Is it Safe to Drive with a Faulty Tire Pressure Sensor?

Since the advent of the first car, auto manufacturers have constantly improved vehicle technology and systems. From infotainment systems to car occupants\’ safety, the auto brands cover all aspects. One such safety feature is a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

The TPMS tire sensor detects the air pressure inside the tires and alerts the driver when there are excessive or underinflated tires. However, what if you have a tire pressure sensor fault? Or the tire pressure light comes on unnecessarily?

Let\’s find out if it is safe to drive your car with a bad TPMS sensor.

WHAT DOES TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR FAULT MEAN?

Similar to a fuel warning light which indicates that you need a fuel up, the TPMS sensor alerts the driver of under or excessive tire pressure. However, when the screen shows your tire pressure sensor fault, it may be due to multiple reasons.

Here are the reasons why the electronic control unit displays the \’Tire Pressure Sensor Fault\’ warning:

FAULTY TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR

A bad TPMS sensor may be the major reason behind the tire pressure sensor fault warning. Since these sensors are installed on the wheels and consist of a battery, after some time the sensors may run out of battery. 

Therefore, you will need to look for new tire pressure sensors. That said, Porcsi, a leading tire pressure sensor manufacturer brings you a long-lasting TPMS sensor with solar batteries. 

MEMORY LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR

A tire pressure sensor has a control module. The TPMS tire sensor may have lost memory. You can recalibrate and reprogram the sensor using the TPMS reset tool.

INSTALLATION OF NEW WHEELS

You may have changed your tires recently. Since the TPMS sensor is fitted inside the wheel, your mechanic may have reset the sensor. If the fault error warning appeared after the wheel change, you will now have to reprogram the TPMS tire sensor according to the new wheels\’ requirements. 

LOW TIRE PRESSURE

If your TPMS sensor fault light has turned on, you might have underinflated tires. Therefore, you will need to fill the right amount of air pressure in your tires according to your vehicle\’s owner manual. Besides, this fault warning may appear due to excessively inflated tires.

Still, the question remains whether is it safe to drive with a tire pressure sensor fault or not. Let\’s find out what you should do when you see this warning and learn how to remove this fault error.

SHOULD I DRIVE WITH A FAULTY TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR?

The simple answer is no. Safety features are there for the occupants\’ protection and vehicle health. If you have a bad tire pressure sensor, you can drive but ensure that your wheels have sufficient air pressure. Once the tires are underinflated, it is risky to drive.

You need to follow this guideline before driving your car with a faulty TPMS tire sensor.

HOW TO RESET A FAULTY TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR

Follow these steps to fix the \’Tire Pressure Sensor Fault\’ error:

CHECK TIRE PRESSURE

If the TPMS failure warning appears on your dashboard, check the tire pressure. This warning may appear even due to 10% lower pressure than the recommended one. If the tire pressure is correct, move on to the next step.

RESET TPMS SENSOR

The TPMS sensor has a button that calibrates or resets the sensor. Besides, you can use the TPMS reset tool.

USE CODE READER

If the \’Tire Pressure Sensor Fault\’ warning still doesn\’t turn off, use an onboard diagnostic sensor. Read the code to learn if the sensor requires reprogramming.

REPROGRAM THE TPMS TIRE SENSOR

Reprogramming the tire pressure sensor can help you remove the warning. Since the control module may have lost its communication or programmed memory, take your car to a professional technician to reprogram your vehicle\’s TPMS sensor.

REPLACE THE FAULTY TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR

If none of the above methods work, your tire pressure sensor has run out of life. It is time to buy a new sensor from the leading TPMS sensor manufacturers and make sure you don\’t risk your safety while driving.

This was all about the Tire Pressure Sensor Fault warning. Always ensure that your safety sensors are intact to avoid any major future problems.