Nissan TPMS Explained
For drivers of newer or later model vehicles, you'll likely have a Nissan Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) built-in, riding onboard. What is this system? To put it simply, TPMS uses sensors to keep an eye on the air pressure within your tires. When that air pressure drops below or rises above the recommended range, the TPMS will alert you of the problem. Why do this? Well, that recommended range is there for a reason, and driving with tires that don't meet it can be detrimental to fuel efficiency, handling, and overall road safety. There are more details you should know, but we'll dive into that soon.
Firstly, though, to tell whether or not your vehicle comes with a tire pressure monitoring system, check for a Nissan "low tire pressure" light when you turn on the vehicle. It'll illuminate along with other warning lights when you turn the key or press the push-button start to the "on" position — without starting the engine. If you see that light, you have TPMS. You'll have one of two types of Nissan TPMS, but each accomplishes the same end goal. Without further ado, let's jump into the details involved.
How Your Nissan Tire Pressure Monitoring System Works
As aforementioned, there are two styles of TPMS you'll find in Nissan vehicles. When either sends you a warning, though, you'll need to either top up or lower the air pressure in your tires. Or, in some less easy cases, you'll need to bring the vehicle into a Nissan service center like ours to replace the wheel, tire, or even the Nissan tire pressure sensor itself. But back to the styles of TPMS, the two you'll find include:
Direct Nissan Tire Pressure Monitoring System
As the name suggests, direct TPMS uses a sensor that directly measures air pressure from within the tire. You'll find these sensors on each wheel, and they'll be able to give readouts for the precise, actual tire pressure. That means you can get dynamic tire pressure readings as you drive and see exactly what's wrong when the Nissan tire pressure light comes on.
Indirect Nissan Tire Pressure Monitoring System
When a tire loses pressure, its effects can be measured by a sensor in many ways. One such way is to look for a change in wheel speed — that's how indirect TPMS works. Specifically, it works with the ABS in your car to look for such a disparity in wheel speed and alert you of low pressure when the conditions are detected.
Why Following Your Nissan Tire Pressure Monitoring System Is ImportantSo now you know the basics of how it all works, great! But what exactly happens if you keep driving while the Nissan tire light is illuminated? The short answer: Nothing good will come of it, and sometimes even catastrophes can occur. That's why if your tires frequently trip the sensors by losing air, it's essential to replace them with a new set at your trusted Nissan tire shop. Let's take a look at what happens when you drive using under-inflated tires:
- Changes in vehicle handling characteristics
- Decreased fuel efficiency
- Greater risk of tire puncture
- Greater risk of tire blowout
Simply put, when a tire is under-inflated, it's not doing its job correctly. The same goes for an over-inflated one, and potential issues like a blowout may even be worse in such cases, along with decreased traction. This is also why it's important to have the TPMS repaired if the issue is with a sensor. You want to be able to drive with peace of mind, and that's what the TPMS is there for. Luckily, you can find our Nissan service coupons on work like replacing a TPMS sensor.
What To Do When Your Nissan Tire Pressure Monitoring System Light Comes On
First things first, check your tire pressure as soon as possible. If your vehicle doesn't display the pressure, keep a separate tire pressure gauge handy to check it yourself. Riding on over or under-inflated tires is not something you want to do for more than a very short period of time, so reinflate or deflate them accordingly. Note that changes in atmospheric air pressure like a cold morning can also turn on the TPMS light. In that case, though, the light will turn off after a short period of driving.
That's the gist of it, but there are other things to watch for. One such case is if you find yourself faced with a TPMS light and need to refill a tire, then face the same problem a week or days later. That may indicate a tire needs inspection and potentially replacement at your nearest Nissan service center. Alternatively, if you see the low tire pressure warning light come on, but manually check the tire pressure and see everything is normal, then your TPMS sensor may be faulty or worn. Nissan technicians can inspect and replace the sensor in this case.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I reset the tire pressure monitoring system?
The first step is to inflate your tires so that they match the recommended PSI and also check for leaks in the tire. If these steps are successfully completed, the TPMS light should reset itself. If it doesn't, the next step is to press and hold your vehicle's TPMS reset button until the TPMS light blinks three times. Alternatively, drive the vehicle at 50 mph for around 10 minutes, and the TPMS light should reset itself the next time you turn the vehicle on. If all this fails, please contact your trusted Nissan service center.
Why is my tire pressure monitoring system light on?
Your tire pressure monitoring system is there to alert you of low or high tire pressure. The vast majority of the time, a TPMS light will come on because of low tire pressure. It's important to adjust air pressure to a level within recommended guidelines ASAP. Alternatively, a failing TPMS sensor can activate the light.
How to check the tire pressure monitoring system?
Your vehicle's tire pressure monitoring system will send an alert to your dashboard in the form of a "low pressure" light. To check the air pressure measured by TPMS, pull up the tire pressure monitoring screen on your vehicle's digital display (if equipped). Alternatively, use a tire pressure gauge on the tire's valve stem to measure pressure.