Tire Pressure Monitoring System

What It Means when the TPMS Light comes On

The first thing to understand about the TPMS light is that “TPMS” is actually an acronym, it stands for “Tire Pressure Monitoring System” and is used to indicate when tire pressure is lower than recommended. The air pressure in a vehicle's tires needs to be maintained at proper levels to assure the car is performing at peak efficiency. There are both economic and environmental concerns which come with low air pressure in the tires. One of the simplest things a vehicle owner can do to assure the car is getting the gas mileage it is rated for and achieves full tire life is to keep the pressure where it should be, either 35 or 44 PSI with most tires.

Reasons the TPMS Light Might Come On

The TPMS sensor keeps track of each tire's air pressure and turns on the warning light in the dashboard when one or more of the tires drops below 25% of what it should be. It usually comes on about once per month because the tires lose air during regular driving and need to be occasionally refilled. Adding air can be done at home with an air compressor or an air pump which plugs into the vehicle's power source, or they can be filled at a gas station with a pump which accepts money like a vending machine to turn on for a set amount of time. The problem with such measures is the air gauges in such settings are notorious for not being accurate, so a better idea is to have a dealer pump the tires up to assure it's done right. Another reason the light may come on is if there is a hole or slow leak, something the dealer can check for and correct.

What Can Happen if the TPMS Sensor Is Ignored

Like all the dashboard warning lights, the TPMS sensor is important to pay attention to. If it's ignored, the tires will wear down faster than expected, requiring the purchase of new tires. Every driver understands the need to budget for new tires so it might not seem important, but it can add up to be an unnecessary expense over the life of the vehicle. Another problem with low air pressure is how it causes the car to work harder to drive and handle as expected, causing it to use more gasoline than it should need.

Ford Service in Yukon, OK

For inspections, air pressure top off, and other maintenance, give us a call at Joe Cooper Ford in Yukon, OK and serving the surrounding areas of Oklahoma City, Bethany, El Reno, and Mustang. Our technicians are friendly and professional, ready to keep your car in top running shape.

• Free Wi-Fi
• Complimentary Multi-Point Inspection
• Courtesy Loaners
• Courtesy Transportation Shuttle
• Parts & Gear Boutique

• Complimentary Beverage & Coffee Bar
• Complimentary Snacks
• Vending Machines
• Certified Technicians
• Genuine OEM Parts

• Express Service Department
• Comfortable Waiting Area
• State-of-the-Art Facility
• Saturday Service Hours
• Flat Screen TVs