Bartec USA is releasing its latest TPMS tool software update.

“Software update 62.2 is our third update for the year for our range of TPMS tools and once again adds significant coverage for Rite-Sensor, increases our already industry-leading OBDII capabilities and added new OE sensors,” Bartec’s CEO Scot Holloway said.

Release 62.2 includes additional tire fill alert coverage, as well as increased OBDII coverage for Ford, Jeep and GM vehicles.

Bartec says unique to the Rite-Sensor programmable sensor solution is Rite-Sync.

“Essentially, Rite-Sync is the combination of the TPMS relearn and sensor programming into a single seamless, fast and accurate process. Technicians can work much faster and with fewer mistakes using the Rite-Sync process,” Holloway says.

You can smell it in the air—it’s coming! Soon enough, you will have the opportunity to see a nice bump in sales due to what we have come to know and love as “winter tire season.” This time of year can either be stressful or successful. To help you make it the latter, below are a few things you can do to prepare and make the most out of the extra business opportunities this season.

Get Equipped

Get your shop stocked up and ready to upsell TPMS to your customers requiring a winter tire changeover.

Programmable or “universal” TPMS sensors provide especially great benefits this time of year. When you are attempting to stock up and predict which vehicles will be coming in for a winter tire changeover, having one sensor that covers a majority of the market will help you be infinitely more prepared with the right part when you need it.

Make sure you have service kits readily available to change out whenever a tire is removed from the rim.

Get in the habit of charging your TPMS tool after every shift.

Make sure your tool has the latest software update installed. Each update offers more coverage, which increases the number of vehicles you are able to service. Your sensor coverage is only as good as your last tool update. Don’t waste time downloading an update while the car is already in the bay!

Get Educated

Do all of the technicians in your shop know how to remove a sensor without damaging it? Can they spot corrosion before servicing? Do they understand the difference between programming and relearning? Do they have a standard operating procedure in place? Do they know they should test the system before servicing it? All of these processes can be huge inconveniences if your technicians are not trained properly. The good news is there are plenty of resources online to help get your team up to speed with the latest in TPMS training.

Get Selling!

Now’s the time to start educating your customers about the importance of TPMS and boosting your TPMS sales.

If a customer uses the same set of TPMS sensors for each set of tires, requiring them to pay to have them changed each year, advise them to purchase a second set of sensors and explain the financial benefit in the long run. There is always the risk of breaking the sensor, or its parts, when removing it from the wheel.

Your sensor coverage is only as good as your last tool update. Don’t waste time downloading an update with a car in the bay.

If a customer already has an extra set of TPMS sensors in their winter tires, suggest replacing the service kits. TPMS valve components are subject to a great deal of dirt and salt during the winter and may show signs of corrosion. Swapping these out helps prevent corrosion and slow air leaks that require another shop visit.

If one sensor battery is low, recommend the customer buy the other three sensors at the same service. If one has died, the others are sure to follow. Changing them all at once prevents them from having to come back for another service, costing them more time and money in the end.

There’s no more important time of the year than the winter season to get your TPMS program running efficiently. Get prepared so that you can see a spike in your TPMS sales and enjoy the most wonderful time of the year for the tire industry.

Servicing a corroded valve can be challenging and often leads to replacing the entire TPMS sensor.

Valve corrosion is often the culprit of slow air leaks after a tire service. More specifically, galvanic corrosion can occur when the valve is exposed to outdoor elements such as the road grime, dirt and salt. These elements create a chemical reaction in the metal, causing nuts or valve cores to bond with the stem and rubber components and then warp. For this reason, climate can often play a large role in the number of corroded valves that come into your shop. These chemical responses can lead to those frustrating slow air leaks that result in customer comebacks, costing your shop time and money.

Servicing a corroded valve can be challenging and often leads to replacing the entire TPMS sensor if the valve is irreplaceable and permanently fixed to the sensor. This is why it is so important to spot a corroded valve before you begin service. The easiest way to identify corrosion is to look for any discoloration or physical damage to the valve stem on the outside of the tire. If there is no valve cap in place to protect the valve, a good place to spot corrosion is around the valve core. Corrosion is also often found under and around the nut.

If you don’t see any visible signs of corrosion, you can slowly start to loosen the nut or valve core. If either one seems stuck, then the valve is likely corroded. Breaking the nut or valve core may be inevitable. Regardless, the service pack or serviceable components of a TPMS sensor should be changed before turning the vehicle over to the customer. As mentioned, in some cases, the valve stem is irreplaceable or a fixed component of the sensor. If this type of valve shows signs of corrosion, you may want to advise the customer to replace the entire sensor on the grounds that corrosion often leads to slow air leaks. In the long run, they would save time and money and ensure the effectiveness of their TPMS system if they replace the corroded sensor during that initial service.

In addition to corrosion, the valve and its components often get knocked around and damaged during tire service. To avoid comebacks, Schrader recommends changing the service pack every time the tire is removed from the wheel. Including service pack replacement in your shop’s standard operating procedure is an easy way for you to ensure your customer leaves with a working TPMS system every time.

What’s in a TPMS Service Kit?

While most TPMS service kits come with a valve core and cap, components can differ depending on whether the sensor is a snap-in or clamp-in model.

Components that come with a snap-in sensor service kit include the valve core, rubber stem, plastic valve cap and torque screw. Clamp-in sensor service kit components include the valve core, rubber grommet, plastic valve cap, torque nut, aluminum stem (for replaceable valve) and a torque screw (for replaceable valve).