Why is my tire pressure light still on after filling tires Toyota

A car’s TPMS is a valuable tool to let you keep an eye on your tires’ inflation, but sometimes the alert could be irritating, especially when it won’t go off.

If you want to know what’s happening behind the scenes when it comes to this light, keep reading our guide on tire pressure sensors and the system as a whole.

If you reinflate your tires and your tire pressure light stays on, it means that either the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) has a problem or the tires themselves have a leak. To determine where the exact problem lies, use a pressure gauge to check the tire pressure yourself, and if the values seem okay, then the TPMS is where your issue is.

For more information on keeping your tire pressure where it needs to be, including how to solve issues with tire pressure light and more, read on!

How Long After Filling Tires Does The Light Go Off?

After reinflating your tires, the pressure monitoring system takes some time to analyze, but the light should turn off on its own after you’ve driven a few miles.

How Do I Know If My Tire Pressure Sensor Is Bad?

If you’ve filled your tires, but the light still won’t turn off, and you’ve used the procedure outlined above to determine that the tire pressure is fine, then it’s the TPMS that has an issue.

Another symptom of a faulty tire pressure sensor is if it displays incorrect warnings, such as telling you you have a flat tire when you don’t.

How Do I Tell Which Tire Pressure Sensor Is Bad?

If you have a pressure gauge, the easiest way to spot the bad pressure sensor is by using it to take readings and comparing them against the TPMS to see which values are consistent and which aren’t.

If you don’t have a gauge, you can try letting air out through the valve of each tire and check to see which sensor takes too long to warn you of low pressure or doesn’t at all.

Can You Drive With A Bad TPMS Sensor?

You can drive with a bad TPMS sensor or without the system entirely, but it’s not recommended since you wouldn’t know when there’s an issue with a tire, and this could result in an accident, so it’s not recommended.

What Is A TPMS Reset?

If you’ve determined that your TPMS has an issue, you can reset it by driving at 50 mph (about 80 km/h) for about 10 minutes. This should solve most TPMS issues.

What Is A TPMS Reset Button?

Another way to reset the TPMS is by using the built-in TPMS reset button to reset it electronically and clear most error codes.

Turn the key to the “on” position without starting the car, press and hold the button until it blinks three times, then start the vehicle and let it run for 20 minutes.

Where Is The TPMS Reset Button?

A car’s TPMS reset button is usually found beneath the steering wheel. If you’re having trouble locating it, consult the owner’s manual.

How Much Does It Cost To Reset TPMS?

Luckily, resetting the TPMS is something you can do yourself using the two methods described above so it costs nothing!

Can I Reset The TPMS By Disconnecting The Battery?

Like most onboard car computers, you can reset your TPMS by removing the battery.

You need to disconnect the car battery’s negative cable using a wrench, then turn the car on and hit the horn for 3 seconds to drain the remaining power.

When you reconnect the negative cable, your TPMS should have reset.

How Do You Fix TPMS Malfunction?

If the above procedures don’t resolve the issue, you should consider replacing your TPMS sensors. Each costs between $50 and $100.

Do You Need To Reset TPMS After New Tires?

You should reset your TPMS every time you install new tires or have them rotated. Some manufacturers also recommend resetting the TPMS after installing new sensors so they’re scanned and integrated into the system.

Will Over Inflated Tires Cause TPMS Light To Come On?

Most manufacturers, such as Honda, program their TPMS to only light up when the tire pressure is low, so over inflating the tires wouldn’t cause an alert.

Some do program the TPMS light to come on both when the tires are over and under inflated so you should consult the owner’s manual to know which scenarios are covered.

You should also be aware of the manufacturer’s recommended tire pressure levels and always check in with your TPMS before you start driving to ensure it isn’t too high.

Can The TPMS Be Turned Off?

Some governments have mandated that every car come with a TPMS, and it’s very difficult to disable but it can be done through a specialist for modern systems or by unplugging certain wires on older models.

Manufacturers such as General Motors, however, have made it impossible to disable the TPMS in their vehicles.

Is Disabling TPMS Illegal?

In the U.S., different states have differing regulations, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) mandates that disabling the TPMS light is against the law.

They aren’t as clear on the system as a whole, but the malfunction indicator light should be active, and the only time it should be operated on is for repairs and replacements.

To know more about tires, you can also see our posts on underinflated tires, what PSI should your tires be, and if you can replace run-flat tires with regular tires.

Conclusion

If your tire pressure light doesn’t go off after refilling your tires, you could have a problem with the TPMS or the tires themselves could be leaking air.

To determine where the problem is, use a tire pressure gauge to check the tire pressure. If you find it’s the TPMS that’s at fault, you can easily reset it yourself using the inbuilt button for this function.

You can test each tire on its own using a gauge or by slowly deflating it to find out which exact TPMS sensor is bad, and you can replace them at $50 to $100 apiece.

Most TPMS systems will only alert you when your tire pressure is low, so unless your car flashes the light for over inflation, you should check the levels every time before you start driving.

You can drive without a TPMS system in your car, but it’s not advisable since you’d have no way to know if something was up with your tires.

Disabling the TPMS light is illegal under U.S. Federal law, and it should only be interfered with for repairs and replacements.