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Air Pressure Warning Light Stuck?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Wynder, Sep 12, 2006.

  1. Wynder

    Wynder New Member

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    So, I get in my car this morning (after an unseasonably cold night -- maybe down to 50F when it's normally 10-20 degrees warmer) and an odd light comes on -- after some rooting around in the manual, it's the tire air pressure warning light.

    I drive to work and get out -- no flat tires. I check the pressure and, they're all around 35psi -- when I get my oil change/rotation, I have the dealer set them to 38/40. I don't know if, cold, the air pressure could've dropped the pressure down to a level where it would trigger the warning. I tried to hit the manual reset for the light and it pops back on.

    I'm gonna hit a gas station on the way home to give the tires a little air lovin', but in the mean time, does anyone know at what PSI that warning sensor is triggered? Any thoughts or suggestions?
     
    #1 Wynder, Sep 12, 2006
  2. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    the light comes on when you lose 25% of your set pressure.

    don't know why it came on again after resetting though.
     
    #2 galaxee, Sep 12, 2006
  3. eagle33199

    eagle33199 Platinum Member

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    are you sure you held the button long enough to reset it, or did you just poke at it? If i remember right, you have to hold it in for 5-10 seconds or something, until the light blinks.
     
    #3 eagle33199, Sep 12, 2006
  4. Wynder

    Wynder New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eagle33199 @ Sep 12 2006, 11:24 AM) [snapback]318313[/snapback]</div>
    It did blink a couple of times, so I think I did... going out to try it again for lunch. :)
     
    #4 Wynder, Sep 12, 2006
  5. Wynder

    Wynder New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Wynder @ Sep 12 2006, 11:25 AM) [snapback]318315[/snapback]</div>
    I held it in... blink blink blink, solid.

    Gonna try to hit the air pump on the way home and see if that helps.
     
    #5 Wynder, Sep 12, 2006
  6. eagle33199

    eagle33199 Platinum Member

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    wow, quick lunch :lol:

    I'd agree with galaxee in that it shouldn't still be on after resetting it. I'm going to take it another step and suggest that it probably won't fix the problem to add a few more lbs of pressure, but you're welcome to try, as it's the cheap, non-time consuming possible solution. If it's still on tomorrow, it'll probably be time to call the dealer.

    Hypothesis:
    If i remember right, people have posted that the light stays on until the dealer turns it off when they replace their tires and don't move the sensors over to the new tires. could one of the sensors have broken or something, making the car think it's not there?
     
    #6 eagle33199, Sep 12, 2006
  7. Wynder

    Wynder New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eagle33199 @ Sep 12 2006, 11:46 AM) [snapback]318342[/snapback]</div>
    Maybe... though I don't recall it being on last night, so it'd have to had broke when the car was sitting still, turned off.

    Odd.
     
    #7 Wynder, Sep 12, 2006
  8. eagle33199

    eagle33199 Platinum Member

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    yeah, i would imagine it's rather difficult to break those things, and they have to be built to withstand a lot (speed bumps, pot holes, bad parking jobs hitting the curb, etc). But it's always a possibility that it was defective or something and only a matter of time... Your car should still be under warrenty, which would (hopefully) make it a warrenty issue and not cost you anything.
     
    #8 eagle33199, Sep 12, 2006
  9. Wynder

    Wynder New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eagle33199 @ Sep 12 2006, 12:21 PM) [snapback]318386[/snapback]</div>
    I hope so -- it's got about 12k miles since I got it on January 2nd of this year. Not to mention, I have the 7-year Platinum Warranty. Hope it's covered.
     
    #9 Wynder, Sep 12, 2006
  10. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    should be. it's not a wear and tear item, they're designed to work for 10 years or so (at least that's their stated battery life)
     
    #10 galaxee, Sep 12, 2006
  11. donee

    donee New Member

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    Hi Wynder,

    Were you in accessory mode when you hit the TPMS reset button? In Ready mode it does not reset, even though it may blink.

    Power off the car. Take your foot off the brake (with parking brake engaged). Hit the Power button Once, then again (Two times all together, but not fast). Then proceed with the TPMS resest button push.
     
    #11 donee, Sep 12, 2006
  12. Wynder

    Wynder New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(donee @ Sep 12 2006, 12:55 PM) [snapback]318426[/snapback]</div>
    The car was in ready mode (ready to be driven). I'll give this a try -- thanks. :)
     
    #12 Wynder, Sep 12, 2006
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