The Single Most Misunderstood Warning Indicator on Your Instrument Panel – Part I

The Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Have you seen or are you seeing this light on your instrument panel?  What the heck does the symbol mean and what the heck do you do about it? It is the TPMS – Tire Pressure Monitoring System – indicator. And it is the single most misunderstood warning indicator you will see on your instrument panel. A number of issues with today’s cars and and the people who service them come gift wrapped in this one symbol. The symbol shown to the right is a rarer version and is discussed below.

Is the Car At Fault?

We are accustomed to warning lights pointing to a fault with a system in the car. That is rarely the case here, as the light is primarily shown to inform a driver that the tire pressure or pressures in the tires—including the spare—are low and there is likely no actual fault with the vehicle! So here we will discuss the merits of the TPMS light.

Under the category of misunderstood, this light has been described by drivers variously as:

• An exclamation point in parenthesis
• An exclamation point in brackets
• An exclamation point in a horseshoe
• Flames – destined to be a classic!
• A wishbone
• An exclamation point in a fish bowl
• An exclamation point in a cup
• And, a real favorite, a candle in a glass!

Never has anyone called and said “I have an exclamation point in the cutaway of a tire” – which is exactly what it is!

Everyone from motorists to service personnel, believe it is nothing but a pain in the neck. But, in truth, it is doing its job, calling attention to the fact that the pressure in one or more of your tires is low. Addressing the issue when it comes up will save you money on tires and fuel by extending the life of your tires and by reducing rolling resistance, respectively.

The light suggests four possible scenarios:

Continue Reading …

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Remember that only proper service and repair procedures will ensure the safe and reliable operation of your car. In addition, proper safety procedures and precautions, such as the  use of safety goggles, the right tools and the equipment should be followed at all times to eliminate the possibility of personal injury or improper service which could damage the vehicle or compromise its safety.

These posts are for information sharing purposes only, and should not be used in lieu of an OEM service manual or factory authorized service procedure. We are not in the auto repair business nor do we publish automotive service manuals. Nothing we include on these pages and posts has been reviewed, approved or authorized by any vehicle manufacturer.

Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow. And when it comes to the current state of flux in the auto industry, nothing is more true.