5 Reasons Why Low Tire Pressure Light Flashing/Blinking
From my experience as a professional mechanic, I believe seeing a tire pressure warning light is nothing new for vehicle owners. It might appear at any time while the engine is on. Vehicles, particularly those made after 2007, are equipped with this safety feature.
Here is a list of the most common Causes of Low Tire Pressure Light Flashing:
- Low Tire pressure and faulty sensors
- TPMS ( Tire Pressure Monitoring System ) Failure
- A faulty sensor battery or car battery
- Air leaks
- Weather changes
You need to know the exact reason to fix the issue. I will describe in every bit of detail why it is on.
Troubleshooting guide For blinking low tire pressure light
If this is your first time dealing with a low tire pressure light, you need to find out the root cause of the issue. In most cases, troubleshooting starts by inspecting the condition of the tire to see if it has any leaks, which is the most likely reason for low tire pressure.
Then I checked the pressure sensor, which is a core part of the TPMS. Anyway, let’s check out some common ways to deal with the problem:
#1. Check Tire Pressure Using a Pressure Gauge
The common and primary cause of the low tire pressure warning light is low tire pressure. Anyone may experience a tire puncture or air leak while driving.
As soon as pressure gets low, you will see a yellow or amber horseshoe shape appear on the dash, which means you need to check tire pressure.
- Step 1: Check the vehicle’s manual for recommended PSI. Depending on the type of vehicle, it can be at least 27 to a max of 40.
- Step 2: Remove the Valve stem cap
- Step 3: Attach the pressure gauge with the valve stem and get the reading
>>Reasons for Low Tire Pressure
Owners frequently forget to regularly fill the tires, which causes the light to come on. Apart from this simple reason, tires may lose pressure for the following reasons:
- Nail In the Tire
- Affected Rim
- Old or Worn Tire
- Tire leak
>>Solutions For the Above Reasons
When a tire reaches the end of its anticipated life, it frequently loses the ability to hold air. You must replace the tire.
On the other hand, the tire might get affected by a small metal spike on the road, and get punctured. To fix the issue, you might have to visit a repair shop. They will remove the metal spike and fix the tire.
>>Cost of fixing Low tire Pressure
Depending on how serious the problem is, the total cost changes. Many other factors can affect the cost as well. The following is a rough estimate of the cost of repairing the low tire light:
| Criterion | Description of cost |
|---|---|
| Portable air compressor | Ranges From $30 to $350 |
| Use Compressor From the garage | $.50 to $1.00 |
| Fixing Tire Leak | Around $25 |
| Cost of tire | In expensive tires $50-$150High-end tires $300- $1000Moderately priced tires $100-$300 |
| Cost of Mechanic | Depending on the type of tire and severity of the issue, it can be at least $30 up to a maximum of $700. |
>>Can I drive with a blinking tire pressure light?
If you have a service tire monitor system light blinking, and you want to keep driving, you will face some consequences for doing so.
- A tire could bowl out which could lead to an accident
- Engine will consume more oil while going from point A to B
- Handling and braking performance will reduce
#2. Check TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System)
After inspecting the tire condition for signs of damage, I check the pressure and inflate it to the recommended level. However, sometimes, you might see the tire pressure light blinking but tires are fine with the accepted PCI level. In that case, you need to check the TPMS system.
Every modern vehicle comes with a TPMS system. It refers to the tire pressure monitoring system of the vehicle, which is a vehicle’s safety feature that consists of a sensor, receiver, warning light, wiring, and connectors. The issue with this system could be the reason for the low tire pressure light.
Two types of TPMS
- Direct TPMS
- Indirect TPMS
In a direct TPMS system, car wheels are equipped with a battery-powered sensor. In most cases, these sensors are installed inside the valve stem. However, vehicle to vehicle sensor mounting locations may change.
For example, in a Subaru, the tire pressure sensor and transmitter are located inside the air valve stem. On the other hand, in a Lexus, the tire pressure sensor is located inside the tire, but it depends on which model you are driving.
So when your Subaru tire pressure light is blinking, or if you have a Lexus, in some cases, your Lexus tire pressure light might be on but the tires are full, you may need to go to the location and replace the pressure sensor.
Sensors calculate real-time data and send it to a car computer, which evaluates the data and compares it with the manufactured specification. If it finds any disparity, it sets code while the low-pressure light comes on.
On the other hand, an indirect monitoring system does not require a physical pressure sensor but instead collects information from another sensor like wheel speed, ABS, or driveline data to estimate tire pressure.
When it comes to TPMS failure and low-pressure lights, a direct monitoring system is what you have to think about. In most cases, TPMS sensors are faulty; more specifically, the battery in the sensor might have gone bad.
Faulty Tire Pressure Sensor
Let’s discuss this point a bit more. If you ever have to ask yourself, why does my tire pressure light keep blinking even if the PSI is within the recommended level, the answer is: you need to check the tire pressure sensor.
Common Signs of Faulty Pressure Sensor
The TPMS light flashing is the most obvious sign of a faulty sensor. This light automatically means one or more pressure sensors failed to communicate with the control module.
- If the sensor is faulty, it could produce Incorrect reading or no reading at all
- Fluctuating Reading
- False alarm
Fixing Sensor and Cost
Usually, tires with the TPMS system are more expensive, and you might have to pay approximately $50 to $100 for replacing the sensor.
#3. Impacts of Weather on tire pressure
Tire pressure may be affected by cold weather, which could cause the low tire pressure light to illuminate. In most cases, it is completely normal.
When the temperature is low outside, the air inside the tire gets condensed. Pressure decreases proportionally as temperature decreases. Conversely, higher temperatures increase pressure.
- Higher temperature means high pressure
- Lower temperature means lower pressure
However, if the pressure drops significantly, the TPMS light might illuminate, and you might need to re-fill the tire before starting the car.
Usually, low tire pressure due to cold weather is temporary. You need to drive for about a few hours for the pressure to get back to normal.
conclusion – Low Tire Pressure Light blinking
To recap, Here is a list of the most common Causes of Low Tire Pressure Light Flashing:
- Low Tire pressure and faulty sensors
- TPMS ( Tire Pressure Monitoring System ) Failure
- A faulty sensor battery or car battery
- Air leaks
- Weather changes
The very first thing you must do is check air pressure through a pressure gauge. It should be within the recommended level.
If the PSI is within the ideal range but the light is still on, check the TPMS system of your vehicle. If you are not confident dealing with low air pressure issues, get help from a professional mechanic.
Video References
proclaimliberty2000
Certification: BSc in Mechanical Engineering
Education: Mechanical engineer
Lives In: 539 W Commerce St, Dallas, TX 75208, USA
Rasel is an auto mechanic student and writer with over half a decade of experience in the automotive field. He has worked with top automotive brands such as Lexus, Quantum, and also owns two automotive blogs autocarneed.com and taxiwiz.com.