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Your tire pressure light provides a critical reminder to restore the pressure in your vehicle's tires when it gets low. You should only attempt to reset the light after first addressing the tire pressure in every tire. Once your tires are at the appropriate pressure, the light may go off on its own. If it doesn't go off right away, driving at 50 mph for about 10 minutes should help the tire pressure sensor reset.
If the tire pressure light is still on, there are a few more tricks you can try:
TPMS stands for Tire Pressure Monitoring System. The tire pressure light is one component of this electronic system, providing a visual alert when your tire pressure is low. The TPMS monitors tire pressure using either an indirect or direct method.
An indirect TPMS measures the rate of revolution for each wheel. If a wheel starts spinning faster than anticipated, the system signals to your vehicle's computer that something is amiss with the tire rotation, and your tire pressure light comes on. You must manually reset the monitor in an indirect TPMS system.
A direct TPMS uses pressure monitoring sensors in each tire to monitor tire pressure exactly. This is a more accurate alternative to an indirect TPMS system. The batteries inside these sensors will last for about 10 years. Direct TPMS systems reset automatically after tire inflation or rotation. You do need to have these sensors resynchronized when you get new tires, which requires a special tool.
Yes, cold weather will affect the air pressure in your tires. Your tires lose one or two pounds per square inch (PSI) for every 10 degrees that the temperature drops. Cold air condenses while warm air expands. Therefore, the colder air in your tires will take up less space in lower temperatures.
You may find that your TPMS light is only illuminated for a short time in the morning on particularly cold days. After about 20 minutes of driving, the air will often warm up and expand, restoring proper pressure in your tires.
If the light stays on after 20 minutes on the road, you should add air to your tires as needed to restore the proper pressure. Low tire pressure is hazardous for your vehicle regardless of the cause.
When the tire pressure monitor light is on, the first thing you should do is check the pressure in each of your tires, including the spare. Check the manufacturer's recommendation to determine the appropriate pressure for each tire. This is typically between 30 and 35 PSI but may vary. You should measure tire pressure when the tires are cold, which means they have not been driven in the last three hours.
To check the pressure, simply unscrew the valve cap and insert a tire gauge into the valve stem. The gauge will provide a clear reading. Replace the valve cap when you're finished. If your tires are all at the appropriate pressure, there's a malfunction with your TPMS. Bring your vehicle to an authorized dealership service center to diagnose and resolve the issue.
If the tire pressure monitor light is on, you should check your tire pressure as soon as possible. Low tire pressure creates a serious hazard on the road. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 738 people died in tire-related crashes in 2017. When tire pressure is low, the tire has more contact with the road. This may cause the tire to overheat, leading to tread separation, excessive tire wear, or a blowout.
Low tire pressure also wreaks havoc on your fuel efficiency. You can save up to 11 cents per gallon simply by keeping your tires properly inflated. You'll also save money on tire replacements with adequate inflation. Keeping your tires properly inflated can add 4,700 miles to the tire's average lifespan.
The tire pressure monitor light gives you valuable information and should not be ignored.
You do not necessarily need to have your TPMS sensors replaced with new tires, but this is a good time to check them and make sure they're still in good condition.
If you have an indirect TPMS system, your mechanic will need to manually reset the sensors after changing your tires. If you have a direct TPMS system, no additional maintenance is required to reset the system.
A new TPMS system will typically last for about 10 years before the batteries run out. If you have an older vehicle, you may need new sensors every five or six years. Your mechanic can advise you on the best time to replace TPMS sensors for your vehicle. When new sensors are installed, the system must relearn the location of each tire, which requires a detailed series of technical procedures. You should leave this task to a professional.
If you need tire service for your Toyota, come to Kings Toyota for prompt, reliable service. Our highly-trained technicians are equipped to assist with any type of tire issue, whether you need new tires or have a malfunctioning tire pressure sensor light. Make your appointment today.
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Tire-pressure warning lights are typically located in the gauge cluster of an automobile's dashboard.
Warning lights are usually yellow or amber and resemble a cross section of a tire with an exclamation point and/or the letters "TPMS." (You can see one in the photo above, just to the left of the speedometer.) This small telltale illuminates to inform you of low air pressure in one or more tires when that issue is detected by the vehicle's tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS).
In general, the light will come on when the air pressure in one or more tires is outside the recommended range. Since the tires' optimal performance and safety benefits are realized within a specific range of air pressure, measured in pounds per square inch (psi), the warning light may illuminate when pressure has dropped as little as 10 percent below the recommendation—long before low pressure is visible to the eye.
Some of the more sophisticated tire-pressure monitoring systems will tell drivers which tire is out of range or display real-time air pressure in each tire—including spare tires, in some cases.
If your tire-pressure warning light comes on, don't ignore it; you could be getting a flat.
