Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Your vehicle's Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) uses the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) sensors to indirectly check the tire pressure of all 4 tires while you are driving. The sensors monitor the tread circumference (rolling circumference) and vibration characteristics of the individual tires. TPMS warns if there is a significant loss of pressure in one or more tires while the vehicle is moving. Pressure loss is signaled by the indicator light Ç (described below) as well as by text warnings in the instrument cluster display if your vehicle has this display (Multi-Function Indicator- MFI).
The original benchmark pressure is the recommended maximum load cold tire inflation pressure for the tires that come with your vehicle. This pressure is listed on the tire pressure label on the driver door jamb, Tires and wheels. After adjusting the tire pressures in all 4 tires, you must confirm and store the new cold inflation pressures using the Settings menu in the instrument cluster, Settings menu, which changes the benchmark pressure to match the current pressure of the tires on your vehicle.
Recalibrating the TPMS to reset the benchmark cold tire inflation pressure is explained below, Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).
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Tire pressure display screen
Meaning
(3) Benchmark pressure, front tires ⇒fig. 112
(4) Current tire pressure, front right tire.
(5) No data received, right rear tire.
(6) Benchmark pressure, rear tires
If the tire pressure is too low, the relevant tires and the respective readings are highlighted in yellow.
Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should be checked monthly when cold and inflated to the inflation pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label. (If your vehicle has tires of a different size than the size indicated on the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label, you should determine the proper tire inflation pressure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire pressure telltale when one or more of your tires is significantly underinflated. Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale illuminates, you should stop and check your tires as soon as possible, and inflate them to the proper pressure. Driving on a significantly underinflated tire causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure. Under-inflation also reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and may affect the vehicle's handling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for proper tire maintenance, and it is the driver's responsibility to maintain correct tire pressure, even if under-inflation has not reached the level to trigger illumination of the TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate when the system is not operating properly. The TPMS malfunction indicator is combined with the low tire pressure telltale. When the system detects a malfunction, the telltale will flash for approximately one minute and then remain continuously illuminated. This sequence will continue upon subsequent vehicle start-ups as long as the malfunction exists.
When the malfunction indicator is illuminated, the system may not be able to detect or signal low tire pressure as intended. TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety of reasons, including the installation of replacement or alternate tires or wheels on the vehicle that prevent the TPMS from functioning properly. Always check the TPMS malfunction telltale after replacing one or more tires or wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the replacement or alternate tires and wheels allow the TPMS to continue to function properly.
Spare wheel or compact spare wheel
The spare wheel or compact spare wheel has no tire pressure sensor. When the spare or compact spare wheel is mounted on the vehicle, the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) indicator light will flash in the instrument cluster display. The TPMS continues to monitor the other 3 wheels.
Tire storage
If the tires do not move for an extended period of time, the sensors will not transmit tire pressures to the system. This saves sensor battery life. When the ignition is switched on, the sensors transmit signals to the Tire Pressure Monitoring System.