15 year old tire sensors are the Achilles Heal of the Beast - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

tenedios · 09-23-2006

I am a new member and own a 1991 ZR1. I just want to convey to you folks a "safety" concern. I was travelling close to where life begins and suddenly the car vibrated to either side of the road. It shook sideways violently. I thought I blew a tire. I managed to coast down and pull to the side of the road. No flat tires but I could not even proceed home at speeds greater than 55 without the car vibrating. At very low speeds I heard a clanking sound and thought it was the brake calipers.I wondered if I lost a wheel weight and was out of balance. My mechanic pulled the tires and the left front sensor and right rear sensor had cracked apart from the metal banding which held the sensors in place. The plastic housing were apart and the electronic circuit boards were freely floating in the tire. It seems that the 15 year old plastic sensor could not take the high angular velocity. I pulled out all the sensors. A lesson learned.

09-24-2006

Yep, they are garbage. I've known a few people that have lost them on the dyno, and it is violent.

Ccmano · 09-24-2006

Yup...pulled mine because of the same concern. Light doesn't even come on now

Hans

tccrab · 09-24-2006

Boy, oh Boy. Must have been quite a pucker moment.
Glad to hear that you *and* your ZR1 survived the incident.
How are your nerves, still shaking?

TomC
'90ZR1 #792

tenedios · 09-24-2006

Well yes. It is a classic story. My wife and I were driving to a local restaurant and she said " the road is straight for several miles and I do not see any cars ahead". So I did what any male would do when presented the situation. However she was very frightened and I am sure that will be the last time she makes suggestions like that.

tomtom72 · 09-25-2006

Glad nothing bad happened to the both of you! That must have been an eye opener.

Does anyone know for sure on the early cars, I have a 90, what to do with the dash lights for the system? Do we pull the sensors and pull the two bulbs from the DIC? Is the "software" to run the system in the PROM? Can that be re-flashed to eliminate it?

Tom

Peaven · 09-25-2006

Glad to hear that you're safe....and thanks for giving the final nudge I needed to yank mine off soon, probably next week.

Z Factor · 09-25-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by tenedios

I am a new member and own a 1991 ZR1.

Hello and welcome to the forum.

If you take them off, but hold onto them incase you sell some day and the new owner wants them.

Aurora40 · 09-25-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomtom72

I have a 90, what to do with the dash lights for the system? Do we pull the sensors and pull the two bulbs from the DIC?

No need to pull the bulbs on a '90. We are lucky. I've no sensors (well they are in my basement) and no light. I'm fairly certain the light comes on during the ignition-on check.

Jim Jones · 10-05-2006

I have had my light come on a couple of times, both times it was when I had low tire pressure. If the sensors aren't on the wheel, won't the light stay on?

Mine is a 1990 as well.

Jim

09-23-2006	#1
tenedios Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 9	15 year old tire sensors are the Achilles Heal of the Beast I am a new member and own a 1991 ZR1. I just want to convey to you folks a "safety" concern. I was travelling close to where life begins and suddenly the car vibrated to either side of the road. It shook sideways violently. I thought I blew a tire. I managed to coast down and pull to the side of the road. No flat tires but I could not even proceed home at speeds greater than 55 without the car vibrating. At very low speeds I heard a clanking sound and thought it was the brake calipers.I wondered if I lost a wheel weight and was out of balance. My mechanic pulled the tires and the left front sensor and right rear sensor had cracked apart from the metal banding which held the sensors in place. The plastic housing were apart and the electronic circuit boards were freely floating in the tire. It seems that the 15 year old plastic sensor could not take the high angular velocity. I pulled out all the sensors. A lesson learned.

09-24-2006	#2
Jeffvette Guest Posts: n/a	Re: 15 year old tire sensors are the Achilles Heal of the Beast Yep, they are garbage. I've known a few people that have lost them on the dyno, and it is violent.

09-24-2006	#3
Ccmano Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Sparks, NV Posts: 2,852	Re: 15 year old tire sensors are the Achilles Heal of the Beast Yup...pulled mine because of the same concern. Light doesn't even come on now Hans __________________ 90'ZR-1 #1461 Red/Black Ported Intake, Degreed Cams, OBX Headers & Exhaust, Fidanza FW, Secondary Delete, Custom tune, C6 GS Wheels. Sold 08 C6 Z51 Crystal Red Metallic Sold Vararam Intake, Tune, Sold 05 C6 Z51 Red/Black Sold 90'ZR-1 #1723 Black/Gray Sold but not forgotten 91' Z51 L98 White Vert. My First, you always remember your first. Sold.

09-24-2006	#4
tccrab Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Folsom CA Posts: 1,655	Re: 15 year old tire sensors are the Achilles Heal of the Beast Boy, oh Boy. Must have been quite a pucker moment. Glad to hear that you and your ZR1 survived the incident. How are your nerves, still shaking? TomC '90ZR1 #792 __________________ TomC '90ZR1 #792 Honorary Pirate [B]If it ain't FUN, you're doing something terribly WRONG. [/B]

09-24-2006	#5
tenedios Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 9	Re: 15 year old tire sensors are the Achilles Heal of the Beast Well yes. It is a classic story. My wife and I were driving to a local restaurant and she said " the road is straight for several miles and I do not see any cars ahead". So I did what any male would do when presented the situation. However she was very frightened and I am sure that will be the last time she makes suggestions like that.

09-25-2006	#6
tomtom72 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Jacksonville, FL USA Posts: 4,645	Re: 15 year old tire sensors are the Achilles Heal of the Beast Glad nothing bad happened to the both of you! That must have been an eye opener. Does anyone know for sure on the early cars, I have a 90, what to do with the dash lights for the system? Do we pull the sensors and pull the two bulbs from the DIC? Is the "software" to run the system in the PROM? Can that be re-flashed to eliminate it? Tom __________________ 1990 ZR-1, Black/grey, #2233, stock. ZR-1 Net Reg Founding Member #316 & NCM member

09-25-2006	#7
Peaven Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 322	Re: 15 year old tire sensors are the Achilles Heal of the Beast Glad to hear that you're safe....and thanks for giving the final nudge I needed to yank mine off soon, probably next week. __________________ SteveB '94 ABZ Lucky #13-SOLD

10-05-2006	#10
Jim Jones Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: I'm in a constant state of euphoria in the Z! Posts: 237	Re: 15 year old tire sensors are the Achilles Heal of the Beast I have had my light come on a couple of times, both times it was when I had low tire pressure. If the sensors aren't on the wheel, won't the light stay on? Mine is a 1990 as well. Jim __________________ Life's too short to be unhappy! [IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/koolaid117/Montage.gif[/IMG]

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