Truck drivers: Tire pressure light flashing on your dashboard? When your tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) light flashes, it usually indicates that your tires may be low on pressure and need to be inflated to your owner manual’s preferred pressure guidelines.
Occasionally, if a tire pressure light flashes on and off, you may also be experiencing issues with the monitoring system. All the more reason to have your tires checked by a tire specialist, truck advisory team, or traditional truck repair specialist, as tires with low pressure can be susceptible to all sorts of punctures.
If you’re looking to troubleshoot the monitoring system itself, we recommend you bring your vehicle to a diesel truck repair specialist. If you’re looking for more information about what to do when your TPMS light turns on or when its accompanying tire pressure lights are flashing, we invite you to continue reading.
In this brief article, we’ll walk you through:
- What your tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) light tells you about your vehicle’s tire pressure
- How to reset your tire pressure light
- The importance of being in touch with a diesel truck service center and tire service center to help troubleshoot tire pressure problems
What your tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) light tells you
If your tire pressure monitoring system’s light turns on or begins flashing, it’s telling you that the air pressure in your tires is either lower or higher than is needed according to your vehicle’s specifications.
A flashing tire pressure light can also indicate that the sensors in your TPMS are damaged, missing, or faulty. What’s more, the tire pressure light may also flash if your vehicle’s battery, electrical system, or engine control module (ECM) is malfunctioning or worn out.
For example, a tell-tale sign that you may be experiencing battery issues is if the power of your headlights or internal vehicle lights tends to vary as you drive.
For semi-trucks, PSI levels tend to be anywhere between 100-130 PSI for front tires and 85-120 PSI for rear tires. For pickup trucks, PSI may vary anywhere from 35-80 PSI, depending on whether you’re operating a light or heavy-duty pickup truck.
Nevertheless, PSI levels vary depending on the load carried, altitude at which the vehicle is driven, the time of day at which the truck is driven, and the temperature at the time of driving.
How to reset your tire pressure light
Let’s say you’ve adjusted your truck’s tire pressure, you’ve checked that they’re at optimal levels, and you’re 100% confident that your tires are at the appropriate pressure. You notice that your tire pressure light is still on.
If this situation occurs, you might simply need to reset your tire pressure light. Here are a few ways to reset your tire pressure light:
- Let the sensors reset on their own: Sometimes, after a short drive, sensors will turn off. To do so, drive above 50 miles per hour for at least 10 minutes. Once you’re finished driving, turn the vehicle off. When you’re ready to turn on the vehicle again, you should see your TPMS light turn off.
- When your truck is in accessory mode: If your vehicle is in accessory mode and the engine isn’t on, you can use the TPMS light to reset the TPMS system by pressing a button beneath the steering wheel. Hold this button down, and wait for the TPMS light to blink three times; you can then release the button. Wait several minutes for the sensor to refresh, and the TPMS light should go off.
- When you’ve just finished emptying or refilling your tires: One way to reset your tire pressure light is by inflating your tires to a few PSI above the recommended level, allowing the tires to deflate, and then refilling them to the proper level. Once they’re refilled, you can drive to reset your tire pressure monitoring system.
- Disconnect and reconnect the battery: If need be, and if you’ve filled your tires to the proper levels and the light still doesn’t turn off, you can force a reset of your TPMS. To do so, disconnect the battery cable, honk your truck’s horn to discharge the remaining stored power, reconnect the battery, and turn your vehicle on again.
How a diesel truck service center can help
If after trying a TPMS reset your tire light is still on, you may be experiencing issues with your engine control module. To protect the safety and performance of your vehicle, we recommend bringing your truck to a diesel truck mechanic or tire service center.
A reputable diesel truck mechanic has the knowledge, tools, and technology to diagnose the root cause of the problem, as well as find a solution that leaves your truck in better condition than when you brought it in.
Your tires are what make you, your truck, and your operation, well, go. You want to ensure they last as long as possible, so bringing them into a diesel truck center or tire service center can help give you peace of mind for whatever your truck, your tires, or the road throws your way.
Quick brake check: Beyond TPMS checks
Quick brake check: Did you know that beneath the grease- and oil-stained collars of your local diesel truck repair technician is an honest, hard-working individual who loves giving back to their community? Some of the most outstanding diesel truck repair technicians regularly give back to their communities through donations and partnerships with local service organizations.
For example, check out our recent visit to the Veteran’s home at Stony Brook University, where we raised funds used to donate personal items to New York’s veterans. The next time your TPMS light goes on, consider researching an honest truck technician to fix your vehicle.
Tire pressure solutions start with quality tire service
If you’re looking for diesel repair service for your truck, and you live in the Bayshore, New York area, we recommend bringing your truck in for quality tire service.
Our diesel repair technicians can repair and work with your tire system, regardless of the type of truck you operate. Whether you need your tires balanced, aligned, rotated, or repaired, we’d be happy to help.
Our team has more than 40 years of experience providing service beyond expectations to drivers, operators, and fleets across Long Island, New York. For quick and efficient tire service by honest, knowledgeable diesel truck technicians who can get your truck running right, don’t hesitate to contact us today.
We look forward to getting you where you need to go.
Pine Aire Truck: Quality Truck Repair, Preventive Maintenance, and Advisory Services Since 1986