Low pressure could result from a leak or simply from the tendency of a tire to lose about a pound of air pressure every month, as well as a pound for every 10-degree drop in temperature. So if your tires are inflated properly in the summer, they could be low enough by the winter months to prompt the tire-pressure warning. Similarly, if a tire-pressure light illuminates on a cool morning, it could shut off if the ambient temperature climbs high enough to bring the tires back to an acceptable pressure. Tires warm up as you drive, raising their internal pressure by about 3 psi, which is another reason the TPMS warning might be on first thing in the morning and off later in the day.
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Either way, whenever a tire-pressure warning light turns on, it's time to check your tires with a tire-pressure gauge, which costs as little as $5.
A monthly pressure check of all your tires can help you keep them at the optimal level of inflation and will enable you to identify slow leaks early—possibly even before the pressure drops low enough for the warning light to come on.
If your TPMS warning light does come on, find the closest gas or service station and check the pressure of all four tires (plus the spare, if applicable), adding air to any that fall below the range listed on a sticker inside the driver's door. Once the tires are properly inflated, the light may go off after you've driven a few miles. If the light doesn't automatically turn off after about 10 miles, the TPMS may need to be reset, as directed in the vehicle's owner's manual. If the light comes on and all your tires are within the acceptable range, there's a chance that you have a malfunctioning tire-pressure monitoring sensor that needs to be replaced. No matter what the issue turns out to be, pay attention if the tire-pressure light turns on; you'll be safer for it, and you might also avoid damaging your tires.
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Tire pressure monitoring system ( TPMS - Tire Pressure Monitoring System ) is not installed on all vehicles. It refers to additional options and is aimed at timely detection of excessive deviations from the norm of air pressure in tires. You can mount it both independently and at an authorized dealer or in any car repair shop.
Tire pressure monitoring system
The monitoring system consists of:
Important! When purchasing pressure sensors for the first time, it is better to first call in a car service to be told which type of them is suitable. Not all cars are equipped with on-board computers, you may have to buy equipment with a remote display to install it in the cabin.
The whole system is complex and sometimes fails. Most often, drivers are faced with such a problem - a low pressure signal appears on the display in any of the wheels, although in fact everything is in order. It is necessary to remove the sensor error, otherwise the tire pressure monitoring system will not work correctly.
Sensor error
The causes of the malfunction may be:
These are temporary faults. As soon as the car moves away from the source of the problem, everything will be restored.
This is already a serious problem that needs to be solved. The constantly flashing indicator distracts from driving, and the beep is annoying and does not allow you to concentrate.
Tire pressure drop icon
Pressure sensor error is not uncommon. It has been noticed that owners of car brands such as Ford, Mercedes, Lexus and Kia sportage are especially affected by this. But this is only when installing non-original devices, in suspicious car services, in pursuit of cheapness. As a result, there is a failure in the system and grief, motorists have to look for information on how to remove the hated error and restore the normal functioning of the equipment.
Unfortunately, there is no universal remedy for all vehicles. But still, the actions of drivers in the event of such a problem should be approximately the same.
Checking tire pressure
1.First of all, you need to make sure that the system is really giving an error.
Often drivers are outraged by a burning indicator, thinking that everything is normal, and the pressure sensors are broken, but in reality everything is not at all like that.
Continue driving at the recommended speed of no more than 80 km/h. In this case, you should monitor the indicators. It is impossible to say how much time exactly you need to drive to remove the error icon, it is different for each car. If you listen to the reviews of motorists, then Mercedes and Kia sportage require a longer time period than Ford and Lexus. But more than an hour in any case should not pass.
2. When it is definitely established that the pressure sensor error is present, it is time for the second stage - you must refer to the instructions.
Tire Pressure Adaptation
Each vehicle and optional equipment must have a service manual. They also indicate possible errors and solutions. In most cases, the whole problem is solved by resetting the pressure sensor and rebooting the on-board computer.
3. If the previous option did not help or there is no instruction manual, then you will have to contact a car service.
Tire pressure sensor repair
When choosing a company, you need to pay attention to its reputation and experience of employees, in this case, an auto electrician is interested. The specialist must have all the necessary equipment to diagnose and correct the error. To remove it, the master flashes (reprograms) the sensors. For this, special programs are used. You can try to do it yourself, armed with a tablet with an installed application and special hardware codes. But there is a chance to ruin everything completely.
Sensor errors
4. When nothing helped, the failure is not fixed, and the auto electrician advises buying new pressure sensors, then it's time to decide: drive with the indicator light on, turn off the system completely or purchase a new set.
Important! Original sensors are expensive, but last a long time. Clones and used ones are cheap, but their lifespan is not known.
The tire pressure monitoring system helps you drive safely. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor its correctness. When an indication occurs, everything should be checked, and if there was a failure in the system and this is an error, then it is urgent to remove it.
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Opel Astra - Video Lesson Model: Opel Astra Astra J - Years 2009-2016 To reset the Opel Astra tire pressure warning light, the flat tire pressure must return to the recommended pressure. The correct internal pressure is indicated on a sticker located on the driver's door pillar. After the tires are returned to their correct value, it will be necessary to enter the passenger compartment and turn on the dashboard so that the sensors can determine the new pressure value. When this is detected, the tire pressure warning light will automatically turn off.  |
