WHEELS AND TIRES
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Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS)
TPMS provides a warning if inflation pressure in
one or more tires is too low. It also uses a sym-
bol (called a telltale) that will flash for
60 seconds and then glow steadily if there is a
system malfunction.
TPMS uses sensors mounted in the tire valves to
check inflation pressure levels. When the vehicle
is moving at a speed of approximately 20 mph
(30 km/h) or faster, these sensors transmit infla-
tion pressure data to a receiver located in the
vehicle. If inflation pressure is too low, an indica-
tor symbol will illuminate in the instrument panel
and a text message will be displayed.
Symbol Explanation
The symbol illuminates to indicate
low tire inflation pressure.
If a malfunction occurs in the sys-
tem, the tire pressure warning sym-
bol will flash for approximately
1 minute and then remain illumi-
nated.
Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should
be checked monthly when cold and inflated to
the inflation pressure recommended by the vehi-
cle 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 pres-
sure 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 pres-
sure telltale when one or more of your tires is
significantly under-inflated. 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 under-inflated tire cau-
ses the tire to overheat and can lead to tire fail-
ure. 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 main-
tenance, and it is the driver's responsibility to
maintain correct tire pressure, even if under-infla-
tion has not reached the level to trigger illumina-
tion 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 mal-
function indicator is combined with the low tire
pressure telltale.
When the system detects a malfunction, the tell-
tale 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 sys-
tem 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 alter-
nate tires and wheels allow the TPMS to con-
tinue to function properly.
Messages in the instrument panel
When the TPMS symbol illuminates, the following
text messages may also be displayed:
•
Tire pressure low: the tire(s) affected will
also be specified.
•
Tire needs air now: the tire(s) affected will
also be specified.
•
Tire pressure system Service required.
If TPMS cannot determine which tire(s) have low
inflation pressure, general messages may be dis-
played, such as:
•
Tire pressure low Check tires
•
Tire needs air now Check tires
TPMS sensors can be installed on the valve hole
area, on the factory-installed wheels as well as on
optional ones.
