scottfarkus

Alright so I got new michelin tires from costco and opted to get new tpms sensors as the tech indicated they can fail do to a tire change. So I said go ahead and put new ones in because I figured if I declined them they'd be sure to fail. Anyway, I had intermittant problems from the start. The low pressure light comes on. I check the pressure and it's fine. Took it back they said the pressure was low and they filled the tire and the light is out. 3 weeks later the light comes on again. I check pressure and it's fine. Before I take it back a few days later the light goes out on its own. This has repeated itself several times over the past year. Now the light is on again and it's not going out and the pressure is fine. Am I correct that this must be a sensor problem and not a system problem since the "TPMS" light is not on. Only the "tire!" light comes on. Please enlighten me so I can determine if costco needs to replace a sensor. Thanks

tony_2018

spare tire could be the issue, Also whatever you're using could be having the wrong readings.

The reason why anyone would say change the tpms with new tires is because they can damage the sensor upon removal and don't want to be held liable for it. YES IT CAN HAPPEN

Either buy another gauge, or pump more air in it to see if the light goes away.

scottfarkus

Thanks for the reply. Have done all of the above as far as troubleshooting. Different gauges, higher and lower pressures. Do the temp spares have sensors?

tony_2018

Yes they do. Had a siimlar issue with an ex crv, 07. she checked all tires, but I went ahead and check the spare too. Sure enough the amber light went off after I pumped it up.

scottfarkus

Hey Thanks Tony, will check the spare before I go back to costco loaded for bear.

tech8

The spare would not be the issue, as it does not have a TPMS sensor.

If this issue did not exist before, it may be due to faulty batteries in one or more of the new TPMS sensor(s) or some other issue with the sensor.

scottfarkus

Wow, tech8, the circumstances beg to differ. I just went out this morning. Drove the car back to my garage, light was still on. Turned on the compressor and checked the temp spare. It was at 45 psi. Sidewall says inflate to 60 psi. I inflated to 60 psi, got in the car and started it up, and light is out. Now this light has been on for about 3 weeks straight. It would be quite a coincidence, although, I guess, not impossible for this thing to stop acting up exactly when I pumped up the spare. I agree, that I was extremely surprised that the temp spare would have a sensor, but something happened at that point. Thanks for your post though. Not saying you're wrong, but it is very weird if there would not be a sensor in there from how things played out.

tony_2018

It does have a tpms, or my friend was special and they put in for her...

tony_2018

Hmm...that is strange. Did you read it right, It might have meant max psi is 60. If your spare was 45psi I would've attempt to pump it up in incrementals, same goes for all your other tires. I wouldn't want you to have a blow out. I recommend you go back and release some of that pressure to see if the light comes back on.

scottfarkus

Yup I read it right. I also called the dealership that I bought the car at, since I was surprised about a temp spare having a sensor. They confirmed the sensor. Temp spares always run considerably higher than normal every day radials. Don't need to worry about me reading something wrong when an issue like this is at stake, but thanks for the heads up.