What does TPWS fault mean?
2 Answers
TPWS fault refers to the need for tire pressure calibration. Vehicles displaying this fault code are equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system, which can monitor the tires in real time and promptly alert drivers about underinflated, overinflated, or leaking tires to ensure driving safety. There are two types of tire pressure monitoring systems: one is the indirect tire pressure monitoring system, which detects abnormal tire conditions by monitoring differences in wheel speed; the other is the direct tire pressure monitoring system, which uses four pressure sensors installed inside the tires to automatically monitor tire pressure and temperature in real time, whether the vehicle is stationary or in motion. It provides timely alerts for high pressure, low pressure, or high temperature in tires, helping to prevent traffic accidents caused by tire failures and ensuring driving safety.
I remember that time when I was driving to the suburbs and suddenly the TPMS warning light on the dashboard came on—my heart skipped a beat. TPMS stands for Tire Pressure Monitoring System, and a fault means there's an issue with the system. Common causes include depleted or damaged sensor batteries, signal interference, abnormal tire pressure, or software bugs. Ignoring it can lead to serious risks—inaccurate tire pressure increases the chance of a blowout, especially at high speeds where handling becomes unstable and fuel consumption rises. I immediately pulled over to check the tire pressure. Even after manually inflating the tires, the light stayed on, so I went to a repair shop and had the sensor replaced to fix it. To avoid such hassles, it's good practice to check sensor lifespan (typically 5-7 years) during routine maintenance and measure tire pressure regularly.
