The tires are part of the major components of the car that determines a smooth driving experience. When it comes to tire inflation, you should be knowledgeable of the right pressure.
Lacking that, you might dash off experiencing the warning light on the dashboard. How does the tire pressure sensor fault look?
Inside each tire there is a small computer, allowing it to be an “alert” device for under/over–inflated tires. The use of physiological sensors has been made compulsory in all the cars in the United States since 2007.
The measure was “enacted” by the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), in a bid to cut the significant amounts of car fatalities and accidents.
There have actually been several rollover and blowouts of cars and trucks from underinflated and overinflated tires.
In plain terms, you shouldn’t ignore that tire pressure warning light that pops up in your dashboard, because doing that would be risking your life and those on the highway too. I will be revealing some tips on how to fix such problem.
What Causes Tire Pressure Sensor Fault?
Now, if all is to go well, and the tire pressure sensor detects a problem, it notifies the computer in the vehicle. Next, you get to see that amber yellow light glowing on your dashboard. You have seen the U shape sign with an exclamation in the middle, right?
Various reasons for the car’s tire pressure sensor faults appear on the dashboard. Much more, as we move the car across varying terrain and conditions. Below, however, are common causes of the tire pressure sensor fault appearing.
#1. Low Tire Pressure.
The first thing to think about when attendees of the tire pressure sensor fault appear is low tire air pressure. Recall that this is the basic reason for the sensors in the first case, and they are fitted in all the car tires.
Thus, when the tire’s pressure appears low, the control module receives a message signaling the car’s computer about an impending problem regarding the tire inflation. In turn, you will see the message appear on your dashboard.
#2. Worn Tire Pressure Sensors.
The wear of the tire pressure sensor is a common reason aka cause for the tire pressure sensor fault. It’s no so rare a fault, as with frequent rides, the sensors wear out and such errors are commonplace when the tire pressure sensor is nearing the ends of its lives.
Most batteries powering the tire pressure sensors would last five years or more and may begin to drain soon after. Again, these rubber sensors, they are prone to wear and tear faster, while the aluminum pressure may fail as the valve stem begins corroding.
#3. Problems with the Tire Pressure Management System.
The tire pressure management system or TPMS of the car is critical to the proper running of the car. If you are so observant to notice the Duralast tire pressure sensor’s warning light on your dashboard, it could well not be the sensor but a problem with the TPMS.
Ever noticed the warning message popping up even when you have properly inflated tires? The TPMS must be having some problems. And you need to look into such immediately.
The TPMS has various components like your transmission or brake system. So, damage to one could mean serious business. Please note that the components are prone to corroding, and also prone to all kinds of wear and tear and some accidental damages.
If you notice the tire pressure sensor, but the tires are fine, it indicates something must not exactly be right with the TPMS.
#4. Wiring Issues.
Faulty wiring often results in problems with the tire pressure sensor and the warning message appearing from time to time.
While it might not be common, this short-circuiting fault may be the only explanation for that warning light persistently glowing in your car dashboard.
That is the reason you must only engage experienced auto care services and certified mechanics. Such faults may occur when inexperienced car mechanics inadvertently interfere with the cables while changing the tires.
For some reason, the tire pressure fault warning may appear without any real fault in the tire pressure or wear out of tire pressure sensors.
As a result, you will do well to also watch out for the following:
- Temporary glitch affecting the TPMS
- Interference with the sensor signal
- Sensor’s inability to read the pick-up.
Symptoms of Bad Tire Pressure Sensor
There are two common types of tire pressure sensors- the valve type and the band type. However, either does a good job of lighting up the dashboard to show that your car isn’t rolling on enough air.
Not all cars have this cool gadget, but in US, it’s mandatory and just as well because it’s very important.
Let’s quickly dwell more on an issue that’s common amongst cars, just like every problem they suffer from – the symptoms it comes with. With these symptoms, you can readily tell that something is wrong with the TPMS.
Thus, you can fix the problem in no time, oh, even when the dash lights seem faulty. Here are a couple of symptoms to take a look at:
#1. Engine Check Light.
Do you have the check engine light on? Well, this can be a sign that the vehicle sensors have issues and thus possibly signaling a tire pressure sensor fault. There’s an entire lot of problems that can cause the engine check light to light up.
So, you may want to look for other symptoms too for no doubt that it’s the tire pressure sensor activating the warning. Such act, can help you land the right diagnosis, and we sure hope you would fix the fault without much stress.
#2. Increased Fuel Economy.
If any of the tires are over/under-inflated, you would notice a higher fuel consumption than usual. Why? Well, such tires most of the time “dragging” along during the ride.
Hence it forces your vehicle’s engine to burn more fuel than it actually uses in a normal situation. In short, this sign may tell you that the tire pressure sensor system has some “fixing” to do.
#3. The Tires are “Uneven.”
