TPMS stays lit + beep when starting?
01-05-2010, 07:33 PM
#1
Vroom
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TPMS dashboard light stays lit + beep when starting, with winter wheels?
First off, yes I did search the forums and spent about 10 minutes wading through non-relevant threads, and I did read the owners manual to no avail.
As many people do, I switch to a set of winter tires and wheels around November. My winter tires have been on for the past 2 months, and since I'm too cheap to put or switch TPMS sensors into my winter wheels, I've just put up with the blinking TPMS light that comes on on my dashboard after 5-10 minutes of driving. I've owned my '05 RX-8 for a few years, so I'm used to that.
However, today I suddenly got a steady TPMS light (no blinking) that came on immediately after starting the car, accompanied by a single high pitch beep (different from the seat-belt notification chime). The only relevant facts I can think of are that my car had been parked in my garage for close to a week, and it's pretty cold & damp here in Michigan right now.
Any ideas what this could be? I drove around town for around 2 hours on some errands and the light stayed lit and the beep occured every time I re-started the car. I didn't see or feel any issues with handling or braking or anything else that I could tell. I'll try it again tomorrow, though I wouldn't be surprised if the light just went away on its own...
As many people do, I switch to a set of winter tires and wheels around November. My winter tires have been on for the past 2 months, and since I'm too cheap to put or switch TPMS sensors into my winter wheels, I've just put up with the blinking TPMS light that comes on on my dashboard after 5-10 minutes of driving. I've owned my '05 RX-8 for a few years, so I'm used to that.
However, today I suddenly got a steady TPMS light (no blinking) that came on immediately after starting the car, accompanied by a single high pitch beep (different from the seat-belt notification chime). The only relevant facts I can think of are that my car had been parked in my garage for close to a week, and it's pretty cold & damp here in Michigan right now.
Any ideas what this could be? I drove around town for around 2 hours on some errands and the light stayed lit and the beep occured every time I re-started the car. I didn't see or feel any issues with handling or braking or anything else that I could tell. I'll try it again tomorrow, though I wouldn't be surprised if the light just went away on its own...
Last edited by Endor; 01-05-2010 at 07:43 PM.
01-05-2010, 07:38 PM
#2
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After a while the system will throw a solid light indicating a malfunction. Its simply due to your TPMS not being in your winter wheels. I've had a solid light for about 2 years on my own RX8 since I ditched the sensors and there's no problems.
01-05-2010, 07:44 PM
#3
Additionally, I think it'll do a system check every X starts. My car would give me that same long beep maybe once a week. I can't hear it now over all the gauges booting. I don't remember ever not having the light without the TPMS in the car. Are your other wheels in the garage near the car?
01-05-2010, 07:45 PM
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Vroom
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Seems weird that it took this car 4 winters and then 2 months to finally throw the solid light though... is this due to some new ECU flash or something like that?
maxxdamigz: Yes, the summer tires and wheels sit in the garage near the car, but that's been the case for the last 4 years. I'm up to about 40,000 miles and lord-knows-how-many starts.
maxxdamigz: Yes, the summer tires and wheels sit in the garage near the car, but that's been the case for the last 4 years. I'm up to about 40,000 miles and lord-knows-how-many starts.
Last edited by Endor; 01-05-2010 at 07:47 PM.
01-05-2010, 07:53 PM
#5
I figured it might be that you start the car near the tires so it thinks the TPMS sensors are in. Then, while driving, you get a blinking light. Then, this year, the tires are a little further away or one of the batteries dies or something and your car doesn't see a good signal ever and you get the solid.
Generally, I think blinking with most of the warning lights is you have an ongoing problem right now, look at me. Solid generally means a pre-existing condition. That's the TPMS, traction controls, and CEL I think. Oil/coolant level lights don't blink I think.
Generally, I think blinking with most of the warning lights is you have an ongoing problem right now, look at me. Solid generally means a pre-existing condition. That's the TPMS, traction controls, and CEL I think. Oil/coolant level lights don't blink I think.
01-05-2010, 07:56 PM
#6
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My TPMS used to blink for 30 seconds and then go out. Finally one day it just came on and stayed that way. The dealership told me it was because the system threw a malfunction light but that it wasn't anything to worry about.
01-06-2010, 02:16 PM
#8
add air to the summer set sitting on the garage floor. Your car is still looking for those TPMS and if the air pressure is low, could be causing the symptoms you are seeing. Worth a shot, and would only take a minute or two. Otherwise, I've heard electric tape works wonders for covering lights....?
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