Tire Monitoring System: Description and Operation

TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SYSTEM
Your vehicle may have this feature. The Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM) system uses radio and sensor technology to check tire pressure levels. If your vehicle has this feature, sensors are mounted on each tire and wheel assembly, except for the compact spare tire and wheel. Tire pressure readings are sent to a receiver located in the vehicle once every 60 seconds while the vehicle is being driven, and once every 60 minutes if the vehicle is stationary for more than 15 minutes.

Using the Driver Information Center (DIC), tire pressure levels can be viewed by the driver. When a low tire pressure condition is detected, the TPM system will display the "CHECK TIRE PRESSURE" warning message on the Driver Information Center (DIC) and, at the same time, illuminate the low tire pressure warning symbol, on the instrument panel cluster.

When the tire pressure monitoring system warning light is lit, one or more of your tires is significantly under-inflated.

You should stop and check your tires as soon as possible, and inflate them to the proper pressure as indicated on the vehicle's tire information placard.

Driving on a significantly under-inflated tire causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure. Under-inflation also reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and may affect the vehicle's handling and stopping ability. Each tire, including the spare, should be checked monthly when cold and set to the recommended inflation pressure.

The Tire and Loading Information Label (your vehicle's tire information placard) shows the size of your vehicle's original tires and their recommended cold inflation pressures.

Your vehicle's TPM system can alert you about a low tire pressure condition but it does not replace normal tire maintenance.

NOTICE: Do not use a tire sealant if your vehicle is equipped with Tire Pressure Monitors. The liquid sealant can damage the tire pressure monitor sensors.

TPM SENSOR IDENTIFICATION CODES
Each TPM sensor has a unique identification code. Any time you replace one or more of the TPM sensors, the identification codes will need to be matched to the new tire/wheel position. Each tire/wheel position is matched, to a sensor, by increasing or decreasing the tire's air pressure. The sensors are matched, to the tire/wheel positions, in the following order: left front (LF), right front (RF), right rear (RR), and left rear (LR).

You will have one minute to match the first tire/wheel position, and five minutes overall, to match all four tire/wheel positions. If it takes longer than one minute, to match the first tire and wheel, or more than five minutes to match all four tire and wheel positions the matching process stops and you will need to start over.

The spare tire does not have a TPM sensor. If you replace one of the road tires with the spare, the "SERVICE TIRE MESSAGE" will be displayed on the DIC screen. This message should go off once you re-install the road tire containing the TPM sensor. The Service Tire Monitor message is also displayed when the TPM system is malfunctioning. One or more missing or inoperable TPM sensors will cause the service tire monitor message to be displayed.