Manufacturers equip cars with several light indicators that tell the driver when something is going wrong in a system unit. The tire pressure monitor system (TPMS), for instance, monitors the air or nitrogen pressure in the tire. If it detects low pressure or the system has issues, it’ll light up or blink on the dash.
A tire pressure light blinking on the dashboard means something is wrong with the tires, and the driver should check and rectify the underlying issues as soon as possible. Do not leave a blinking tire pressure light on for an extended period. All you need to fix is a simple reset.
Here, we’ll discuss why your tire air pressure link is blinking, how to rectify the issue, and if the light will go off on its own.
What does it mean to have a tire pressure light blinking?
If your Toyota tire pressure light blinks, then stay on; you have bad tires, issues with the TPMS, or need to service the tire monitor. On most vehicles, including Toyota, the tire pressure light will blink for 60 to 90 seconds before staying lit.
Several issues can cause the TPMS to blink or stay lit on the dashboard, depending on your car make and model. However, we’ll be looking at the most potential causes.
Low tire pressure
Low tire pressure is one of the most prevalent reasons the TPMS light appears on the dashboard. However, since other factors can be the leading cause, you need to check and fix low tire pressure and see if the light will disappear. Always keep the tires at the manufacturer’s recommended PSI.
An overinflated tire is as bad as underinflated tire. Aside from the TPMS, underinflated and overinflated tires will cause accelerated and uneven tread wear. Underinflated tires will cause sidewall damage. If the tire pressure link is blinking, but the tires are fine, you likely have a slow air leak from the tires.
If the tires are low, you have to fix them as soon as possible or at least find out how long a car can sit on flat tires to avoid damaging them.
Issues with the TPMS
Aside from low air pressure, another possible cause is malfunctioning TPMS. So, if you’re wondering why is my tire pressure light blinking when my tires are fine, it could be a TPMS-related issue. It can mean the tire pressure monitor battery is dead, or you have a lousy or missing sensor or a defective TPMS module.
If the light starts or keeps flashing after installing a new TPMS, inspect the component and ensure that you installed a compatible one. Another reason could be the TPMS needs to be programmed. Some vehicles will require you to program the TPMS after replacement. Failure to do that will light up the warning light on the dash.
How do you fix a blinking tire pressure light?
Since there are a few reasons why your Toyota, Ford, Hyundai, Subaru, Chevy, or Jeep tire pressure light is blinking, there is more than one way of rectifying the problem. Let’s explore these methods.
Deflate and inflate the tires
Here are the steps you need to complete this method
- Check the tire air pressure with a pressure gauge
- Inflate the tires to the recommended level if they are low. After that, deflate all the air in them.
- Inflate the tires to the recommended PSI and test drive the vehicle for a while. Drive around 25 kmp within your neighborhood. This will calibrate the TPMS.
Reset the system using the TPMS reset button
Some cars feature a TPMS reset button under the steering wheel. With this button, you can reset the TPMS system with a click of a button. Here’s how to reset a lousy tire pressure sensor.
- Insert the car key into the ignition and turn it to the ON position
- Push and hold the TPMS reset button until the tire pressure light blinks. This usually takes five seconds or less.
- Turn on the engine
- Drive the car within the neighborhood for around 25 to 30 minutes
- Switch off the engine and turn it back on after a few minutes.
This should be able to clear the tire pressure light on the dash. Kindly note that some cars do not have these features. For example, some automakers replace the TPMS reset feature with TPMS calibration. On such vehicles, you can find the TPMS calibration option in the car setting.
Disconnect and reconnect battery terminals
Lexus, Toyota, Jeep, or Subaru tire pressure light blinking could result from computer glitches in the system. If this is the root cause, then you have to rectify the underlying issues by disconnecting and reconnecting the battery terminals.
- Locate the battery and disconnect the positive terminal
- After disconnecting the battery, blow the horn to drain the electric current stored in the system
- Reconnect the battery terminal after 5 to 10 minutes. The TPMS light should disappear now if computer glitches were the leading cause.
Fix the issue using a TPMS relearn tool
Get a TPMS relearn tool from a local or online auto spare parts. There are many of these tools available. Just follow the directives on the tool, and you’ll fix the tire pressure warning light issues in a matter of minutes.
Inspect and change defective tires
Walk around your ride and inspect the tires. If you notice any tire slash, a nail on any of the tires, or anything similar, it could mean the tire is slowly losing air. Also, if you notice the tire pressure light blinking with spare, replace it with the original tire. Finally, change any defective, slashed, or tires with nails.
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
Q: Can I drive with a blinking tire pressure light?
A blinking tire pressure light will not stop you from driving, but driving with the TPMS light is unsafe. The light means you have a dead or faulty tire pressure monitor or the tires are under or overinflated. Improper tire pressures will cause accelerated tire wear or cupping, eventually leading to a tire blowout.
I know you won’t want your tires to blow out on the highway. Of course, no one will. So, you should fix the underlying issues before hitting the road. The first thing you need to do once you see a blinking tire pressure light is to check and inflate the tire pressure to the recommended PSI.
Q: What does it mean when tire pressure light blinks then stays on?
Tire pressure light blinking then turns off and tire pressure light blinking and then stays on means two different things. If the light blinks and stays on, you have a malfunctioning TPMS. It could be that the battery is dead, the sensor itself is acting up, or it is damaged. Drive to a nearby mechanic garage and have them track and rectify the problem.
Q: Why does my tire pressure light keep coming on but my tire isn’t low?
If the tire pressure warning light stays lit on your dashboard even after inflating the tires to the recommended PSI, you have TPMS-related issues unless the tires are leaking slowly. This means one of the tire pressure monitors is acting up, you have internal monitor issues, or one or more of the monitor batteries are dead.
Q: Can a tire pressure light be false?
Technically, automakers design tire pressure lights to illuminate when the tire pressure goes below 25%. But if the weather is very cold in the morning, let’s say, around 40 to 50 degrees below the normal day-to-day temp, the TPMS will light up the warning light.
As the day goes by and the temperature increases, the air pressure will go back to normal, and the light will disappear. This shows that the TPMS can be false.
Q: Will tire pressure light go off on its own?
Yes, a tire pressure light can disappear on its own. For example, if the weather condition is extremely low, the TPMS may think you have low air pressure and project the tire pressure light on the dash. Then, as the day goes by and the weather becomes okay, the light will disappear on its own.
Here’s another example. If the tire pressure light appears on the dash due to low tire pressure, it’ll disappear once you inflate the tires.
The Tpms light blinking and stays on fix ( YouTube)
Final Words
In summary, several factors can cause tire pressure light blinking. It could be low tire pressure, dead TPMS batteries, or the tire pressure monitor itself is acting up. Regardless of the leading cause, try and fix it as soon as possible because you’ll never know when the system detects a new problem.
We also explained how to fix a tire pressure light blinking on Toyota Corolla and other car models. Explore the directives above to rectify the problem. However, if you’re not a DIYer, inflate the tires to the recommended PSI and drive down to a mechanic if the light refuses to go off.
