Low Tire Pressure Warning Light

[gshase]

I Remember not having these on cars. Now my wife, daughter and MIL all freak out when the warning light comes on. Yes it needs attention to correct the issue but it is always 2-3 PSI to correct the problem. As a pilot a light on the panel is a issue and I tell my family (yes I include my MIL) get out of the car and make a visual inspection and then bring it over and I will check all of the pressures. I would like to see a 2 stage warning light. Possibly yellow for a few PSI low and a RED light for over 8 PSI off. This issue always happens when we get a weather change.

[Oh Haha]

My wife freaked out shortly after we bought our Honda when the TPMS light came on. I checked the pressures and 1 tire was down from the recommended psi by 3, if I remember correctly. I know it wasn't much. I still check all of our vehicles about once month.

[craigster59]

It's also a pain for people who change from summer to winter tires and don't have an extra set of TPMS's. The other crappy thing is you can't bypass it/ turn it off (at least on my Outback and Tacoma).

[TimT]

The tire pressure warning light on my WRX will flicker and blink, when the tire pressures are borderline, and temps are cool..and will come full on if the pressure doesn't build when the tires warm from driving.

I guess Subaru programmed some adaptive logic or something into the TPMS system...

[plumb4u2]

this drove me crazy with my jeep when the light came on and I couldn't find a problem....Then I thought "hey dumb ass check the spare tire"

[Flat Six]

Also realize that some TPMS systems use ABS sensors rather than pressure sensors in each wheel. Measuring difference in the rotational speed of each wheel alerts the driver to a 'pressure' issue. Slight differences in tires (such as different brands of same size) or traction will make these ABS-based systems illuminate warning lights more often.

[red-beard]

Guys - guys - guys

You have been given an OPPORTUNITY. You NEED an air compressor for the house with a long hose and a chuck that has a pressure gauge!

[widebody911]

The TPMS light on my M3 went on this morning, but for good cause

[Bill Douglas]

All the women I know would think "What! Tire pressures. I'm sure they would have done that in the factory when they made the car."

[cashflyer]

Most people I know would just disable the damn light.

[HHI944]

oops, wrong thread....stupid phone.....at least on my jag, I'm told that one of the OBDII readers that works through the phone can give you realtime tire pressure readings.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Guys - guys - guys

You have been given an OPPORTUNITY. You NEED an air compressor for the house with a long hose and a chuck that has a pressure gauge!

Brilliant!

I always get calls from my wife in the winter when the stupid light comes on, seems the sensors don't like cold and REALLY don't like being packed in snow. It has been handy on a few occasions though, alerting me to a slow leak that I might not have otherwise noticed until it became a flat.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by red-beard

You NEED an air compressor for the house with a long hose and a chuck that has a pressure gauge!

That can be a mixed blessing. I think the number 3 reason I have so many friends is that I have an air compressor for them to use. #1 is having a pickup truck, #2 is having a car trailer.

[Oh Haha]

Wifey called me on her way to the office this morning. " The tire pressure thingy is on again".

"Yes dear, I will look at the tires tonight".

I already have a decent air compressor setup so I guess my talk should be about me getting a BETTER setup, right?

[peppy]

We get false signals on our Jetta. Usually happens when we hit a pot hole.

[dave 911]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Guys - guys - guys

You have been given an OPPORTUNITY. You NEED an air compressor for the house with a long hose and a chuck that has a pressure gauge!

Believe it or not, that's exactly how I'm getting my compressor after all these years! The wife's light came on a few week's ago, and one of the kid's came on last week, and I've got the green light to buy a compressor

[jyl]

You need a big compressor for the garage and a couple of 12v compressors to the cars. Can't be too safe, TPMS lights are serious stuff . . . might also need some air tools to change the dangerous wheel if this happens again. Any way to parlay this into a lift as well?

[Reddog2]

Originally Posted by craigster59

It's also a pain for people who change from summer to winter tires and don't have an extra set of TPMS's. The other crappy thing is you can't bypass it/ turn it off (at least on my Outback and Tacoma).

Thats the beauty of both our Benzs and should be on all cars IMO. Switch to winters and warning light comes on once to to tell you no TPMS - you acknowledge and it goes out and doesn't tell you again. Some of my other cars had persistant light - some tape fixed that until summers went back on.

[Reddog2]

Originally Posted by jyl

You need a big compressor for the garage and a couple of 12v compressors to the cars. Can't be too safe, TPMS lights are serious stuff . . . might also need some air tools to change the dangerous wheel if this happens again. Any way to parlay this into a lift as well?

Yes, and also heated garage if you live anywhere cold! Sensors don't like cold tires nor too much weight on them so good to get them on a lift once a week

[gacook]

My wife's pretty decent about checking her own tire pressure. The other day, she told me she was low and went to the gas station to put air in the tires. I asked her why she didn't just do it in the garage using my air compressor (that she bought me for my birthday a couple years back). She gave me a strange look and said she didn't think I had the fittings for the tire thingies...

Silly women.