What are the reasons for a vehicle's tire pressure monitoring alarm?
3 Answers
Vehicle tire pressure monitoring alarm may be triggered due to: 1. Tire replacement without resetting the tire pressure module; 2. Nail puncture causing tire pressure changes; 3. Tire inflation without resetting the tire pressure monitoring system; 4. Prolonged vehicle parking without air replenishment leading to decreased tire pressure. The functions of tire pressure monitoring are: 1. Timely alarm for rapid or slow air leakage in tires; 2. Warning when tire loosening causes unbalanced friction, reaching 70°C to prevent blowouts; 3. Alert when prolonged underinflation makes tire pressure fall below preset limits, preventing low-pressure induced temperature rise and blowouts.
I was driving on the highway when the tire pressure warning suddenly went off, making my heart skip a beat. I immediately slowed down and pulled over. The most common reason for this is low tire pressure, such as a punctured tire from a nail or slow leaks over time, causing the pressure to drop below the standard threshold and trigger the alarm. Other causes include overinflation, especially during summer when high temperatures cause excessive expansion after overfilling, or a depleted sensor battery, which tends to fail and give false alarms after a few years of use. Sometimes, the system may also need recalibration after a reset or tire rotation. I took out the tire pressure gauge from my car and checked—sure enough, two tires were underinflated. After topping them up, everything returned to normal. It’s essential to check tire pressure monthly, and I recommend keeping a portable tire pressure gauge in the car to prevent minor issues from escalating.
As a seasoned car enthusiast, I've got a good grasp on the causes of tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) alerts. They mainly fall into several categories: substandard tire pressure—the system triggers warnings when pressure drops below 1.8 bar or exceeds around 3.0 bar, often due to leaks or seasonal temperature fluctuations causing pressure variations; sensor malfunctions are common, such as built-in batteries aging and losing power after 3-5 years, or sensors being damaged by impacts; the system requires periodic resets, like failing to input new parameters after tire changes or not recalibrating after wheel rotations; environmental factors like rough road surfaces can also cause false alarms. Whenever I get an alert, I first use a tire pressure gauge to check each tire's actual pressure—if it's not an issue, I adjust the valve; if there's a leak, I switch to the spare and head to the repair shop. I make it a habit to quickly check tire pressure before every trip, ensuring worry-free safety.
