TPMS stands for tire pressure monitoring system. This is an important upgrade to most modern vehicles that provides an early warning system when a tire is low. Driving on tires with low pressure can do everything from reduce your gas mileage to wearing out the tires early. In the worst-case scenario, it can lead to a blowout.
TPMS Dashboard Warning Lights
TPMS usually consists of two dashboard alert lights. The orange or red light with the exclamation point inside a circle is the pressure gauge. This indicates that at least one tire is low. If this light comes on, you should pull off at the first safe place to check your tires. Hopefully, you can make it to a place to fill the tires. If you have a portable compressor in the trunk, you can pull off at any safe location to fill the tires.
The second warning light is for the system itself. The letters TPMS will appear on the dash if the system is not functioning. This can occur for a number of reasons. For example,
- The sensor is malfunctioning on one or more tires. – This may involve a tire being severely damaged, so pull over immediately if you are feeling a wobble.
- The sensor is not set up on one or more tires (i.e. you are using the spare tires, and it is not equipped with TPMS).
- The tires have been rotated, but the garage did not reset the sensors to let the car know the new location of the tires. – This will require the assistance of a garage that is able to reset tire pressure sensors.
- You passed something that interfered with the signal coming from one or more tires. – This can be something as simple as passing another vehicle with a tire pressure system set to the same frequency. If that is the case, the light should turn off within a couple of minutes of driving.
TPMS Maintenance in the San Diego Area
If no other signs of a tire problem accompany the TPMS light, but it stays on for more than a few minutes of driving, it’s time to have the system checked out. Schedule an appointment with MR Auto SD by calling (858) 455-8222. And don’t forget to check your tires regularly until the system is fixed so that you are not driving on underinflated tires.
