Tire pressure
So its that time again. Time when the weather cools and your tire pressure drops, as directed by nature, and you’ll soon see the Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) light. The one that looks too much like a horseshoe.
And mine did as well. So off I went to the gas station to use a pump very much like the one to the right. Remember the one next to it??
Set the pressure, 36 lbs in the case of the EV, inflate the tire and the pump stops and beeps when it reaches the the pressure that’s been set. I then check the accuracy of the pump with my pencil type pressure gauge. It read 34 lbs on each tire.
Now the car also reads out the pressures, but only when moving for some reason. So I had to move on before checking. The car read out 34 lbs as well. So now I know to set the pump a couple of pounds higher than what I want the next time I go back. And heaven forbid the tires be overinflated. Over or under — either is potentially dangerous.
Now one might think that powered system like the pump I used might be more accurate, but this is clearly not the case. And while I do recognize that 34 lbs is quite literally close enough, getting to 36 lbs will stave off the next need to fill again as the temperature continues to drop by a few degrees.
And of course, 2 days later its 60° and all 4 tires are at 36 lbs…
Back to the pencil type gauge, which some call a pen type (right), I prefer the simplicity of the mechanical system. There are lots of battery operated gauges available, but the internal battery becomes a variable that can’t be tested for.
Keep it simple and stay with the mechanical gauge and its easy to carry. And do back-up the pump and check what’s actually gone in to your tires.
For more tire pressure, check our TPMS page.
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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.
The author has 25 years of automotive experience and has assembled the most extensive collection of symbols and warning lights anywhere (over 1,000!) and can help you open and start any keyless start car with a dead key fob battery. BA, St. Joseph’s College, ME: MS, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY
A completely unneeded symbol expands the auto headlamps page
Auto headlamps
We added a new symbol to our auto headlamps page, courtesy of Lincoln. A completely unnecessary move of the letter A to outside the representation of the lamp!
The page now holds 14 very, very similar images, all of which represent a system that turns the high beams on and off by sensing the headlights of oncoming vehicles and the taillights of vehicles ahead.
We’ll keep saying it: the more symbols that are created the more useless the entire indicator light system becomes.
The newest symbol is at the far right with the letter A seen outside the flattened oval representing the headlamp. Lincoln itself already used the two additional images shown to its left. Why? Why?? What could possibly be gained by adding yet another essentially identical image with the letter A in a new location?
Absolutely, unequivocally, unbelievably stupid. And there are more on the page. Different colors, added words, etc. Where does it end??
Cars are changing, and among those changes is the growing number of symbols and indicators that will invariably show up on your dashboard or instrument panel. Every year, new features are added to vehicles, each of which is accompanied by a new symbol or symbols and likely a new acronym.
At DashboardSymbols.com, our aim is to help you understand what is happening to your vehicle at the first sign of trouble – a new warning light illuminated on your instrument panel. Its all here on this website. Our first intention is to bring the latest technologies down to earth and understandable for everyday drivers.
You can see the Auto Headlamps page here.
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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.
The author has 25 years of automotive experience and has assembled the most extensive collection of symbols and warning lights anywhere (over 1,000!) and can help you open and start any keyless start car with a dead key fob battery. BA, St. Joseph’s College, ME: MS, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY