My Tire Pressure Light just started flashing yesterday, right when it started getting hot over here. It comes on after I get on the highway doing 70mph or so for about 5 minutes.

If I shut the car off and immediately turn it back on, the light goes off, for a while.

I know the PSI is supposed to be 32, and I checked the PSI and it reads around 36psi after driving, so that's when the tires are hot.

Anyone else have that problem and any suggestions of a fix? I am trying NOT to go to the dealer...they suck.

 

The light will indicate over-inflation (over-pressure) too, which is what you are probably seeing.

 

I thought 34 was stock pressure?

 

You also need to make sure every tire is at the same TP. Even a 1 psi difference will cause the light to go off.

 

Read your Owner's manual on the subject.

If the light comes on and stays on with a chime then it is indicating an under or overr inflation. If the light is blinking then it is indicating a malfunction in the system such as not being able to read a sensor. It is normal for the lamp to not indicate any abnormality until several minutes after the car has been turned on. Check you Owner's manual then take it to the dealer for diagnostics.

 

It's 32 psi cold for stock summer tires, 34 psi cold for snow tires. Hope that helps .

rx8cited

 

thanks everyone - looks like my blinking light is a malfunction and I will need to go to the dealer.

 

Have you tried the "Wheel Unit Autoregistration" steps from the Tire Pressure Monitoring System Service Tips TSB (center of page 5/6)? It's easy to do and if you get lucky, it might do the trick. Let us know if you try it.

rx8cited

 

I'll try that on my way home tonight....

 

Mine is flashing now-
will a 1psi difference in 1 wheel set this off?

 

I believe a flashing light indicates a malfunction in the system - check for any OBDII codes? What year and trim level is your car?

Be sure you're using a GOOD tire pressure gauge to measure the pressures (not the crack-pipe looking ones) and that your checking them under the same conditions (i.e. if 1 side of the car is parked in the shade and 1 in the sun you will easily see more than 1 PSI difference between the tires on each side of the car just due to the sun heating up the tires).

I'm not sure if the RX8's TPMS system uses the car's ABS system to measure individual wheel speeds and determines tire pressures from that, or if it independent of the ABS system. If it uses the ABS system, then yes I have had cars (not my RX8) that would trigger the TPMS over a 1 psi difference.

 

all the Rx8's use a sensor mounted on the wheel to measure tire pressure, so the ABS isn't used.

the 04-05 (off the top, might be just the 04's), look for high and low pressure, and it will blink the light if the tires are too high, or if there is too big of a difference between the highest and lowest tires, OR if there is a problem.

the 06+ cars got simplified a little, because its less of a PITA. the light only comes on for low pressure, and it'll blink if there is something wrong with a sensor.

the sensors are actually pretty inexpensive, common to most Mazda's, and requires no computer programming. part number is BBM2-37-140B list price is $90, but you should be able to find em for $50-60

 

Mine did this and it ended up being a bad wheel sensor. The trick is finding which one is not working. No my TPS flags everytime it gets cool out side. Even though I am running 32 PSI all around.

 

1 psi won't throw the light, i set my rears to 32psi and front to 35psi and have no problems.

 

04 6speed MT w/75k miles-

 

Mine blinks all summer every summer.... Of course, it could be due to the fact that I don't have sensors on the summer rims.

guy who rezzed the thread, way to search! As others have said, it looks like a sensor isnt working properly... 1psi will not set it off.

 

Whoa...back from the dead 9 years ago!!!


Mine never blinks before, just a steady light when one or more tires is low on air...

 

Aaaaaaaand back from the dead again.

I brought my 08 RX8 to the dealer and they said there is a recall for the tpms (which I'm not aware of) and they said they'll fix it as well as the airbags. Strange thing is, my TPMS light would go on from time to time BEFORE i brought the car to the dealership and would go away after some miles. After they fixed the airbag, they said they had to special order the TPMS module and replace the whole thing (free of charge) and a week later (now) they said it's still blinking and they're trying to find out why. It's been in total about 2 weeks and I'm paranoid that the dealer has my car.

 

My 8 had that problem too with old tires but it went away with new tires

 

I only drive my car a few times a month. For several months, my TPMS would also keep flashing upon startup, this despite the fact that I regularly check tire pressures. Took it to a tire shop. Tire was fine, but it turned out there was a real slow leak at one of the TPMS monitors where it was attached to the tire. Shop said that happens with TPMS monitors from time to time. Sensor replaced, problem solved.

 

Actually along with new tires, I did replace TPMS monitors too. That might be the case

 

I just picked my car up from the dealership and they said they had a hell of a time finding & fixing the problem. I've attached my invoice for everyone to see. One major gripe i have is that my dashcam that I have installed caught footage of some punk kid driving my car. He was zooming around the freeway and even stopped by to get a snack with my car (I have this on footage). My odo was 62117 when it was in but when I picked it up it is now at 628xx. My dashcam clearly shows how they don't let the engine warm up and they just begin gassing it down the streets (will upload to youtube). Im glad I have my car back, but just so pissed off that this is how they handle a customer's car. Is there anything I can do from my end? I know if I call the guy out, they're going to say some stupid thing like "Test Driving" and such.

 

So, the answer is to take it to the dealer?

 

Bring to dealer or independent shop with TPMS scan tools and see if one or more is bad. Batteries do fail after many years and may just need new sensors.