What Causes the Failure of Volkswagen's Indirect Tire Pressure Monitoring System?
4 Answers
The failure of Volkswagen's indirect tire pressure monitoring system is usually caused by issues with the wheel speed sensors or internal poor contact. The indirect tire pressure monitoring system works by comparing the rotational speed differences between tires using the wheel speed sensors of the car's ABS system to monitor tire pressure. The ABS uses the wheel speed sensors to determine if the wheels are locking up, thereby deciding whether to activate the anti-lock braking system. Taking the Santana 2021 1.5L Manual Fashion Edition as an example: its length, width, and height are 4475mm, 1706mm, and 1469mm respectively, with a wheelbase of 2603mm. It is equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission and has a top speed of 185 kilometers per hour.
When driving a Volkswagen, I often encountered false alarms from the tire pressure monitoring system. Once on the highway, the dashboard warning light suddenly flashed, startling me into slowing down immediately. After stopping to check, I found all tires were normal with consistent pressure. Later, a mechanic explained that the indirect system relies on ABS sensors to compare tire rotation speeds—if one tire spins faster, the system assumes lower pressure. There are many causes for such faults: the most common is forgetting to reset the system after replacing or repairing a tire, leading to misread speed differences; or mixing old and new tires with uneven wear or size discrepancies triggering false alarms; or sensors getting dirty or damp, causing signal interference and malfunctions. In cold weather, natural pressure drops can confuse the system, increasing false alerts. Try manually resetting the system first—find the tire pressure calibration option in the steering wheel settings and hold it for a few seconds. If the alarm persists, don’t ignore it; get it checked promptly to avoid risks.
I'm familiar with how Volkswagen's indirect tire pressure monitoring system works. It utilizes ABS wheel speed sensor data to compare the rotational speeds of all four tires and detect abnormal pressure. The causes can be categorized as follows: First, hardware issues like dust accumulation, damage to wheel speed sensors, or poor signal wire connections affecting accuracy; Second, software faults such as ECU (Electronic Control Unit) program bugs or failed updates leading to incorrect processing of differential data; Third, external interferences like tire inconsistencies, excessive deviation in pressure settings, or significant speed fluctuations during hard acceleration; Fourth, environmental factors such as high humidity causing sensor moisture. Improper calibration is the most common issue—new cars or post-tire replacement often trigger false alarms if the system isn't allowed to drive for 30 minutes as required to learn the new settings. Routine maintenance is key: ensure uniform tire brand and size, balanced pressure, and regular diagnostics to eliminate root causes.
Malfunctioning tire pressure monitoring poses significant risks, potentially causing you to overlook real issues and leading to accidents. Volkswagen's system analyzes rotational speed differences via sensors, but lost wheel speed signals—such as from sensor failures or aging wiring—can trigger false alarms or missed alerts. If tires are replaced without resetting or if pressure settings are incorrect, the system cannot calibrate accurately. During winter cold starts, tire pressure can drop by 15%, frequently triggering alarms that are often normal—don’t ignore them. Develop good habits: immediately slow down and stop to manually check tire pressure when an alarm sounds, then reset the system. Regular professional inspections can prevent problems before they occur.
