TPMS failure light intermittently comes on
 

I am facing a weird problem with my 2009TSX. The TPMS system failure light comes on after driving for about an hour on the freeway. It then goes off by itself after a while. This is *NOT* the low tire pressure warning light but the system failure light. The tire pressures on all 4 tires are fine.
I have taken it to the dealer 3 times now with this problem but they havent been able to replicate the problem (obviously because they havent driven it for an hour continuously!).
Acura Client Relations hasnt been of much help either as they say that I should keep going to the dealer till he is able to replicate the problem(!!!).
Any suggestions ?

I know you know this, but for completeness of the thread, there are two TPMS lights. One indicates low tire pressure (tire with an "!"), and one indicates a system malfunction ("TPMS"). A system malfunction can be caused by a variety of problems. There are three main components that need to function for the system to work.

1) Each tire has a TPMS sensor with and internal battery inside the tire. This battery usually lasts 5-7 years and is not replaceable. You have to replace the whole TPMS unit inside the tire (~$50-70). If this is the case, a tire shop or dealer can use a TPMS tool to sense the signal of the sensors. Bad TPMS battery = no signal.

2) Each wheel well has a sensor that picks up the signal from the TPMS unit in each tire.

3) The wheel well sensors talk to a TPMS module usually located in the dash somewhere.

Honda has a slew of TPMS codes that will pin point exactly which component is causing the light, but you will likely need and HDS for it because a generic OBDII reader will not pick up Honda-specific codes. (At least in my experience.)

For the OP, I suggest having the dealer pull all the stored codes with the HDS to diagnose. If they have already done this or if it doesn't work, then drive until you get the light and then take it in without turning the car off. If the light is on, they should be able to find the issue between the HDS and a TPMS sensor tool.

Even though this is the RL sub-forum, please keep us posted on the results.

My first suggestion would be to post this in the TSX section.

That said, it's one of two things. Either a battery is going dead in one of your TPMS sensors or there is a problem with the receiver unit. Unfortunately, Acura's TPMS sensors don't give a low battery warning when scanned by a TPMS diagnostic tool. You'll probably have to just wait until the faulty part in the system dies completely.

inB4Move...

1. If your dealer cannot replicate it then you need to work on that since you are under warranty.

2. They have a box to check that stuff, and I'm sure its throwing a code.

No fault codes
 

It is indeed the TPMS system failure light and the dealer has not found any fault codes. Problem is that the light comes on and goes off by itself. So it is very difficult to drive into the dealership with the light on.

I will post it on TSX forums as well!

I'm with BDogg on this. One of your batteries is about to crap out on you. Once it does, it's an easy fix.

my guess is that the stem is cracked or the battery is dying.

What are your tire pressures at? Since you said after driving an hour, if your tire pressures are too high it could cause TPMS light to be on then go away once pressures settle back down

Example - current pressure 38 psi, after driving an hour tires now 45 psi. (just throwing random high numbers)

From everything I have read on the TPMS system (we bought my wife's CR-V with the system light on), a high pressure will only trip the tire pressure light, not the system light.

OP, when the light comes on, can you turn off VSA? If there is something truly wrong with the system, you will lose the ability to turn off VSA.

It sounds like a bad connection to the tpms unit, or a bad tpms unit. (not the initiators)

Props on the thread bump. :thumbsup:




:zombie:

Lol. Yes. Congratulations on finding the search button.

BTW, some fun facts for you: Before today, the last time somebody replied to this thread Maroon 5's "One More Night" had just knocked "Gangnum Style" off the top of the Billboard charts and Here Comes the Boom and Argo were just hitting the big screen.

I was driving last night, and randomly for the first time, my 06 TL TPMS light came on. i went through the menu and selected TMPS to show the PSI and each tire had "---" listed for the pressure. the orange TPMS light was only on for about 5 minutes or so then the system came back on and the proper PSI's were listed for each tire.

if 1 sensor was going bad wouldn't it at least show the 3 good ones?

i will try the VSA test next time it happens.

Low battery?

Similar issue
 

Hi All,

just reviving an old thread and chiming in on this issue, my car is also intermittently flashing the TPMS error on 3 of the 4 tires. For some reason Rear-Left has never blinked.

It usually blinks for 3 tires. It occasionally will only blink for 2 tires. It will occasionally only blink for 1 tire. Sometimes it's fine with no error for a day or two.

I'm suspecting that the batteries in the TPMS sensors are dying and that I need new sensors. Have others seen this and has replacing the sensors solved the problem. I'm about to buy 4 new ones but would love a :thumbsup: before I do.

My car is a 2006 RL

anyone know the answer to this question? I have been getting the TPMS Function Error after 5-10 mins of drive time; the drivers side front tire shows 58 lbs, which is 24 lbs higher than reality. When I took the car to Discount Tire to have them read the sensors, the right rear showed no signal....according to the MID it was reading. Any thoughts? thank you

now both the front tires are showing 58lbs

4 new transponders in the tires and no troubles since.

I got this exact problem today in my 05 RL. TPMS failure and all four corners had dashes in the display instead of pressure numbers. Cut the car off to get my kid from school. Came back and it's working again but front left has 58psi. Measured pressure with my gauge at home and 32psi as usual. So does this mean all four sensors are dying or just the one with the crazy high pressure reading?

just the crazy one. but they will recommend to replace them all since the others are most likely on their way out as well. i do just one at a time. (about to get my 3rd one) on an 06 TL.

+1, just the crazy one, but odds are the other 3 are nearing failure as well.

Thank you both. My tires are almost due to be replaced anyways. I'll take care of them then. I haven't had the issue since the day I posted that, so I guess they'll be ok a while longer. I hope I wont have to take it to Acura to let them program them and all that. This seems like a system I'd be happy without.