FAQ - Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

[Phalanx]

Since there has been, what seems to be, an influx of questions regarding this system I figured it would be good to make a sticky with as much useful info as possible. I am by no means an expert... but Ive been dealing with the system enough to heave learned a few things here or there.

I'll be updating this over the course of the next few days since I can only write a bit at a time in between work and/or other things. If you feel there is something I missed that should be added, type it up and I'll put it in the 1st post. Also, if you feel some of the info I have is misleading or erroneous... let me know and we'll see about correcting it.

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First things first, there are 2 different indicator lights associated with the TPMS system. It is useful to know which light is which and know what causes each one so that if/when you see them, you know what to check for.

Indicator Lights:

Low Tire Pressure - This light is supposed ot look like a tire with a '!' over it but looks more like a horseshoe.
This indicator means one of your tires (or all) are below the allowable threshold. This light can be a faulty
sensor, but is most likely a low tire, be it from a slow leak, time, or temperature change. Fill your tires up to
the recommended 32psi (or more), and drive for 5 minutes, the light should shut itself off. If it does not,
take car to dealer, it's a faulty sensor.

Tire Pressure Monitoring System - This indicator is actually the yellow letters TPMS located in the upper-right
portion of your dash. This indicator means there is a fault in the system itself, be it a faulty sensor, a dead
module, sensors cannot be found or what have you. Take it to the dealer, they will pull an error code (or not if the module is dead),
and replace the affected item.


Onto the FAQ:
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1. My Low Tire Pressure light came on but all of my tires look and feel fine. What is wrong?

Please do not be fooled by what you can 'see' and 'feel' by looking at your tires. Every tire is different...
but when it comes to stock wheels/tires, it is likely at 32-33psi. The threshold for setting off the
Low Tire Pressure light begins at 27-28psi.

The different in look/feel between 33 and 27psi would barely be noticeable to the human eye.
So please, before you assume its fine, buy yourself a tire pressure gauge at your local auto store.
They are cheap and very useful.

2. My Low Tire Pressure Light was on, I found the tire that needed air and fix it, but the light is still on when I turn the car back on.

Once the light is on, it stays on until the car can gather enough information to determine that the issue has been fixed. The TPMS system
cannot gather info while the car is not in motion.

If you are 100% sure you remedied the issue, drive your car around for a minute or two making sure you get it up to at least 20mph. After
a minute or so, the sensors should be activated and should have gathered enough info to know that there is the proper pressure inside the tire.

3. My tires dont have any leaks, why did my Low Pressure Light go on?

Most likely, the cause of this is the change in air temperatures as the seasons
change. As it gets colder, the air inside your tires will get more dense, causing
less pressure and possible setting off the indicator.

4. If I get new wheels, will my TPMS still work?

No, with new wheels, the system will not work because the sensors are not attached
to the wheels and thus, the system cannot function, resulting in a 'TPMS' light.

However, you do have a few options:
Option A - Ignore the light and just drive/check your pressure like you would before TPMS was made mandatory.
This is NOT recommended since the system is their for your safety, and should anything happen to you and/or
your car, you may end up at fault for driving with a system that is not functioning. Also, in many states you will
not pass inspection with this light on.
Option B - Buy new sensors and have them installed in your new wheels. This option will allow you to have a multiple sets of wheels
with the system intact. However, the car can only be programmed to recognize one set of sensors at a time. So, you will have to go to a
honda dealership and have the reprogram the system each time you change wheels. People have reported that the cost of this at the dealership
is roughly $100.
Option C - Have the stock TPMS sensor swapped into your new wheels. This option is sort of tricky, because not all wheels are shaped
the same on the inside. Our system has the sensors connect to the valve stem and the sensor must sit flush against the inside of the wheel.
If, due to the shape of your wheel, the sensor will not sit flush... you can create some kind of spacer that will allow the sensor to sit flush.

5. Ive heard that if my TPMS or Low Pressure light is on, I cannot turn VSA on/off. Is this true?

This seems to be the question that has caused the most confusion about the whole TPMS system.
Now, I have tested this numerous times in order to try and understand it as much as possible.

Thanks to tests by myself and other members, it seems as if the manual is NOT correct
when it describes how VSA is always enabled when either light is present.

Again... (on US models 08+), if either light (TPMS) or (!) is on... your VSA will still function as it normally does

6. I have a new set of wheels that I did not put the TPMS sensors in. But the TPMS light did not come on. What gives?

Dont fret... the light will come on eventually. Why there is a delay, I am not sure. The few times I have tested this it
will not turn on until you have driven roughly 40-50 miles.

7. I have a new set of wheels that I did not put the TPMS sensors in. I still have my stock wheels with the sensors
for the winter. Will the TPMS light go off when I put my stock wheels back on?

Yes, when you put on a set of wheels that has the registered sensors onto the vehicle, after a couple minutes of
driving the TPMS light will turn off.

