Understanding Why My Tire Pressure Light Is On

Is your tire pressure light plaguing your car’s dashboard? Nancy explains why your tire pressure light is on and what you should do.

Transcript:

Do you know what grinds my gears, and I bet grinds yours as well?

Your tire light, it’s back on.

Yep.

So annoying because you just filled your tires with air the other day.

Are you wondering why does that tire air pressure light keeps coming on? The one that looks like a horseshoe with an exclamation point in the center?

You don’t see any tire that’s noticeably low.

Hi, I’m Nancy at Kneble’s Auto Service Center.

Well, the number one reason customers spontaneously stop in is because their tire light is on.

Now before I explain to you about the tire sensors, be sure to check out my many other tire videos, such as what to do when getting a flat tire or tire changing guide. Be sure to view all our other videos, subscribe, like, and follow us on our newsletter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Choose your preference of choice for viewing.

Do you know that some sensors are designed to illuminate when the tire loses as little as 10% of the recommended air? That may equate to as little as a three-pound drop in air pressure.

Wow. Really?

That can happen with the change of ambient temperature, and it does. The light is designed to warn us of our tire pressures getting low. So truthfully, it can be really annoying because I personally rather rely on the old-fashioned way of looking at my tires to see if any tires are low.

Each tire has an individual tire pressure sensor. And if you have a full-sized spare, that too can have a tire pressure sensor. So any of these five sensors may be the source of that light coming on.

If you have a tire pressure gauge, check each tire pressure, or if you’re in Mays Landing or in Egg Harbor Township nearby to us, stop in here at Kneble’s Auto Service Center, and we can do that for you free of charge.

One or more of your tires can be low in air. So first see if you can see something noticeably foreign in your tire.

Also remember, the change in ambient temperature can be the simple cause of the pressure fluctuating.

Have it checked out, so you ultimately don’t get a flat tire on the side of the road and need to be rescued. Fill your tires to the proper pressure, which can be found on your door jamb.

Now, if you’re looking at your tire and you see a PSI number, be aware that number represents the maximum amount of air that tire can hold, but not the amount that should be when it’s on your vehicle. Always refer to the door jamb for the proper PSI.

Now, if you’ve completed everything above and you’re still wondering, why hasn’t the tire light gone out?

I’ve just filled the tire with air to the proper amount. Well, some tire lights require you to drive the vehicle for a specific number of miles before the light even goes out. Other manufacturers design a procedure to follow to get the light to go out, such as pressing a button.

Refer to your owner’s manual, to find out how to get your tire light out. Or of course, you can stop by here at 5473 Somers Point Road in Mays Landing, as we will do it for free.

Thank you for watching, and remember, we do have our weekly videos every Wednesday at 12:30. Come see us here next time for your car care need, or give us a call at (609) 625-3286 to schedule your next appointment.

Thank you.