TPMS Reset – Blinking Tire-Pressure Light Problem Solving

TPMS or Tire-Pressure Monitoring System is the set of equipment that is usually installed in modern cars. Its main task is to warn you if there are any troubles with tire pressure. For example, the tire pressure dropped in one wheel - it's not safe to drive in such case, but the system will tell you about that and you'll be able to inflate the tire to avoid bad steering. Here, Wikipedia writes a lot about TPMS construction, so we won't repeat simple things.

But sometimes the system fails to work correctly. Some sensors may be out of order or the system needs resetting. In this case, you may see blinking or flashing light of tire-pressure error on your dashboard. TPMS reset will help you solve the problem unless the sensor is completely broken or absent.

Please note that different cars may have different ways of resetting the TPMS, so you may need to try out a couple of them before knowing about the most efficient one.

Originally, you will just need to hold the TPMS reset button for a couple of seconds until the tire-pressure light blinks three times and then disappears. But sometimes it doesn't help much. So we found other ways to calm down the pressure monitoring system.

Way 1: Driving at 50 mph

At first, find the TPMS reset button which is usually located somewhere under the steering wheel. Start the car, press and hold the button for 3 seconds. Then drive at 50 mph for about 10 minutes. You may need to find the highway appropriate for this. Steady driving is an important part of TPMS resetting this way. Of course, before the operation you will need to inflate the tires to the needed PSI.

Way 2: 20 minutes idling or driving

In some cars, you will need to drive the vehicle in any roads and at any speeds for 20 minutes after resetting the TPMS.

So, start the car, press the TPMS button and hold it for three seconds. Then don't turn off the engine until 20 minutes are gone. You may drive the vehicle or just let the engine idle for 20 minutes. This TPMS reset method should work for majority of vehicles. Again, prior to resetting the system, inflate the tires to the needed PSI.

Way 3: Overinflating the tires

If the simple ways don't work with your car, try another method. Start the car so that the TPMS system could register the changes. After that inflate the tire 3 PSI over the recommended level. After a minute deflate the tire completely. Wait for one more minute to reset the TPMS. Then inflate the tire to optimal PSI and let the engine work for another one minute. The light should stop blinking.

Way 4: Disconnecting the battery

The idea is to reset the whole engine electronics system by disconnecting the electricity supply from the battery. At first, make sure that all tires have optimal pressure. After that turn off the car, open the hood and disconnect both connections from the battery. Wait for 10 to 15 minutes. Reconnect the battery again and turn the ignition on to see if the blinking light disappeared.

Way 5: Special reset combination

If the above-mentioned methods don't work with your vehicle, there is another option. Find the manual for your car or open the forum thread saying about the TPMS reset problems in your vehicle. Find the combination of actions that producer recommends for resetting the TPMS system. Sometimes the combination might be too weird to remember.

If nothing helps you reset the TPMS

If all of the methods don't work, and the error light keeps on blinking, the problem might be in the sensors. Usually, if there is a problem with TPMS sensor, it will send blinking signals to the error light. If there is a tire pressure issue, the signal is usually seen as flashing light.

So, if the light is blinking, one of the sensors may be dead. The replacement of the element isn't that simple, because it is placed under the tire. The tire should be removed from the rim to replace the sensor.

After replacement you'll still need to reset the TPMS in order to put the new sensor in action. Otherwise, the light will still flash or blink.

By the way, here guys from Bridgestone say why and how the TPMS light may blink and what that should mean.

Where is the TPMS reset button?

Often the button is found right under the steering wheel. But there may be different options. If you don't find the TPMS reset button there, search in the area of the steering wheel - it should be somewhere nearby.

How long to drive until TPMS reset?

Hard to say for all cars, but for majority of vehicles the drive until the reset of TPMS system shouldn't be less than 10 to 15 minutes. If you turn off the engine before 10 minutes after pushing the reset button, TPMS will still send some error signals next time you start the engine.

How to get TPMS reset for bigger tires?

Drivers sometimes change the tires and wheels for bigger ones and still want their TPMS modules to work well. The trouble is that bigger tires or flat-ride tires will have another level of optimal pressure, so original sensors will always show error on your dashboard.

One way is to buy other sensors that are set to the needed tire pressure level. The other way is to reset the TPMS system in your car with the help of a service station. Just check which way will be cheaper for you.

Why doesn't the TPMS reset by itself?

Hard to say, why producers didn't add the option of automatic TPMS reset in their cars. In majority of vehicles after 2015 the TPMS is quite autonomous, so it won't bother you with reset requirements much. But in older vehicles the system isn't that advanced, and it sometimes needs manual reset.