[cderalow]

recommend this:

There are two indicator lights for the TPMS system.

the TPMS indicator: it's yellow, it's the actual letters TPMS. This indicator means there is a fault in the system itself, be it a faulty sensor, a dead module or what have you. Take it to the dealer, they will pull an error code (or not if the module is dead), and replace the affected item.

the low tire pressure indicator: it's yellow, looks like a horseshoe. This indicator means one of your tires (or all) are below the allowable 10% threshold (read, your tire is under 29psi). this light can still be a faulty sensor, but is more likely a low tire, be it from a slow leak, time, or temperature change. fill your tires up to the recommended 32psi (or more), and drive for 5 minutes, the light should shut itself off. if it does not, take car to dealer, it's a faulty sensor.

physical appearance of tire can only let you know if the tire is either extremely low, or extremely high when it comes to pressure. physical touch of a tire will tell you only two things 1) the tire has no air in it, 2) the tire has air in it. you will not be able to tell the exact amount of air pressure in the tire without a gauge.
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[Phalanx]

^ i was going to get to that.

[ixion]

Originally Posted by Phalanx

3. My tires dont have any leaks, why did my Low Pressure Light go on?

Most likely, the cause of this is the change in air temperatures as the seasons
change. As it gets colder, the air inside your tires will get more dense, causing
less pressure and possible setting off the indicator.

Aha! That would explain it! This was the first frost this morning and it was freezing so thats probably what it was. Thanks for the info.

[Silvercivic27]

Does anybody know if running with no sensors and the TPMS light on will actually damage anything on the car? I own an 08 Civic LX. Thanks.

[tuner student]

I don't think it will "damage" anything. Now not knowing you have a low tire cause you don't periodically check tire pressure and you don't have the light to warn you of a low tire; could damage something if you drove on it long enough

[HsOffRoad]

Originally Posted by Silvercivic27

Does anybody know if running with no sensors and the TPMS light on will actually damage anything on the car? I own an 08 Civic LX. Thanks.

Might burn out your light bulb prematurely... lol. Just pull the cluster and remove the bulb. Take you a half hour with a pair of screwdrivers. Alternately, you could jumper the wires on the TPMS harness to send full voltage at all times.

Hans

[Phalanx]

for adding a little more info

[GenghisKon]

[Phalanx]

vote for sticky? maybe?

[NitrousG35]

Well written and informative. I stickied this as it answers so many questions about the TPMS.

[Phalanx]

i gown 'n dunn gud!!

[civic si 888]

pls correct if I'm wrong. I have heard before that if one of the light comes on ( I don't know which light) the car/ecu will go into limp mode, to the point that it will not allow the driver to rev the car past certain rpm. Is this true?

[tuner student]

ummm i don't know about a limp mode but if the low pressure light comes on you are with VSA always on as stated above. TPMS light you can still turn it off. but thats the closest thing i've ever heard of to what your asking. never heard of limp mode except when you turbo

[cderalow]

Originally Posted by civic si 888

pls correct if I'm wrong. I have heard before that if one of the light comes on ( I don't know which light) the car/ecu will go into limp mode, to the point that it will not allow the driver to rev the car past certain rpm. Is this true?

no, the car does not go into limp mode. a Check engine Light can send the car into limp mode, but the TPMS system has control over VSA, which has control over ABS and DBW throttle control; not over engine management

[Phalanx]

[GSXRSpeed]

Anybody using nitrogen in thier tires? Every time it gets cold out my (!)-(Low Pressure) light comes on and won't go off even if I fill it to 32 psi. I have to go to the dealership and this gets annoying. I'm thinking nitrogen might solve my problem.

Also, I think you're backwards about which lights disables your control over VSA. Yesterday was the first time my (!)-(Low Pressure) light came on this year, first day around 30 degrees. Anyhow the roads were wet and I turned off my VSA and did a huge burnout, traction control did not kick on. Plus I'm pretty sure the manual says it's the TPMS light that doesn't let you turn off VSA. I'm on my way out the door and will check my manual to be sure.


Edit: I checked my manual, Pages 212,213.

If your (!)-(Low Pressure) light comes on check air pressure in tires. If inflated to proper levels and the (!) light stays on proceed cautiously to ther dealer.

If the TPMS light comes on, there is a problem with your system. VSA will always be on regardless of if you hit your VSA button or not. Proceed to dealership.

[Phalanx]

The manual is misleading... and I am 110% positive that with the TPMS light is on that you can enable/disable VSA because I did it every wednesday for 4 months at the track.

As for the (!) light... i could be wrong about that, but I couldve sworn it didnt matter what i did with the button that VSA stayed on.

[tuner student]

hmm its the battle of the manual and first hand experience lol. i guess when i get my rims i'll have to try it.

i'm personally putting the sensors in my summer rims as I do not care if VSA can go off in the winter when i will have my stockies on. snow = vsa should be on anyways

[jdm free]

will a faulty sensor be covered under warranty