Nowadays, there are plenty of sensors in cars that make our driving experience safer, more convenient, and more enjoyable. However, one recent technology might harm drivers instead of making their lives easier. This article discusses the tire sensor fault and how to solve it.
What is a Tire Sensor Fault?
If your car’s tire sensor isn’t detecting the correct pressure in your tires, this can cause a lot of problems. The car might not be able to drive properly, and could even crash. Here’s what a tire sensor fault means, and how to fix it.
Examples of what can cause a tire sensor fault
A tire sensor fault can indicate a number of different issues with your car, including a blown tire, worn or damaged tires, or even incorrect air pressure. In some cases, a faulty tire sensor may simply be the result of wear and tear over time. If you’re having trouble determining whether or not your tire sensor is causing your problems, read on for some common symptoms and how to test for them.
If you experience any of the following signs that your car’s tires are in danger of blowing out: increased noise from the tires during braking or turning, loss of control while driving, check engine light appearing on dashboard, or poor fuel economy then it’s most likely time to replace your tires.
If you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms but cannot determine if the issue is with the tires themselves or with the sensor in the wheel hub then it may be best to have a mechanic take a look at your car.
Common causes of a tire sensor fault include:
-Worn/damaged/blown tires
-Incorrect air pressure
-Leaking/poorly designed wheel hubs
How to fix your tire sensor fault
If your car’s tire sensor is malfunctioning, it will not detect when the tire is inflated properly. This could lead to uneven tire wear and even a blowout. In order to fix a fault with the tire sensor, you’ll need to take your car in for service. Here’s how to diagnose and fix the issue:
- Check the air pressure in each of your tires using a gauge. If one or more of them are significantly below the manufacturer’s recommended pressure, your sensor may be malfunctioning.
- Remove both front wheels by gently rotating them towards the front of the car.
- Inspect each axle for broken or bent spokes or hoses connected to the wheel sensors. If you find any damage, replace those components right away before continuing with step below.
- Reconnect all four wheel sensors by aligning their black plugs into their corresponding sockets on the vehicle’s frame (see image). Replace any damaged or defective sensors as necessary (see image).
- Reinstall your wheels by reversing these steps, making sure to torque all wheel nuts to manufacturer standards once they are back in place (20 ft-lbs for Audi A4; 30 ft-lbs for VW Golf/Jetta). Test drive your car and check for an improvement in accuracy of readings from the tire sensor!
What are the consequences of a tire sensor fault?
When your car’s tire sensor detects a problem with one of its tires, it will signal the car’s computer to stop and replace the tire. If the sensor detects a problem with one of two front tires, the car will automatically stop in the middle of the road. If there is a problem with either rear tire, the car will not stop, but it will indicate that it has a low tire pressure. A tire sensor fault can also cause your car to hesitate or have difficulty starting.
Steps to take when tire sensor fault occurs
If your car’s tire sensor detects a problem with one of its tires, the car will usually alert you to this by either warning you about a low tire pressure or by sounding an alarm. However, if the tire sensor is faulty, the car may not be able to tell that there is a problem with a tire and may continue to drive as normal. In this case, you may experience decreased fuel economy or even sudden loss of control over your vehicle.
To check whether your car’s tire sensor is faulty, first try to reset it by pressing and holding the “power” button for about ten seconds until the “car” indicator illuminates on the dashboard screen. If the sensor still does not work after resetting it, then there is a good chance that it is defective and needs to be replaced. If you do not have any other options for checking whether the sensor is faulty, then you can also try to use a diagnostic tool like our free Tire Sensor Test app to diagnose which tire is causing the issue.
Test your wheel sensors and sensor wiring
When your car’s tire sensors are not working correctly, the computer will not be able to detect when your tires are low on air. This can lead to a loss of control, and in some cases, even a crash. In order to test your tire sensors and sensor wiring, you’ll need to do the following:
- Remove the wheel covers and inspect the sensors themselves. If they appear to be damaged or dirty, clean them with a cloth or brush before re-installation.
- Inspect the wiring connecting the sensors to the car’s computer. Make sure all connections are tight and free of corrosion or damage.
- Drive your car around a few times so that it can get used to using only one tire as a guide for its driving. This will help the computer learn how to properly control your vehicle in case one of your tires goes flat.
Tips on preventing tire sensor fault
If you’re experiencing a tire sensor fault, your car may not be able to detect when the tire is almost flat and could potentially lead to a dangerous situation. Here are some tips on preventing tire sensor fault:
- Make sure your tires are properly inflated. A low tire pressure can cause the car to misinterpret the signal from the tire sensor, leading to a fault.
- Check your vehicular owner’s manual for specific instructions on how to inspect and/or replace your Tire Pressure Sensor (TPS).
- If you experience a tire sensor fault, immediately pull over and stop your vehicle in a safe location. Turn off the engine, remove all of the accessories from the vehicle, and wait for assistance. Follow any instructions provided by the emergency services personnel.
Conclusion
If you’re experiencing a tire sensor fault, it means your car is not recognizing when the tires are going off the road. This can be caused by a number of things, but in most cases it’s simply a problem with the sensors themselves. Here are some tips on how to fix the tire sensor fault on your own:
1) Check that all of your tire pressure sensors are working correctly. If one or more of them isn’t functioning properly, it will have an impact on your car’s ability to detect when the tires are off the ground.
2) Make sure that all of your wiring is intact and secure. If there’s any damage or looseness in the wires leading up to or from the tire pressure sensors, this could also lead to problems with detection.
3) Try replacing one or more of your tire pressure sensors if they seem to be causing issues with detection. Even if just one sensor is defective, it can still impact how well your car recognizes when you’re driving on uneven terrain or over bumps.
