What does a tire pressure sensor error mean?

Thomas Wachsmuth September 23, 2023 Car repair & tuning guide

A tire pressure monitoring system, often abbreviated “RDKS“, abbreviated, has been in the European Union since 1 November 2014 for all newly registered cars mandatory. The system monitors tire pressure and warns the driver if there is a loss of pressure. The TPMS warns at 20% pressure loss! According to the EU directive, the TPMS must warn the driver as soon as a tire suffers a pressure loss of 20 percent or more. This is often signaled by a yellow warning light on the dashboard. Still can False positives of the system, which can lead to both irritation and unnecessary inspections.

What does a tire pressure sensor error mean?

Unfortunately, tire pressure sensors are not exactly cheap. According to expert opinions from organizations such as ADAC and TÜV Süd, they can Sensor costs when changing to winter tires for a complete set of wheels 250 and 300 euros lay. In addition there are around 50 EUR for the installation and the Coding in a specialist workshop. Therefore, it is advisable to and before The costs for the sensors should be taken into account when changing tires.

The The TPMS warning light illuminates is a sign that the pressure in one or more tires is at least 20 to 25% below target. In such a case the vehicle should immediately withdrawn from circulation and the tire pressure must be checked. It is important to take such warnings seriously, as low tire pressure can have a huge impact on driving stability and significantly increase tire wear.

Lifespan of five to seven years

The TPMS sensors usually have one Lifespan of five to seven years or up to 150.000 km. However, they must with every tire change checked and, if necessary, the associated service kit replaced. The heart of the sensor is one Battery, whose lifespan is estimated to be around five to seven years. For those who are considering whether they can change the tire themselves: it is recommended Tire changes by professionals to be carried out in a workshop to ensure that the TPMS is functioning correctly. This is because tires are the only link between the vehicle and the road and correct installation is essential for safety.

Check tires every 14 days

Monitoring tire pressure is an essential part of vehicle safety. Therefore the pressure should checked every 14 days especially before long journeys or when the vehicle is fully loaded. In summary, a tire pressure sensor failure should not be ignored. It is important, to take the system's warnings seriously and carry out regular checks to ensure safety on the road.

What does a tire pressure sensor error mean? — also available for retrofitting

TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System):
- Warns at 20% pressure loss.
- Displayed by a yellow lamp in the cockpit.
- Can sometimes give false alarms.

Costs:
- Cost of sensors for a set of wheels: 250-300 EUR.
- Installation and programming: around 50 EUR in a specialist workshop.
- Costs for TPMS retrofitting: 250-500 EUR.
Service life of TPMS sensors:
- 5-7 years or up to 150.000 km.
- Checking the sensors is necessary every time you change tires.
Reset tire pressure sensor:
- Ignition in “On” position.
- Follow instructions on OBD device to navigate to TPMS menu.
- Select option to reset tire pressure indicator light.
Tire pressure sensor location:
- Either on the valve inside the tire or on the rim.
Teaching in TPMS sensors:
- After installation, sensors must be retrained.
- Either manually or through activator.
Detecting a defective sensor:
- If the TPMS indicator light lights up, there may be a defect.

Tire pressure monitoring system lights up?

TPMS notification:
- The indicator light may light up after a tire change if the system has not been calibrated correctly.

Changing tires yourself with sensors:
- Not recommended as tires are critical to vehicle safety.
Tire pressure correction:
- Remove the tire valve cap.
- Press the tire pressure gauge onto the valve.
- Inflate the tires to the specified pressure (see tire pressure sticker).

Types of TPMS:
- Direct TPMS shows exact air pressure for each tire.
- Indirect TPMS only has one warning light.

Deactivation of the TPMS:
- Deactivation can result in a fine of 90-180 EUR.
General information:
- Since November 1, 2014, TPMS has been mandatory for all new cars in Europe.
- All new cars must be equipped with EU TPMS.
Tire pressure control:
- Check before long journeys or when fully loaded.
- General recommendation: check every 14 days.

The following note is essential: For safety reasons, tuningblog recommends all repair, inspection and maintenance work exclusively to be carried out in a specialist workshop! Although our information is summarized to the best of our knowledge and belief, we cannot assume any liability for the content. All information is therefore "without guarantee".

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