Low tire air
Thread Starter
Joined: 06-07-2009
Posts: 9
From: Utah
Low tire air
I live in Northen Nevada, gets cold here. This morning temp 11F the tire air pressure warning system failed. All tires have no reading. Question could ambient temperature have any effect on this sensor system? Also is this a separate module or part of ECM or ?
Thanks for any information or guidance you can give.
I passed 200,000 first of November, overall this is the best car I have owned. Bought it on the last day GM was GM.
Thanks for any information or guidance you can give.
I passed 200,000 first of November, overall this is the best car I have owned. Bought it on the last day GM was GM.
Moderator
Joined: 01-23-2009
Posts: 26,543
From: Fredericksburg,VA
The TPM receiver is in the RemoteControlDoorLockReceiver then it semds data to the BCM. The TPM sensors in the wheels send a RF signal to the RCDLR.
Temperature affects tire pressure greatly, something like 2PSI/ 10 degrees F. So if the PSI is 32 when the temp is 70F; it could go down to 20 PSI at 10F. Those numbers are guesses.
Temperature affects tire pressure greatly, something like 2PSI/ 10 degrees F. So if the PSI is 32 when the temp is 70F; it could go down to 20 PSI at 10F. Those numbers are guesses.
Platinum Member
Joined: 01-09-2007
Posts: 16,081
From: SE USA
The TPM receiver is in the RemoteControlDoorLockReceiver then it semds data to the BCM. The TPM sensors in the wheels send a RF signal to the RCDLR.
Temperature affects tire pressure greatly, something like 2PSI/ 10 degrees F. So if the PSI is 32 when the temp is 70F; it could go down to 20 PSI at 10F. Those numbers are guesses.
Temperature affects tire pressure greatly, something like 2PSI/ 10 degrees F. So if the PSI is 32 when the temp is 70F; it could go down to 20 PSI at 10F. Those numbers are guesses.
Senior Member
Joined: 12-05-2014
Posts: 3,371
From: Northern Ohio
Sorry for the late reply but I just went through this yesterday and thought I'd share the unremarkable conclusions we came up with.
The pressure drops with temperature at a rate of about 1 psi per 10°F. This is consistent with what I experience last month. It was -17°F or so one morning and my tires were reading around 24psi. In the Summer they had been inflated to 35psi (this higher pressure is recommended for my non-standard slightly narrower 205/60-16's) and were reading 30psi just a few days before when it was 50.
BUT - if there's moisture (water) in there, it can be a bit worse; as the tire cools, the water condenses from vapor to liquid and now you have a little less gas in the tire.
How much water went into your tire when it was initially mounted depends on a lot of variables including the installer's equipment, ambient temperature and relative humidity, and how long the air was in the compressor's pressure tank, but every time you add air you're adding a bit more water.
The main benefit to "Nitrogen Fill" is that it's effectively zero water, and that's the ONLY reason it give more consistent pressure, and even the people who sell the equipment say so. Side benefits are that the absence of water, oxygen and carbon dioxide are friendlier to the insides of the tire and wheel, but that will be trivial to most drivers. Might be better for the tire pressure sensors, tho.
Also keep in mind that voltage drops in cold batteries, so they could be marginal.
So you probably don't have much to worry about. Things could be back to normal when the weather warms. Ideally, you should add air in Winter, but be ready to let a little out when things warm up.
The pressure drops with temperature at a rate of about 1 psi per 10°F. This is consistent with what I experience last month. It was -17°F or so one morning and my tires were reading around 24psi. In the Summer they had been inflated to 35psi (this higher pressure is recommended for my non-standard slightly narrower 205/60-16's) and were reading 30psi just a few days before when it was 50.
BUT - if there's moisture (water) in there, it can be a bit worse; as the tire cools, the water condenses from vapor to liquid and now you have a little less gas in the tire.
How much water went into your tire when it was initially mounted depends on a lot of variables including the installer's equipment, ambient temperature and relative humidity, and how long the air was in the compressor's pressure tank, but every time you add air you're adding a bit more water.
The main benefit to "Nitrogen Fill" is that it's effectively zero water, and that's the ONLY reason it give more consistent pressure, and even the people who sell the equipment say so. Side benefits are that the absence of water, oxygen and carbon dioxide are friendlier to the insides of the tire and wheel, but that will be trivial to most drivers. Might be better for the tire pressure sensors, tho.
Also keep in mind that voltage drops in cold batteries, so they could be marginal.
So you probably don't have much to worry about. Things could be back to normal when the weather warms. Ideally, you should add air in Winter, but be ready to let a little out when things warm up.
Senior Member
Joined: 08-26-2008
Posts: 1,488
From: Sequim Washington
If the TPMS is working properly it should give you a "LOW TIRE Warning" as soon as any one tire it reaches the low threshold setting.
On my 215/60R/16 tires that warning comes @ 26 PSI.
I normally run 30/32 cold in the summer.
Pump your tires up to the pressure recommended on the front door area and see if the warning goes off after a little driving time.
Silverfox.
On my 215/60R/16 tires that warning comes @ 26 PSI.
I normally run 30/32 cold in the summer.
Pump your tires up to the pressure recommended on the front door area and see if the warning goes off after a little driving time.
Silverfox.
Senior Member
Joined: 06-07-2011
Posts: 2,180
From: SE Mich
The TPM receiver is in the RemoteControlDoorLockReceiver then it semds data to the BCM. The TPM sensors in the wheels send a RF signal to the RCDLR.
Temperature affects tire pressure greatly, something like 2PSI/ 10 degrees F. So if the PSI is 32 when the temp is 70F; it could go down to 20 PSI at 10F. Those numbers are guesses.
Temperature affects tire pressure greatly, something like 2PSI/ 10 degrees F. So if the PSI is 32 when the temp is 70F; it could go down to 20 PSI at 10F. Those numbers are guesses.
