (Trailer Integration Module (TIM)) to detect the trailer (and is usually used to learn the sensors when they are not mounted). If using the EL-52641, the sensors must be within the specified range of the trailer tire pressure sensor module (TTPM) in order to learn.

    Once a trailer is detected (with the EL-52642 or to the customer trailer) the Trailer Tire Pressure Sensors can then be learned. Additionally, there is a maximum length the sensor can be from the rear of the truck (axles no more than 23 feet from the rear of the truck) and there should not be any open panels or metal objects between the truck and TTPM sensors.

  7. ANASTASIOS NEDELKOS says:

    Can EL-52641 be used with a customer that HAS the trailer with them at the dealer?

    We had a customer bring his 2020 HD and his 5th wheel travel trailer. The supplied GM sensors were installed in the trailer’s wheels (customer did have to get larger stems). We tried with J-46079, EL-52545 and the customer had his own EL-50448. We could only get the left front trailer sensor to learn.

    Would EL-52641 perhaps improve the ability for the truck to pick up the sensors?

  8. For 2020 trucks, the Trailer Tire Pressure Monitor Sensors (RPO PTT) are now sensors only. Additional sensors are available as a GM accessory (sensors require customer or third-party installation).

  9. GM releases sensors for one size valve stem, which is the standard for most wheels – the larger stem isn’t the standard but it is used on a lot of older trailers. There are stems for the bolt-on style sensors that are 0.625” diameter. The supplied sensors won’t work with 0.625 holes, but most wheels don’t have 0.625 holes. In that case, aftermarket bolt-on sensors and a compatible 0.625” stem will be needed.

  10. these sensors do not work for trailer wheels that have .0625 diameter valve stem holes. trailers pulled by the HD trucks will not be able to use the supplied GM sensors because this is the size valve stems used for heavy duty trailers. GM does not have a .0625 size TPMS to replace what was provided. how did GM design an all new HD and provide a great system to monitor tire pressure, many of which pull large RV’s, and have this system they cannot use?

  11. The system can accommodate up to 6 tire pressure sensors per profile and up to 5 profiles.

  12. Glen Merecka says:

    Ed, does that mean only 6 tire pressure sensors can be learned total??? If I own 5 trailers and create 5 profiles, can I install 6 trailer tire pressure sensors in each trailer for a total of 30 and have the system learn 6 for each profile?

  13. The Trailer Tire Pressure Monitor System includes a set of four wireless tire pressure sensors that need to be installed on the trailer by the customer. The system can accommodate a trailer with up to six tires. Additional or replacement sensors are available as a GM Accessory. Up to five custom trailer profiles can be set up in the trailering app.

  14. Glen Merecka says:

    How many total tire pressure sensors can the system accommodate? For example, if I own 5 trailers with 6 tires on each trailer, can I add sensors for each tire for a total of 30 and create 5 profiles and learn each trailers sensors, 6 per trailer for each profile?