If you drive a Subaru and your tire pressure light is on, you’re not alone. Tire pressure is a critical part of driving safely, but many drivers are unaware of the warning their car gives them when their tires go down.
The electronic systems that tell the driver when their tires are too low or too high are built into all modern cars and trucks, including those made by Subaru.
Unfortunately, some people ignore these warnings and end up stranded on the side of the road without a spare tire.
If you hear your tire pressure indicator turn on, immediately check your tires to ensure they’re at or below the vehicle’s recommended PSI (pounds per square inch). If they’re not, you’ll have to get them fixed before driving again.
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Why my tire pressure light on but my tires are fine?
If you’re still under the impression that you can ignore the warning and keep driving, then there’s a chance the warning will just stop flashing after a while.
This is because most TPMS systems rely on an internal battery that needs to be charged every so often. That’s why if your car hasn’t been driven for a while — say six months or more — it could take a few days of driving before your tire pressure indicator starts flashing again.
The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is a safety feature that notifies you when there is a problem with your tire pressure. It’s a good idea to check your tire pressure regularly, and the TPMS is an easy way to do it.
If your TPMS system has been acting up lately, you may have more serious issues on your hands than a low PSI reading. If your tire pressure light is blinking, that could mean that there’s a problem with the TPMS unit or it may even mean you have no TPMS unit at all.
If you’re dealing with any sort of flashing lights on the dashboard in your Subaru, follow these steps to figure out what’s going on:
Step 1: Locate the TPMS unit: The easiest way to find this component is by going through the owner’s manual. If you can’t find it there, look for a cluster of wires known as the “airbag cover.
Step 2: Test each wire in turn with a multi-meter: It might seem like there are many wires here, but all but one should be working fine. Attach a voltmeter to the first wire and then touch it to another wire from within the wiring harness. A single-digit reading counts as “single cover.”
Why is my tire pressure light flashing Subaru?
The vehicle’s tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) monitors tire pressure and displays a warning light if the pressure is low or a “service required” message if the pressure is too high. This system is designed to protect you, your car, and your tires.
If your TPMS system detects that your tire pressures are low, it will flash a warning light on the dashboard and also send a signal to other electronic systems in the vehicle.
These signals help keep you safe as you drive by warning you of potential tire problems. Once you’ve taken action to correct any low tire pressure, the flashing light will turn off.
If your TPMS light blinks because of an over-inflated tire, it can cause a number of problems, including improperly inflated tires that can lead to flat tires or blowouts; under-inflated tires that can lead to poor handling or reduced fuel efficiency; and even over-inflated tires that can allow excess air in the wheel well and possibly cause a crash.
To see if this is happening you should check this thing:
Check your tire pressure with your owner’s manual. If your car came with wheels made before 2001, they’ll likely have letters on them indicating their original factory load range.
How do you reset the TPMS on a Subaru?
Your TPMS (tire pressure monitor system) is a safety feature that alerts you when your tire pressure is low. The system consist of a small box connected to the tire and an LED light, which changes color depending on the tire’s pressure.
While most modern cars have a TPMS in place, some Subaru models don’t.
Here are some ways to check whether you have one:
- Your car should have a dashboard gauge that displays your tire’s pressure, but it’s not always clear when you need to check it. Check the gauge whenever you first get into the car, and then again after every long drive or whenever you’ve been sitting for a while.
- If you don’t have a dashboard gauge, your car should come with an owner’s manual that includes instructions on how to check your tire pressures. If you aren’t sure how to do this, ask an employee at your local dealer.
- If you turn on the lights and the TPMS system is working properly, it should light up and change colors as expected. If the flashing light doesn’t turn on, there may be a problem with the system. You might want to try these troubleshooting steps before bringing it in:
- Check that all of the tire caps are properly seated; if they aren’t set properly.
What does it mean when your tire pressure light comes on?
In this article, we will take a look at what happens when the TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system) light comes on and what you should do about it.
