All 2007 model year and newer Acura are equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System, or TPMS. The Acura TPMS warning light on your dash lets you know if any of your vehicle’s tires are low on air. Sometimes, even if you re-establish proper air pressure, the TPMS light may remain on.
The first step is to ensure that all tires, including the spare in some cases, are indeed at the correct air pressure. If they are and the TPMS warning light on your Acura‘s dash still hasn’t turned off, then you’ll have to take an extra step to reset the system. Usually, you can do this yourself, and it won’t require a trip to a service center. Use the following steps to reset your Acura TPMS.
How to Reset the Acura TPMS Light
Even if you have corrected the tire pressure problem, the TPMS light may remain illuminated. If this is the case you will need to reset the TPMS. One of these four suggested Acura TPMS reset procedures should do the trick.
1. Drive for 10 minutes above 50 mph. Often this is all it takes for the TPMS to be reset the next time you turn on your vehicle.
2. For cars with a turn-key ignition: turn the key to the “on” position, but do not start the vehicle. Hold the TPMS light reset button until the TPMS light blinks three times, then release the button. Operate the car for 20 minutes to reset the system. The TPMS reset button (for vehicles without a central display) can often be found on the left, or under, the steering wheel. Check your Acura owner’s manual for assistance in locating the TPMS reset button.
3. Inflate all tires that have a sensor (some spare tires have a TPMS sensor) to 3 psi over the recommended pressure, then completely deflate them before filling each to the correct pressure.
4. If all the above fail to reset the Acura TPMS light, and you have not visited a service center, disconnect the positive battery terminal while the vehicle is off. Press the horn button for three seconds or more to completely discharge stored power. Then reconnect the battery.
A Flashing TPMS Warning Light
If your TPMS dash light is flashing, the problem may not be tire pressure. It could be a dead sensor battery or another issue. A flashing TPMS light warrants a visit to a professional auto or tire service center.
The Two Types of Acura TPMS
A direct TPMS uses a battery-operated sensor in each tire (sometimes including the spare) that reads pressure and transmits the information to the vehicle. These systems will trigger the TPMS warning light in the dash when a tire loses more than 25% of the recommended tire pressure. The batteries in the tire pressure sensors typically last 7-10 years or 100,000 miles.
An indirect TPMS employs speed sensors from the anti-lock braking (ABS) system to measure the rotational speed of each tire. If a tire rotates faster than the others, it determines that this tire has lost pressure and illuminates the TPMS light. The threshold is 25% of Acura’s recommended tire pressure. Indirect TPMS cannot specify which tire has lost air and requires calibration after any service or voluntary change of tire air pressure to maintain accuracy.
TPMS and Air Pressure Checks
Although the Acura TPMS provides a vital function, it shouldn’t replace a monthly tire pressure check.
Both types of TPMS will not trigger the dash warning light until a loss of 25% of the recommended pressure. This threshold is significant; a mere 5% underinflation negatively impacts fuel economy and raises internal tire temperature. Remember, these effects will occur before the TPMS alert.
An accurate tire pressure gauge and manual air pressure checks should be part of a routine, and the TPMS alert regarded as a warning for a severe condition.
Other TPMS Considerations
Direct TPMS sensor batteries eventually die and aren’t replaceable. Tire sealants and corrosion from a weak or dead battery can also force a replacement. These sensors must be serviced by a professional because the vehicle must be programmed to recognize the new sensors.
Internal tire pressure fluctuates with temperature. A weather change may cause enough of a pressure drop to trigger the TPMS light. A TPMS warning due to a small temperature drop can indicate that the tire is near the lower limit of the recommended pressure.
