Tpms

[alejandro]

I have a 2005 pilot which I bought in January. In the winter my TPMS light kept coming on. I checked the tire pressure and everything was fine and then the light went away and I haven't seen it in months. About two days ago the light came on while I was driving. Again the tire pressure is fine (I am well aware that this light is for the system and not the tire pressure but I checked anyways). I turn on my car and drive for 5 minutes and the light comes on but then when I'm paying attention to the road and not the dash it turns off. I called my mechanic and he insisted that I have a flat tire but I know I don't and I also tried to explain that the TPMS does not monitor the tire pressure itself but the system that monitors that (gotta love the complexity of modern technology!) So does anyone have any thoughts?
How serious is this problem? Is there anything I can do? Is this an expensive thing to fix?
I'm not overly concerned but it is annoying to see the light on all the time and I don't want that to cause any unnecessary problems.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

[rgillie66]

Originally Posted by alejandro

I have a 2005 pilot which I bought in January. In the winter my TPMS light kept coming on. How serious is this problem? Is there anything I can do? Is this an expensive thing to fix?
I'm not overly concerned but it is annoying to see the light on all the time and I don't want that to cause any unnecessary problems.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

Have a tire shop that can diagnose the system check it out. It could be as simple as a sensor that has stopped transmitting or transmits intermittently (about a hundred bucks)

[rocky]

In winter the colder air temperature lowers air pressure and can trigger the warning light. Only for it to disappear when the tire warms up with use-and of course the pressure is correct.

The solution is to fill up the tires a little more pre-winter than the 32psi Honda asks for. I've found 36 seems to work well.

[rgillie66]

I think he's talking about the "Check TPMS System" light that indicates a problem with the system and not just a low tire.

[A6Pilot]

Here's another idea:
The lithium battery in one (or all) of the TPMS in-tire sensors is getting old, and should be replaced. Initially, the battery was claimed to be good for 10 years. I've heard from a few folks that 7 years is more like it. When the outside temp drops, the sensor battery voltage also drops and the sensor signal drops out, so it's not unusual for the warning light to illuminate when it gets cold. As the tire warms up, the light will go out, because the sensor battery warms up. As time goes by, and the battery gets weaker, the TPMS warning light will illuminate with temperatures that aren't as cold.

That's what happened to my daughter's car. When it came time to replace her tires, we also replaced the sensors ($45 each!), and all's well now. The batteries were drained enough that after 7 years, the light would come on when the outside temp was only 40F, or so. Tire pressure was never an issue, as she is religious in proper inflation.

Assuming the tires are up to pressure, I'd put my money on the sensor battery needs replacing, and not on any fault in the TPMS. After all, the battery is 6 years old, or so.

[deanmcneill]

I have at 2007 that's been doing exactly the same thing for last 4 months. This has nothing to do with a tire pressure being low or a bad sensor... it is the Dash TPMS system light that means there's something amiss with the controller. If it was a tire (or an individual sensor) then the appropriate tire light would illuminate.

I find on warm days it doesn't light... on cold days it does! Good thing summer's coming! As far as I can tell, it means the system (or computer) has a fault reading info. If it keeps up, I plan to take mine in and get an estimate on repairing it.

[A6Pilot]

Keep in mind that if the sensor battery goes low, it will send either an unreliable or no signal at all to the individual receivers located in each wheel well. Depending on the signal the TPMS sensors send (or doesn't send), the dash warning could vary from system fault to individual low tire pressure.

Again, the fault could be as simple as a sensor low battery condition.

[rgillie66]

Originally Posted by deanmcneill

If it was a tire (or an individual sensor) then the appropriate tire light would illuminate.

That is incorrect. If an individual sensor is not transmitting, even intermittently, you will get the 'TPMS system error' message. It will not simply show as having a low tire.

[claudelee]

I have a 2005 Honda Pilot. The TPMS dash light comes on and stays on. I checked the tires several times but the light stays on. It is very bright at night and I can't turn it off. So I put a small piece of black tape on the light. Problem solved. I monitor my tires by sight as I have always done and they are checked when I change oil.

[rgillie66]

Originally Posted by claudelee

I have a 2005 Honda Pilot. The TPMS dash light comes on and stays on. I checked the tires several times but the light stays on. It is very bright at night and I can't turn it off. So I put a small piece of black tape on the light. Problem solved. I monitor my tires by sight as I have always done and they are checked when I change oil.

Why not just fix it?