Is the tire air pressure warning light illuminated on your dashboard? Sometimes those dashboard lights can cause some frustration, but don’t fret. Figuring out why the tire air pressure warning light is on could be as simple as making sure your car tires are filled to the proper air pressure. But, what happens if you’ve checked the tire pressure and there’s enough air in the tires? Read on to learn more about the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) – an important and helpful safety component.
Why is it so Important to have a Tire Air Pressure Monitoring System?
That question is best answered with another question – When did you last check the air pressure in your tires? Even though it’s recommended that car owners check the air pressure once a month, most don’t. This becomes a real safety concern. In fact, it’s estimated that almost 200 deaths occur each year from crashes that are tire and overload related. The TPMS is designed to help make sure you aren’t driving on tires that are underinflated.
How Does the Tire Pressure Monitoring System Work?
Your vehicle is equipped with one of two types of Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems. The first type of TPMS is referred to as direct and actually measures the air pressure in each of your car tires. If the air pressure drops 25% or more, the sensor will send a signal to a computer module and the air pressure warning light will turn on. The second type of monitoring system is considered an indirect TPMS. That’s because, instead of measuring the air pressure, an indirect TPMS measures the speed of tire rotations. If one or more of the wheels begins to rotate faster than it should, the tire is most likely underinflated and the computer will trigger the TPMS warning light on your dashboard.
The Tire Air Pressure Warning Light Came On. Now What Do I Do?
If the warning light comes on while you are driving pull over to a safe location where you can get out and check the air pressure in your tires. If you have a noticeable flat tire, either change the tire or call for assistance. (Note: Spare tires do not come equipped with a TPMS, so the air pressure warning light will remain lit until you get the flat tire fixed). If you don’t see an obvious flat tire, use a tire gauge to check the tire air pressure in all your tires. If one or more of your tires is showing a low air pressure, you’ll need to re-inflate them to the correct tire air pressure (found inside the driver’s side door panel or in your vehicle owner’s manual).
Quick Tip: A tire gauge is an inexpensive investment. Keep it in your glovebox so you can use it once a month to check the tire air pressure. When you drive on your tires, the air expands in them, so remember to check the air pressure when your tires are cold.
In colder weather, if the warning light comes on in the morning or after your car has been sitting for a while the air pressure in your tires will be lower. In fact, the colder the temperatures, the more the tire air pressure will drop. With a direct TPMS, if the air pressure in one or more tires falls 25% or more, the tire air pressure warning light will illuminate. Re-inflate any tires that are low, but be careful. You don’t want to fill them too much since the air inside the tires will expand once you begin to drive. Driving on overinflated tires is just as dangerous as driving on tires with too little air.
Quick Tip: On certain vehicles, once you’ve re-inflated the tires, you must hit a reset button to turn off the tire air pressure warning light.
I’ve Added Air, but the TPMS Warning Light is Still On. Now What?
If you’ve inflated your tires to the proper air pressure, but the warning light stays on, you may have a leak or there’s a problem with the TPMS in one or more of your tires. It’s simple enough to check if there’s a leak in a tire. Just use your tire gauge to recheck the air pressure in all your tires. If the air pressure is correct in all the tires, there’s most likely a problem with one or more tire pressure sensors and you’ll need Tire Pressure Monitoring System repair work done. If you find the air pressure in one or more tires has dropped, you’ll need to either repair or replace the tire.
Country Road Automotive in Lincoln Park, NJ, Can Fix Problems with Your Air Pressure Monitoring System
If your air pressure warning light won’t turn off, don’t worry. Give Country Road Automotive a call. Our ASE-certified technicians can quickly diagnose and fix any problems with your Tire Pressure Monitoring System. Click here to make an appointment at our independent automotive repair shop in Lincoln Park, New Jersey.