Often, bad roads render the car’s tires uneven and create some difficulties in smooth driving. So, uneven tire may be a meaning to a tire pressure sensor problem. This problem occurs due to the terrain that the tires are being subjected to.
#4. The Steering Wheel Jerk.
With the tire being “underinflated,” the steering wheel would soon start to jerk from side to side. You should have known by now that if the tire’s pressure looks low, the sides of the tire will become softer.
Therefore, you’d be having some problem trying to keep the steering wheel straight on the road. Such problem could also reduce the car speed even while the steering wheel shaking all the way on the road.
A sign like this signifies you need should check on the tire pressure sensors.
#5. Weird Noise from the Wheel.
With the uneven wear and the underinflated tire, the lower part of the tire form “flat spot” will make a “flop” sound. You are unlikely to hear the sound at first since it would be inaudible.
However, as you navigate the highway at great speed, it becomes quite audible. Now, there may a tire pressure sensor fault. You should attempt a diagnosis and fix before it causes further damage.
How to Identify Which TPMS Sensor is Bad?
TPMS sensors are created to last for years and survive harsh conditions; they however get damaged with time. Any sign or warning light of something unusual from your vehicle’s TPMS system, then watch out for bad TPMS.
Use a TPMS diagnostic tool or scanner to find out bad TPMS (Tire pressure monitoring system).
Simply connect the tool to the vehicle’s OBD-II port and follow the prompts presented. The scanner will display any and all error codes found in the vehicle and show which TPMS sensor is faulty.
Another way to track down a bad TPMS sensor is to inflate each of your tires manually to the psi for each of them.
Then take a tire pressure gauge and check the pressure in each one of them. Compare what you get with what your vehicle displays on the dashboard.
If you get a different pressure reading between one of your tires and those of the others, that sensor may need replacing.
You can do it no tool. Pump the tire to the recommended level with air and start letting the air out. Now if you notice a blinking warning on the car display panel, you’ve a good indication the tire pressure sensor is faulty.
If you don’t happen to have a diagnostic tool handy a visual of the tire’s valve stem can also find out a bad TPMS sensor.
Check for damage or corrosion in the stem or sensor housing. A damaged sensor results in an on light of your TPMS warning.
How Do You Fix a Tire Pressure Sensor Fault?
A “tire pressure sensor fault fix” seems pretty straightforward, especially if you know what caused it. For a large part of the work always rests with the tug of war over the cause of the problem.
This is where you firstly learn what could possibly be the cause of such a situation. But these are some of the ways of finding out…
#1. Inspections & Inflating the Car’s Tires.
You need to inspect the tires hold the correct pressure for the car to roll smoothly. You can do this with the aid of a tire pressure gauge, and this would give you an indication of whether to inflate the tire further.
How do you know if it needs inflating? You can always check the repair Hex, but most cars have a note on the label behind the driver’s door. If it needs inflating, it would be wise getting it deflated then.
Then you may proceed to inflate it, bearing in mind the PSI that you have found. If you have been driving the car for a bit, there’s a good chance it has lost some air, so it will help if you inflated it a bit more than the recommended pressure, as it has been stated on the label.
#2. Using a Scanner or Button to Reset the TPMS.
After tire inflation, it’s important to do a tire pressure sensor fault reset to troubleshoot the warning light apt to show on your dashboard. In some cases, you may need to drive around for approximately 15 minutes for the light to go off.
Other cases may require that you do a diagnostic reset for the problem to be completely resolved.
For some car models, it’s easy as pie, and you need only to push a few buttons. Other vehicles have a somewhat complicated reset process due to their programmed learning system.
For these cars, you may require not only an OEM as OBD2 tool for scanning but also a TPMS programming tool. Not sure of the kind of system your car has? Well, you can find out from the TPMS section of the manual.
You can also get more information on how to go about this process from your vehicle’s manual. If you are beginning to feel it’s becoming a bit of a chore resetting your Ford F250 super-duty tire press, you may need to consult a pro.
#3. Reading and Clearing the Trouble Codes.
If the tire pressure sensor fault continues blinking on the dashboard after performing the above tips, it wouldn’t hurt to read the error code.
Maybe something is wrong and wrong communication is coming from a faulty tire pressure sensor.
You would need to get your diagnostic scanning tools ready for this process, as these devices are the only things that can help you read the codes of the TPMS control module in your vehicle.
#4. Get the Transponders Recalibrated.
There’s a transponder situated on every vehicle’s wheel, and its position can get altered if the wheels rotate.
So, there is a need for the TPMS to be aware of the new location if the wheels get rotated. In the meantime, there may be a tire pressure sensor fault on the F150 dashboard which is not good.
The only right way to circumvent such an issue is to recalibrate the transponders after every wheel rotation. You may also want to try changing the valve stems as part of this process to ensure they properly work.
#5. Battery Disconnection and Reconnection.
