Never ignore your TPMS light. Automotive service terms can be confusing. Case in point: TPMS. If the acronym TPMS sounds like a foreign language to you, don’t worry, you’re not alone.
TPMS, or Tire Pressure Monitoring System, has been mandatory on cars for the past 10 years. If your vehicle is a 2008 model year or later, it is equipped with TPMS.
This is basically a warning system. Attached to each of your tires’ wheels, this little device allows your vehicle to notify you if any tire’s air pressure is running low. A light on the dash indicates significantly low PSI, air pressure in pounds per square in, when it is 25% below the recommended PSI for the vehicle. Some vehicles even identify which tire has low air pressure.
What to do if the TPMS light comes on…If your TPMS light comes on, first thing you should do is inspect your tires. Visually inspect them to see if any one of them look underinflated. Also check the PSI on all of your tires using a tire gauge.
If your PSI is low on one or more tires, fill the tire with air to the recommended PSI listed on your vehicle door placard (most often located on the driver’s door jamb). If a tire keeps losing air pressure, or the light comes back on a day or so after you filled it, there’s most likely a leak in the tire and should be checked out. (As a side note, the TPMS is programmed to the vehicle placard, not the PSI number on the tire sidewall.)
What if the TPMS Light is flashing? As with any advanced technology, it can fail. If your TPMS indicator light is flashing, it means there’s a malfunction in the system and should be looked as as soon as possible. TPMS devices have batteries that can die or a sensor could have gone bad, or it may need to be reprogrammed.
Do you need new TPMS? If one or more of your existing sensors needs to be fixed or replaced, Douglas Automotive Repair can help you. We’re equipped to handle your tire repairs, tire replacement, TMPS reprogramming or replacement.
Give us a call today if your TPMS light is on!
#automotive #mechanic #TPMS #carrepair #localshop
This entry was posted in Safety, Tires and tagged Safety, tires, TPMS on .
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