Signs You Need to Replace Your TPMS Sensor

How Roadside Assistance Can Be There to Help

As you’re driving down the highway on a cold day, a warning light gives you pause. Your tire pressure is low, which could predict a possible blowout if you do not take action. The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) provides this warning, and it should not be one that’s ignored. Sometimes, the tire pressure is the problem, thanks to the cold air. Other times, especially when you know your tires are in good condition, that’s not the problem. How do you know when you need to call for roadside assistance?

Common Signs Your TPMS Sensor Is Faulty

TPMS sensors typically work reliably, but there are some situations where they can fail. It’s not always an emergency situation when they do, but it’s never wise to drive without a functional TPMS sensor. Doing so puts you at risk for not knowing what’s happening to your truck’s tires as you cruise down the highway.

Here are a few common reasons these sensors may light up at the wrong time.

• It’s the battery: In some situations, your battery may be behind the sensor’s failure. If your vehicle’s battery is older, or you have not driven the vehicle in a long time, this could be the cause of the problem. Sensors need battery power to work. It’s more common for this to occur in vehicles that are in stop-and-go mode, especially in a warmer weather climate. Delivery trucks navigating city traffic or trucks working on a construction site may face these challenges.
• It’s malfunctioning: It’s possible that the sensor is broken. It’s designed to trigger a warning light to show up on the dash whenever it detects low air pressure. Sometimes, the alerts are just wrong because the sensor is malfunctioning. If you’ve checked the air pressure in all tires and it’s within the manufacturer’s range, it’s time to have the TPMS inspected.
• Handling concerns: Another time to have the TPMS sensor replaced occurs when you notice significant handling changes on the road. If your tires are slightly deflated, and the sensors are not picking this up, it could be putting you at risk for a flat or swerving, putting your truck at risk of an accident. The sensor should pick up even a slight deflation in your tires. Be sure to check your tire pressure at a stop and request roadside assistance if there’s a problem.
• Changes in fuel economy: The same applies to significant changes in your fuel economy. If you notice this happening, it could be the result of a poorly functioning or non-functioning sensor not indicating that you’re driving on a flat, or deflated tires. Flat tires, cause more friction between the tires and the road surface, creating greater friction as you drive and increasing fuel consumption.
• You recently had your truck’s tires changed: If your TPMS light does come on, but you just had your tires changed, it could result from a faulty tire replacement. It’s also possible that the sensor was damaged during the replacement, or it needs to be reset.

Don’t Wait to Get Help for Your TPMS Sensor

STTC is here to help whenever you need roadside assistance. If your truck’s TPMS sensor needs attention, please remember that we offer 24/7 emergency road service for your commercial truck. Give us a call now at 610-954-8473. You can also contact us online.