In the heart of winter, your tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) light has likely come on. Cooler air can take the air out of your tires, causing this light to illuminate. However, if you know that your tires aren’t the issue, it may be one of the signs you might need to replace your TPMS sensor.
Dead Batteries
The TPMS sensor relies on your car battery in order to work properly. On average, car batteries last about five years, depending on how often you drive your vehicle. Other factors that affect battery life include the weather and road conditions. Additionally, if you are in a lot of stop-and-go traffic, your battery will use more power than it will if you are cruising.
Alerts Must Be Wrong
TPS sensors might provide misleading information if they are malfunctioning. It’s typical for the vehicle’s system to trigger the warning sign on the dashboard even if there isn’t one.
It helps to know when you have a flat tire, making these sensors valuable. However, if you constantly get warnings that you have a damaged tire, there may be a complication you have to resolve.
This is especially true if you inspected the tires yourself and all have the recommended air pressure. You don’t want to dismiss a lousy sensor, as it’s beneficial to know when you blow a tire out.
Increased Fuel Consumption
If your tire goes flat while you’re traveling and you don’t realize it because of a defective TPMS sensor, it might cause your vehicle’s fuel usage to skyrocket. This is because when you drive with a flat tire, the friction between the tires and the pavement intensifies, requiring greater traction to push ahead.
The motor will use more gasoline to compensate for the additional power. As a result, checking your tires and air pressure even without an active warning sign is always a smart practice.
Handling Concerns
When the tires are slightly deflated, TPMS sensors inform the motorist. If you notice that your tires have low air pressure and there was no warning from the system, it is most likely due to a failure of a TPMS sensor. Using a tire pressure gauge indicates a problem with the sensor or a tire.
Another noticeable side effect is when steering becomes tight. Low air pressure in the front tires will hamper your steering abilities, giving the car a jerky feel to it. Thus, if you feel you don’t have complete control of the wheel, it’s time to investigate your tires.
Shoddy Tire Change
If you recently changed your tires, it is conceivable that this is what caused your TPMS sensor to fail. It is a regular occurrence if a technician is inexperienced and looking to do the job hastily.
However, that’s something you don’t need to worry about with Commercial Tire. We strive to provide you with high-quality service every time you stop by one of our tire stores. We will be happy to take a look at your TPMS sensor as well as your tires.
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