What does it mean when a Mercedes-Benz displays 'check tire pressure'?
2 Answers
When a Mercedes-Benz displays 'check tire pressure', it means the tire pressure monitoring system is issuing an alert. The tire pressure monitoring indicator is a yellow symbol - an irregular circle without a seal on top, with four small spikes at the bottom and an exclamation mark inside. The illumination of this indicator signifies abnormal tire pressure. There are generally three reasons for abnormal tire pressure in Mercedes-Benz vehicles: Abnormal tire pressure: The system typically alerts when pressure is below 1.8 bar or above 3.0 bar. In this case, tire inspection and pressure adjustment are required. Unreset tire pressure monitoring: After inflating the tires, if the tire pressure isn't reset promptly, the monitoring system retains previous data, causing the indicator to illuminate. Simply performing a tire pressure reset will resolve this. Damaged tire pressure sensor: These sensors, installed inside tires and connected to the inflation valve, monitor pressure. If damaged during driving (e.g., by impact), the tire pressure warning light activates. Sensor damage necessitates replacement with new components.
I guess it's the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) alert, which is quite common in cold weather. This icon popping up indicates that the tire pressure might be low or there's a leak. Remember not to drive too fast and find a safe place to pull over. You should check all four tires, tapping them to see if any are noticeably flat. Once, I had this alert and found a screw causing a slow leak. If you can't tell, don't worry—many gas stations now have free air pumps. Just inflate them to the recommended pressure in the manual and monitor for a few days. If the alert keeps coming back, you might need to visit a repair shop for a thorough check. It could be a sensor issue; Mercedes' system sometimes gives false alarms.
