Can You Continue Driving with a Faulty Tire Pressure Sensor?
2 Answers
If the tire pressure sensor malfunctions but the tire pressure is normal, it does not affect the vehicle's ability to continue driving. There are three common methods of tire pressure monitoring: Direct Tire Pressure Monitoring: Direct tire pressure monitoring devices use pressure sensors installed in each tire to directly measure the tire's air pressure. A wireless transmitter sends the pressure information from inside the tire to a central receiver module, which then displays the tire pressure data for each tire. When the tire pressure is too low or there is a leak, the system will automatically issue an alert. Indirect Tire Pressure Monitoring: When the air pressure in a tire decreases, the vehicle's weight will cause the rolling radius of that wheel to become smaller, resulting in a faster rotation speed compared to the other wheels. By comparing the differences in rotation speeds between the tires, the system monitors the tire pressure. Indirect tire pressure alert systems essentially rely on calculating the rolling radius of the tires to monitor air pressure. Introduction to Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS): It combines the advantages of both the above systems. Direct sensors are installed in two diagonally opposite tires, and a four-wheel indirect system is also equipped. Compared to a fully direct system, this hybrid system can reduce costs and overcome the indirect system's inability to detect when multiple tires simultaneously have low pressure. However, it still cannot provide real-time data on the actual pressure in all four tires as a direct system does.
A few days ago, the tire pressure sensor in my car also malfunctioned. At first, I didn’t pay much attention and kept driving, but it almost led to an accident. A sensor failure means you can’t monitor tire pressure anymore. Driving short distances might be fine, but it’s very dangerous in the long run. For example, if the tire is leaking or underinflated, there’s no warning, which could lead to a blowout on the highway or increased fuel consumption. For safety, it’s best to stop and manually check the tire pressure. Use a simple pressure gauge to measure all four tires. If they’re all normal, you can drive slowly to a repair shop. Replacing the sensor usually isn’t expensive, and it helps avoid potential issues with other systems.
