How To Fix Tire Pressure Sensor Fault?
Seeing the message tire pressure sensor fault on the instrument cluster while driving the car is pretty common. Do you know how serious is the problem and how much it will cost to replace tire pressure sensor?
All automobiles manufactured after 2007 require a TPMS or tire pressure monitoring system. The system has sensors that monitor the level of pressurized air inside the tires. The sensors provide real-time information about the tire pressure.
What Does Tire Pressure Sensor Fault Mean?
The message regarding faults in the pressure sensors indicates a problem with the TPMS. The error code tells whether the pressure sensor is faulty or the air pressure in the tires is too high or too low.
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A defective TPMS control unit or frayed wiring could be the culprit too. Sometimes, you can fix the problem
just by resetting the TPMS but replacement is the only option in some cases.
Symptoms Of A Faulty Pressure Sensor
The sensor is an electrical component so it can be damaged for plenty of reasons like age, dirt heat, and irregular power supply. Some of the high or low tire pressure sensor fault symptoms are:
- Low pressure of air in the tires.
- A warning light on the dash.
- Turned on check engine light.
- Wrong warnings on the DIC.
How To Fix Tire Pressure Sensor Fault?
Before starting the repair process, you have to make sure that all the tires have the correct air pressure. There’s a label behind the driver’s door that shows the right tire pressure for your car. You can find the same information in the repair manual. Check the tires with a pressure gauge to find out if they have the right level or air pressure.
In the case of overinflation, release some air until it falls to the correct level. Pump up air if the tires are underinflated. Fill up with a bit more pressure than mentioned in the label when the tires are warm because high temperatures lower the label of pressure.
For example, if the tire pressure label says 240kpa, the TPMS will show an error code when the pressure goes below this level. If you fill the tire up to 240kpa when the tires are hot, the pressure may go down to 220kpa when they are cold.
The repair manual to see how to reset the TPMS in your car. Some models have a reset button. Just push it after filling up the tires with the correct pressure. You may need to drive some cars for at least 15 minutes for the warning lights to go off.
The Cost Of Replacing Tire Pressure Sensor
The problem persists sometimes despite resetting the system. This could happen due to a damaged sensor. In that case, you have to take the car to a repair shop and have the sensor replaced with a new one.
The price of a sensor could be anything between $150 and $270. Add an extra $75 to $150 as labor costs. The total repair expenses will be from $200 to $440.
