Tire Pressure Monitor light came on

[chobocobo]

I'm only 18 and I've never dealed with this stuff before. So do I just go get a tire pressure guage and check the air pressure in each tire and then fill the one with the less air.

[JPaul]

IMHO, the easiest first attempt - and good rehearsal test for what came with your car - try using the emergency kit's pump located ahead and above the passenger's footwell. Its gauge is not the best though.
For convenience, since the emergency kit can become a pain to take out every now and then, you may want to get a tire pressure gauge (available at most car supply stores and big chains, starting at about $5-8).

[John_H]

Originally Posted by chobocobo

So do I just go get a tire pressure guage and check the air pressure in each tire and then fill the one with the less air.

It depends on whether the tire keeps the air or not. Especially for the aluminum wheels (rather than the pure's steelies) the nature of the metal used will tend to lose a little air over time and environmental factors. The loss of air could be just this normal "slow leak" afforded by the alloys used. But it could also mean you have a screw or nail in the tire (as I did once) or something less obvious like a loose valve stem (which I also had once).

Check the pressure. Fill back up. Do a quick inspection for metal in the tread. If there's no nail/screw and the tire keeps its pressure over a day and over several days, you're looking good. If the pressure drops notable in a day or in several days, you may want to get the tire looked at.

[jimvw57]

I found that most tire gauges (pencil type) are inaccurate at best. I got a digital one which did cost a little more but it seems to be much more accurate and I found out that my old gauge was no good. With the cooler temps, my TPMS light came on and I adjusted the tire pressure on all 4 wheels. When I got them back to spec, the light went out on it's own. Tires were about 7 lbs low.

The city here decided to re-pave the streets. They chewed off about 3 inches of asphalt in preperation for a nwe surface. That was 4 weeks ago, now we have a slalom course to avoid all the holes and sewer covers. They said it wouldn't take more than 3-5 days. We are still waiting.....

[Jordon]

Originally Posted by chobocobo

I'm only 18 and I've never dealed with this stuff before. So do I just go get a tire pressure guage and check the air pressure in each tire and then fill the one with the less air.

Simple answer, YES. The owners manual is a wonderful thing in a situation like this. Once you set the pressures to the recommended psi (29 front 36 rear I believe, I'd have to check inside the door sil, or the owners manual to be for sure) the light will go out. Most likely came on because it is colder out and the tires naturally lose air, like if you left a basketball outside, it will not bounce anymore.

[markitect]

Most importantly there are tire pressures listed in the drivers door opening and in the manual. Inflate all the tires to those specifications.

You should do this before driving the car, and preferably when it hasn't been sitting in direct sun.


The TPMS doesn't seem to turn on the light until a tire is under 25 psi, which is already pretty low.

[Padawan]

Also keep in mind that any time you inflate the tires to proper pressures, you also want to recalibrate the TPMS system to recognise those pressures as the correct baseline. This is done by simply pressing the TMPS button on the button bank until you see the warning indicator on the gauges cluster flash.

[Big Panda]

Originally Posted by markitect

The TPMS doesn't seem to turn on the light until a tire is under 25 psi, which is already pretty low.

I had my TPMS come on last week. When I checked my tires, I had one low one, a rear, at 29.5 psi, about 7 lbs low.

All is well now.......

[Old smart]

The guidance is to check your pressures when the tires are cold, then re-set the TPMS. But if you have to check them when warm, I have seen an older smart recommendation to take the tires to +3 psi to compensate.

I have an OK, small, dial-type gauge in my onboard tool kit for emergencies (more accurate than a pencil-type or what you get at an air station), but prefer the very accurate 0-60 psi Intercomp gauge for garage work. The 29 psi and 36 psi fall just about in the middle of its range, where gauges are most accurate. I was enough impressed with the 0-30 Intercomp left over from the racing days that I sprung for the 0-60 for the smart. Pegasus - Intercomp 2 inch Deluxe Tire Pressure Gauge, 0-60 psi

[SMARTPLUG]

My tpms will come on when the pressure get only 2 lbs. low very sensitive I guess it is good in a way, it makes you keep track of your pressure. Bob.