TPMS Warning Light: What It Means and What to Do

If a yellow symbol that looks like a tyre with an exclamation mark appears on your dashboard, your car's Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) is telling you something. Here is what it means and what to do.

What is TPMS?

TPMS warns you when one or more tyres is low on air. It has been fitted to all new cars sold in the UK since November 2014. There are two types:

• Direct TPMS – a small sensor inside each wheel (usually part of the valve) measures the pressure and sends it to the car.
• Indirect TPMS – the car uses the ABS wheel-speed sensors to spot a tyre turning faster than the others, which happens when it loses pressure.

Why the light comes on

• Low pressure – the most common reason. A slow puncture, or a cold morning, can trigger it.
• A faulty or flat sensor – sensor batteries last around 5–10 years and cannot be replaced on their own.
• New tyres or wheels – some cars need the system resetting after work on the wheels.
• A flashing light usually means a fault in the system rather than low pressure.

What to do

• Check all four tyre pressures (and look for nails or damage) as soon as it is safe.
• Inflate to the pressures in your handbook or on the door pillar sticker.
• On cars with indirect TPMS, reset the system after correcting the pressures – see your handbook.
• If the light stays on, or comes back, have it checked.

Does it fail the MOT?

For cars first used from 1 January 2012 that have TPMS, a warning light showing a fault or low pressure is an MOT failure. Getting it sorted before the test saves a retest.

TPMS service in Weymouth

We test sensors, replace faulty ones and programme them to your car. When we fit new tyres we can also fit a TPMS service kit (new seal and valve core), which helps prevent slow leaks. See TPMS sensors, check your tyre pressures, or book online.