We’ll also discuss why your vehicle might have multiple TPMS lights and how to service them, regardless of whether they are flashing or not.
Tire pressures are a constant challenge for drivers, and pressure sensors are one of the most common types of trouble-shooting devices in modern cars.
Most tire pressure sensors run on a low-voltage electrical circuit that’s attached to your car’s battery. You might see a small light on the dash or an indicator on the steering wheel, or you may hear an electronic chirp when a sensor reads a low reading.
A few things affect whether a tire pressure sensor can perform its function properly:
- The kind of tire you have: Your car may have one type of sensor that works with certain tires, like all-season or snow tires. Or your car may have different types of sensors that work with different types of tires. You probably don’t want to experiment with sensors on different types of tires that you don’t know how to match up with your car’s wiring system.
- The age and make of your car: Some older vehicles contain older technology that can be affected by faulty sensors, such as those built into model years before 2003. In addition, some cars aren’t equipped with sensors at all.
- How much air is in your tires? If the air pressure in your tires is low enough to cause the sensor to read a low pressure reading, a tire pressure light has been called the “biggest lie on wheels.” But it’s not. Your tire pressure is important.
If you’ve had a blowout, it’s not uncommon for your car to be rolling on a spare tire or two. This means you can lose your normal spare in an accident, and if that happens, you’ll be left without a spare to use. So check your tire pressures regularly.
- The basics: Tire pressure is the amount of air that fills a tire, from the point where the tire attaches to the rim outward. The more air there is in the tire, the greater its ability to hold its shape when it deforms under force (for example, when cornering). Less air equals less strength.
- What’s more, tires are meant to lose air over time: Even when they’re not getting a lot of miles on them, which can cause them to wear unevenly. A properly inflated tire will have enough air in it to press itself evenly across its entire footprint. If it doesn’t, that could mean excess pressure or a defect.
What does it mean when your TPMS light flashes?
Most vehicles come with their own TPMS system. Your owner’s manual should tell you which lights are used on your particular vehicle, but it’s worth checking your owner’s manual online because some systems have slight differences.
If you don’t have a TPMS system, or if the light is flashing, this generally means one of two things:
- You haven’t filled up your tires properly; or
- Your tire pressure monitor is not working properly.
The TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system) and tire pressure warning light are used to alert drivers of low tire pressure, which can lead to flat tires (and worse). These are useful tools for finding and repairing a flat, but they’re also important safety features.
It’s important to know when your TPMS or tire pressure alarm is on and what it means. And it’s equally important to keep up with the recommended air pressure in your tires. Here’s what the lights mean:
TPMS: This light flashes while you’re driving and tells you that one of your tires is dangerously underinflated. It should be extinguished once you’ve taken your vehicle to a qualified shop for repair. If it doesn’t go out after about 20 minutes, get it checked as soon as possible.
Tire Pressure Warning Light: When this light comes on, you should stop immediately and take your vehicle to a qualified shop for service. A low tire pressure can prevent the wheel from properly taking the load of your vehicle and can result in tire failure or blowout later on.
Where can I find the correct tire pressure for my Subaru?
You can check tire pressure in a lot of different ways — with a gauge, your eyes, and even a smartphone. But there are only two ways to check your tire pressure reliably: with a gauge and on the TPMS.
The rest of the methods are unreliable at best, but they can help you figure out how low your tire pressure is. For example, you can use a thermometer to see if your tire is hot or cold.
But it’s not easy to tell how low your tire pressure is by looking at it, because the numbers are so small.
And a thermometer might not show you what’s happening inside the tire. If you want to be sure, go with the method that’s proven to work — a gauge and TPMS sensors.
The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) is a critical safety feature on most modern cars and trucks. Without this system, you could lose control of your vehicle in the event of a tire failure.
The TPMS is designed to help prevent this by monitoring the air pressure within each tire and alerting you when it’s getting low.