Sometimes, after rectifying the possible reason for the fault signal, the warning light could still be visible on the dashboard. This means you will have to make the computer to forget that there ever was a problem
Since the computer works with the power from the battery of the car, unhooking it for a while should do the trick.
Begin by opening the hood and removing the negative battery terminal. Turn on the vehicle and drain the remaining power out of it by pressing the horn for a few seconds.
Reconnect the battery terminal after a while. Everything should appear normal again
#6. Bad tire pressure sensor replacement.
The signal that shows there is a tire pressure sensor fault could be caused by a defective tire pressure sensor. A good replacement would be necessary for the system to work properly.
Pricing of tire pressure sensor fault repair generally starts from $50 and above. Go to the auto care service where you live to find out more. The price doesn’t include labor costs.
Common sensors include Motor craft TPMS35 TPMS Sen, Denso 5500103 tire press, Motor craft TPMs42 TPMS Sen, and Schrader 20158 TPMS Sen.
What happens if you Ignore the Tire Pressure Sensor Warning
Ignoring tire pressure sensor warning can have dire consequences for your car both in terms of performance and safety.
Low tire pressure compromises your fuel economy, reduces your handling and increases your stopping distance, while putting uneven pressure on your tires resulting in rapid wear that can lead to a premature replacement.
One other harmful consequence of ignoring the tire pressure sensor warning comes your way. This might lead to a blowout or other dangerous driving situations.
Driving with low tire pressure puts sidewalls of your tires thinking they are firmer than they are, flexing them more than usual. Therefore, such excess heat is generated as to cause them to burst, or simply fail catastrophically traveling at speed.
Ignore them at your own peril. Rather, act at the sight of that warning. Regularly check your pressures at least once every month and before long trips. And when inflating them, do so to the levels that the manufacturer cares to specify. If you are not sure, have them checked out by a certified technician if necessary.
FAQs.
How much does it cost to fix a tire pressure sensor fault?
The cost of fixing the fault of tire pressure sensor varies depending on the problem, like every part of the vehicle. You might have to diagnose the exact problem and check how much the component that needs replacement costs.
That said, if you must replace the tire pressure sensor, you should budget about $230 to $750 for all tires. There might be a slight increment depending on the exact sensors you want to install in the tires.
Why does car’s tire pressure light come on when tires are fine?
The tire pressure light might come on even when the tire doesn’t look tampered, and it can be because of bad wiring.
When the tires are being serviced, the mechanic would have often accessed the sensors, and if it is an inexperienced that tampers with the wiring, a short circuit might have occurred.
Aside from that, if there is a tire pressure sensor fault with the spare tire that looks fine, you might have to look out for possible signs of them wearing out. If they appear worn, you would have to get a suitable replacement.
How do you know which tire sensor is bad?
One easy method of checking the exact tire sensors that are not good is by releasing the air from each tire. But you have to be sure the tires have the correct air pressure, as it is in the car’s manual.
Remember that the tire pressure sensor relays the message of underinflated tire on the dashboard.
If you notice a tire not relaying the correct thing to the dashboard during the deflation, that sensor in that tire seems not to be good. So, if you see tire pressure sensor fault on Ford Explorer dashboard, you can troubleshoot and tell which sensors are bad.
Can you reset TPMS without a tool?
There are easier ways you can reset your car’s TPMS without any tools, and one way you can achieve that is to check the pressure in each tire using the gauge.
Then start the engine and press the vehicle’s hazard light button six times. Such an action selects the menu option “tire pressure sensors” and “set/clear.”
Then deflate the tires till you hear a sound; please do that for the four tires. However, fixing such a challenge without the tools might look pretty dicey and at times unfruitful. You can buy a few tools at an affordable price to help reset the TPMS.
Can AutoZone check TPMS sensors?
AutoZone is one of the places you can get all the products for your tire pressure monitoring system. Please note that regular checking can help you discover any fault with the tire pressure sensor on time and fix such a challenge quickly.
Also, you can discover if the valve is corroding or the wiring looks compromised. So, after such inspection, you can purchase the repair part from AutoZone. With that, your tires should perform better while you drive.
Can I change just one of my TPMS sensors?
You can simply change one of the TPMS sensors of your car’s tire if only that one looks bad. This option looks cheaper and easy to manage.
However, you should try to look out for the extent of the damage to know if there is a need to get the others changed.
In the case of a dead sensor battery, there is strong chances that the other batteries may wear out any moment for other sensors so that replacing those three will save you from too much stress. Such a move will ensure that you do not have any downtime while you drive.
Final Words
A car tire pressure sensor is on a need-to-have basis that would also help promote safe driving. You’d notice the “tire pressure sensor fault” on the car’s dashboard with the device equipped, right? It would show up when the tire pressure looks low, or something more serious.
Such a warning message can make you resolve to check out the problem before it translates to something more serious.
Apart from the low tire pressure, there are a few reasons to see the warning light come on your dashboard. You’d also find some common symptoms, and this piece has some excellent tips for fixing such issues.