Kane Dan
Have you ever noticed the low tire pressure light? If so, that means that your tires’ pressure needs to be filled as soon as you can so that your vehicle is in perfect condition.
However, the light may persist even after you have filled the tires, which tends to be annoying. This is because of the light’s inability to reset even after you have done what it was alarming against.
The light on the dashboard is not always the best scene, especially if you are ever cautious about the warning signs.
This is because you will not be able to ensure whether the light is working perfectly or not.
Either way, if you have checked the pressure of all the tires and adjusted as needed and the light still won’t go off, you can attempt any of the following procedures to reset the light:
- Drive The Vehicle At A Speed Of 50mph For Approximately 10 Miles
- Use The TPMS Button Of The Vehicle To Reset The Light
- Deflate And Inflate The Tires
- Disconnect The Cables On The Car Battery And Connect Them Again
Either way, the low tire pressure light is not an alarming warning, and this can be taken care of in a matter of minutes.
You don’t even have to call an expert to check out the vehicle.
However, if the light persists even after you have done all you can, you will need the vehicle to be checked for the possible cause of the light being on.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Why Is My Tire Pressure Light On?
The tire pressure light might go on as soon as you start driving or turn on while you are continuing with the driving.
Some of the causes of this include:
- Changes in weather or temperature: If there is a significant change in the conditions outside, such as a change in temperature suddenly, this might affect the tires.
For instance, when the temperatures drop suddenly, the tire pressure might also drop, which will trigger the sensor and cause the light to go on. - A leak in the tires: A leak in the tires is alarming as the tires’ pressure will drop even after you have just had the tires inflated. This can be corrected by patching the tire or replacing it.
If you like to know more about this topic, then I suggest you to read this article.
What Does A Flashing Tire Pressure Light Mean?
The flashing of the tire pressure light immediately you start the vehicle is normal, and it should disappear after a few seconds.
This is normal unless the light persists for the entire time you are driving. This means that the sensors on the tires could indicate that the air pressure on the tires is not as it should be.
In this case, driving such a car is dangerous as the car may not be balanced. You can check the pressure on each of the tires and try to detect a leak if you can.
If you are unable to figure out the problem, you should contact professional help as soon as you can.
How To Reset Low Tire Pressure Light
As indicated above, the low tire pressure light in any vehicle is on when the pressure on any of the tires is not at the appropriate measure.
This is dangerous for the occupants when the vehicle is driven at high speed and hence the warning.
However, the light may persist even after the tires’ pressure has been verified and corrected. You can reset the light through the following ways.
1. Drive The Vehicle At A Speed Of 50mph For Approximately 10 Miles
Driving the vehicle for close to 10 miles at a speed of 50mph is the easiest way to reset the light. You can make use of the cruise control feature to ensure that the speed is constant for the distance.
In some vehicles, you will need to drive them at high speed than the 50mph-mark. After that, park the car and shut it off; the next time you ignite it, the light should be off.
2. Use The (Tire Pressure Monitoring Button) TPMS Button Of The Vehicle To Reset The Light
All the tires of the vehicle have a sensor that needs to be reset at times.
It would be an excellent idea if you consulted the owner’s manual in this case-and it should show the location of the TPMS reset button.
After finding the button’s location, place the car keys, and have them in the “on” position. After that, press the reset button and hold it down until the light blinks three times.
Then, release the button, start the vehicle, and let it run for less than twenty minutes. This allows the computer to recalibrate all the sensors so that everything is in perfect condition.
The next step is to shut off the ignition, and the light should be off.
3. Deflate And Inflate The Tires
Sometimes, you might have to repeat the entire steps of deflating the tires and inflating them to the recommended pressure.
This should also be done for the spare tires since some vehicles have a sensor on the spare tire.
You will then have to drive the vehicle at about 15 mph so that all the sensors are reset and that the light works well.
4. Disconnect The Cables On The Car Battery And Connect Them Again
Like any electronic, you might need to have it reboot before everything is in perfect working condition.
In the case of your vehicle, you can disconnect the car battery in the hood and connect it.
You will need a wrench for this task, work to disconnect the negative terminal first, and then turning the vehicle on.
After that, you can press on the horn for some seconds to drain the system’s power. Then connect the negative terminal, and the process should be successful.
What If I Cannot Fix The Issue: What Should I Do?
- If either of the above ways does not work to correct the issue, and you are sure that the tire pressure is accurate, then the sensor might be the issue.
The sensors on one or a few of the tires might be damaged, and an expert in the repair shop can only correct this.
Some of the causes of damage to the sensors may occur during service, tire replacement, service on the brake of the vehicle, or even an oil and filter change. - The air pressure gauge might also not be calibrated as it should be. This can be corrected by recalibrating it or having it replaced altogether.
- Internal faults may affect the proper working of the system.
- A slow leak in any of the tires might be causing the light to remain on.
Ways To Avoid Pressure Sensor Faults
You will not want to deal with such a situation anymore, and that is why you need to take steps to avoid this in the future.
Some of the maintenance steps that will help to avoid this include:
- Keep the cap screwed onto the valve stem to protect the sensor from damage caused by water, mud and road salt.
- Don’t use aerosol flat-fixer as this causes damage to the tires’ sensor, especially if a component enters a hole of the sensor. This may make the sensor unable to take readings and hence lead to other malfunctions.
- Always go for a stainless steel core in the case that a tire requires a replacement valve-stem core. Other materials like brass are affected with rust and are unable to do their work appropriately.
FAQs
Q1. Why Is My Tire Pressure Light Still On After Filling Tires?
If you realize that the tire pressure light is still on even after you have filled the tires, then the issue might be with the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).
This means that the tires’ pressure sensor may not be working as they should and hence the issue with the tire pressure light on the dashboard.
You might also have a slow leak from either of the vehicle’s tires.
Q2. Where Is The TPMS Reset Button?
In most vehicles, the TPMS reset button is usually just below the steering wheel of the vehicle.
Q3. Will Tire Pressure Light Go Off On Its Own?
In some cases, the light may go off on its own without you having to reset it.
For instance, during the winter, as the temperature drops, so does the tires’ pressure, which triggers the light to go on.
However, when it gets warm, the tire pressure rises, and the light goes off by itself.
The light might also go off on its own if you drive the vehicle at a speed of 50mph for 10 miles to allow the sensors to work appropriately.
Conclusion
As seen above, the low tire pressure light can be reset using a series of steps so that you are able to use the vehicle comfortably.
This should also help you realize when there is an issue with the tire pressure on any of the vehicle’s tires.
Sources:
1. Auffenberg Dealer Group – https://www.auffenberg.com/service/service-tips/reset-tire-pressure-light/
2. Sam Leman Toyota – Bloomington – https://www.samlemantoyotabloomington.com/reset-tire-pressure-light/