Each year, there are an estimated 6 million flats caused by low tire pressure. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that the cost of these flats is an estimated $4 billion annually.
A combination of heat, cold, age, and wear can cause tires to lose air over time. A tire that has been sitting for a long period of time will have more difficulty sealing properly and taking in air, leading to a reduced tread depth and poorer handling.
To check your tire pressure:
- First, make sure your vehicle is on level ground and the wheels are properly inflated.
- Pull out on the emergency brake, but do not apply your regular parking brake (and do not put it on).
- Press down on the brake pedal all the way to the floor. This will engage the parking brakes and hold your vehicle in place.
- Turn off the ignition switch and wait at least five minutes before checking for any leaks or other problems with
If your vehicle’s system detects a problem, the first thing you should do is inspect the tire to see if there are obvious signs of wear. If you see any evidence of wear, then it’s likely that your vehicle needs replacement.
What does it mean when your spare tire flashes solid?
Tire pressure sensors are a critical safety feature on all cars, trucks, and SUVs. They monitor the air pressure in your tires for any abnormalities, and alert the driver to faulty tires or low levels of air.
You can find sensors on the driver’s side of your front and rear wheels. When there is an issue with your tire pressure, the light will flash and will either stay on solid (in which case you should stop and check it out as soon as possible) or alternate between flashing and solid (in which case you may drive normally).
It’s important to note that if you see a tire pressure indicator light and you’re unsure of what it means, get in touch with a local mechanic. Just because you don’t see anything wrong with your vehicle doesn’t mean there isn’t anything wrong.
Each vehicle has a different set of sensors and gauges, so it’s important to know what each light means. But that can be difficult to find out without having the vehicle checked out by a service center
The TPMS system consists of two lights: A TPMS light in the dashboard, and a TPMS tire pressure monitor (TPMS) light in the rearview mirror. This system is designed to monitor tire pressure and alert you when it drops below a preset level.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I drive with a blinking tire pressure light?
If you have a tire pressure warning light on your dashboard, you should know that it’s not legal to drive with the light on.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received an overwhelming number of complaints about the lights being used to drive on the shoulder or in other unsafe conditions.
2. How long do Subaru TPMS sensors last?
Most TPMS sensors have a reset button located somewhere near the top of the valve stem. If you’ve lost yours or don’t know where it is, simply press it with a screwdriver or other similar tool and watch for a few seconds for the indicator light on the dash to blink.
That means the sensor has been reset, and should remain functional for at least another year or two. When your Subaru Forester’s TPMS sensors start showing signs of age, you’ll need to replace them as soon as possible.
3. Where is the TPMS reset button Subaru Forester?
The TPMS reset button is located on the driver’s side of your Subaru Forester underneath the hood. To access it, you’ll need to open up your hood with a 10mm socket and ratchet wrench set that fits your specific model—or get an access panel tool if you can find that.
4. How do you reset the TPMS on a Subaru Outback?
Subaru makes some of the most reliable cars in the entire world, but they’re not immune to problems. One of the most common issues that Subaru owners face is their tires going flat.
There are many different models of Subaru cars and trucks, but this article will address how to reset the TPMS or Tire Pressure Monitoring System on the 2011-2014 Outback vehicles only.
Final Thoughts
Tire pressure lights are designed to let you know that your tire is low. Typical tire pressure light types are red, green, and yellow.
The general rule for using a blinking light is that the pressure in your tires should be low enough to cause your light or a tire gauge to flash.
If you don’t see any flashing, the light could be broken or malfunctioning, or it may mean something else entirely (for example, if your vehicle is equipped with anti-lock brakes).
If you do decide that you need help with your tire pressure, there are a few things you can do. If the light only blinks when you turn on your headlights, but not when you turn on your high beams, it might be time to do an oil change.
If they’re low by themselves but not low when adding air, then it’s probably time to check out your tires.
