Tire pressure monitor keeps lighting up: What you need to know

Almost all modern cars have different advanced technological features to make driving safer, more comfortable, and more convenient. One of these many features is the dashboard lights.

One of these many features is the dashboard lights

Dashboard lights are not new, but the messages are. It is also called car warning lights. Most of these dashboard lights indicate a fault that has occurred in one of the car's systems.

But in this article from Philkotse.com, we will focus on the TPMS light or the Tire Pressure Monitor Sensor light.

What is the Tire Pressure Monitor Sensor light?

When this car warning light on your dashboard is illuminating, it often means at least one of your tires has lower air pressure than required. In other cases, it can also come on if your car has a bad sensor.

If your vehicle has tire pressure monitor sensor light, keep in mind that you should not disregard regular maintenance. You should not rely solely on the TPMS light.

It is not a replacement for regularly and physically checking the tire pressure of your vehicle using a tire pressure gauge.

If your vehicle has a tire pressure monitor sensor light, you should not disregard regular maintenance

Although the TPMS light can be an excellent warning for an impending emergency, you should not wait for this warning light to come on before you check and top them up if necessary.

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The main reason why TPMS light is illuminating

A vehicle having a tire pressure monitor sensor has a wireless sensor in each tire. Every sensor sends information to the car computer, which will illuminate the TPMS warning light if one or more of these sensors indicate an air pressure that is lower or higher than the recommended operating range.

A vehicle having a tire pressure monitor sensor has a wireless sensor in each tire

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If you're wondering if you can still drive your car with this warning light illuminating, yes, you can.

However, since one or more of your tires has low air pressure, you may not control your car the way it's supposed to be. Plus, if you continue driving with a flat tire, it can damage your vehicle too.

When this warning light illuminates, the best thing to do is to check the pressure of your tires using a tire pressure gauge. But aside from that, it can also convey other essential information such as the following:

The TPMS warning light illuminates then goes off

If the light illuminates and goes off randomly, it is an indication that one or more tires are imminent to the maximum or minimum rated inflation. The contraction of air because of the heat or cold weather triggers the sensors.

In this scenario, the best thing to do is to check and adjust the tire pressure accordingly. You can continue to safely drive the car in this case because it is still close to the required tire pressure.

Just remember that you may not handle your vehicle the same way you expected it to be. 

The contraction of air because of the heat or cold weather triggers the sensors

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The TPMS warning light blinks before it stays on

If the TPMS light flashes for one or minute or more every time you start the car then stays illuminated, it is an indication that this warning light has probably failed or malfunctioned.

In this case, you can't rely on the TPMS anymore. The best thing to do is to contact a qualified technician immediately.

You should check the air pressure of your tires manually

In the meantime, you should check the air pressure of your tires manually. You can still safely drive the car with a malfunctioning TPMS light as long as you manually check the tires before driving.

It's just that; you won't be able to count on your tire pressure monitor sensor to notify you of any possible problem.

Does the changing temperature affect tire pressure?

More often, the air in the car tires is similar to the air present in the atmosphere. It only differs because the air in tires is loaded with nitrogen.

But the rules of thermodynamics still apply to both the elemental nitrogen and the combination of oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and other elements composing the air we breathe and the air pump into the car tires.

The gas law states that if the temperature of a particular volume of gas is decreased, it will also reduce the pressure. And because car tires are basically a closed system, the air's temperature will affect the air pressure in it.

>>> Have you known car tire pressure facts for a safe driving experience?

More often, the air in the car tires is similar to the air present in the atmosphere

Essentially, if the temperature of the air in a tire decreases, the air pressure in it will also go down. The same thing also happens when the temperature of the air in the tire rises; the air pressure in it goes up as well.

When the gas gets heated up, it expands. Since it is a closed system, the gas has nowhere to go and is trapped inside the tire; thus, the pressure increases.

Should you check the tire pressure or rely on the TPMS light?

It’s recommended to check the air pressure of each of your tires before driving it. If you have done it, and your tires are in the right pressure, but the TPMS light continues to flicker as you drive, most probably the problem is your bad tire pressure monitor system sensor. It occurs but not very common.

It’s recommended to check the air pressure of each of your tires before driving it

Aside from that, it's normal for stone-cold tires to have low pressure. So, if the weather is cold and the tire pressure monitor warning light keeps flashing on, then most probably, the issue is the reduced air pressure on the tires.

You can solve it by filling it with the recommended air pressure during colder weather.

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Bottomline

Tire pressure monitoring systems are helpful for most drivers because, just like any other car warning lights, it indicates any problem in this particular car system.

It enables drivers to determine if any of the tires are low on pressure. It is particularly important because tire pressure contributes to the fuel efficiency of a car. It also affects other car components.

It enables drivers to determine if any of the tires are low on pressure

Tire pressure monitor systems can save the life of your tires because it is designed to give you a warning by illuminating the TPMS dashboard light.

It provides a notice to the drivers of any possible problem that may arise involving the tire pressure monitoring system of your vehicle.