Low tire pressure light, quick help..

AndyT3 · 12-09-2009, 02:58 PM

Hey guys, I was just driving down the road, and my low pressure light came on. Now, I do have a slow leak in both front tires. Anyway, I pulled over and checked it, and it didn't feel that much lower then the LF (the RF is the faster leaker) and both back tires are fine. So anyway, I put in some air at the local gas station until it felt firm, because there is no pressure gauge on the air hose (and no, I haven't bought one yet), then I got back in and reset the light and drive home, about a half mile from the gas station and it was fine. So I thought it would go off if there was a 12 lb difference from the other 3 tires? As far as I know, it uses the wheel speed sensor right? (or something not mounted to the valve stem on the wheel). Is it possible it was just covered with snow and crap, and set off a false alarm? Thanks and sorry this turned out to be so long...

MattismodderX · 12-09-2009, 03:10 PM

it might have changed from the weather drop. when the light goes on in my car i just make sure all tires are 35. it doesnt reset itself for a day or two tho. when its got proper pressure (even pressure i believe) it goes away

AndyT3 · 12-09-2009, 03:12 PM

Oh, yeah I didn't have a gauge around, but I know I have a leak in both front tires so I need to get that checked. But yeah, I just reset it myself. I'll see if it goes off again. But any idea what it actually uses to detect pressure?

jayson_waltz · 12-09-2009, 03:18 PM

it uses the wheel speed sensors to detect that stuff compared to the other wheels. its really isn't accurate, but is helpful if you do have a low tire. mine comes on randomly sometimes even with ok tire pressure

AndyT3 · 12-09-2009, 03:19 PM

Wheel speed sensor, okay. So it could have some crap on, like road gunk, snow, sand, etc. Yeah, because I know they leak, but not that fast in a short amount of time. Thanks guys, appreciate it!

cavaliers60 · 12-09-2009, 03:36 PM

word of advice..... my brother aired his tires the same way you did.... and this is the result...

He ended up putting 50 lbs of pressure in the tires... This one blew and tore the car up pretty bad... Did some pretty major damage... So just be careful... Go to autozone and get one of those cheap $2 gauges....

Nate's Alero · 12-09-2009, 04:24 PM

your hubs are dying... like you said the trac and ABS come on randomly.... your hubs are dying

cavaliers60 · 12-09-2009, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate's Alero

your hubs are dying... like you said the trac and ABS come on randomly.... your hubs are dying

all he said was his low tire pressure light went off.... and he knows he has leaky tires... Has nothing to do with hubs.... Sorry, nate, but you just earned yourself this...

Nate's Alero · 12-09-2009, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cavaliers60

all he said was his low tire pressure light went off.... and he knows he has leaky tires... Has nothing to do with hubs.... Sorry, nate, but you just earned yourself this...

oh really?

the TPMS uses the VSS (IN THE HUB) to tell low tire pressure, by differences in rotation speeds....his hubs are dying, because the hubs cannot dictate the speeds, so the VSS's in the HUBS are bad.... so, therefore i win

AndyT3 · 12-09-2009, 05:23 PM

Yeah, I complain to Nate about my Alero issues on a regular basis, so yeah, sometimes in reverse, on dry pavement my low trac light comes on. Although, when I drove it in the snow today the low trac light came on when I pulled away but it was justified because I could feel the wheels spin, so its still working pretty well, along with the ABS. The ABS light hasn't been on since I bought the car. When driving above about 40, I get this woo-woo-woo noise. Sounds like a wheel bearing maybe? Or maybe a hub...

And yes, I'm making another Wally World run tonight to get a tire gauge, my dad needs winter blades anyway, so I'll be there.

jayson_waltz · 12-09-2009, 06:23 PM

wheel bearing is in the hub, the wheel speed sensor/VSS/ABS sensor (its all the same thing) is also built into the hub. to replace it the hub has to be replaced anyways. The bearing itself can be replaced alone tho i;m pretty sure. The trac light just coming on once and a while in reverse (mine does also) could just be a broken wire inside the casing that still gets connection most of the time. that has happened to me before. or the whole hting could be going out, but don't worry bout it til your abs and trac lights come on together.

cavaliers60 · 12-09-2009, 06:39 PM

ok then I stand corrected. Didn't know there was talk in the background.

I feel bad now.

Sorry nate.

Nate's Alero · 12-09-2009, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayson_waltz

wheel bearing is in the hub, the wheel speed sensor/VSS/ABS sensor (its all the same thing) is also built into the hub. to replace it the hub has to be replaced anyways. The bearing itself can be replaced alone tho i;m pretty sure. The trac light just coming on once and a while in reverse (mine does also) could just be a broken wire inside the casing that still gets connection most of the time. that has happened to me before. or the whole hting could be going out, but don't worry bout it til your abs and trac lights come on together.

nope, the VSS, Hub and bearing are all a sealed unit, none of the three can be replaced individually

JLw7123 · 12-09-2009, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate's Alero

your hubs are dying... like you said the trac and ABS come on randomly.... your hubs are dying

ya same here I need new hubs soon to.

AndyT3 · 12-09-2009, 09:38 PM

Ok, good to hear I'm not alone, lol. How about that other question about that wooshing noise, point to a hub?

jayson_waltz · 12-09-2009, 11:37 PM

possible, or the road you are on.

Cliff8928 · 12-10-2009, 01:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate's Alero

nope, the VSS, Hub and bearing are all a sealed unit, none of the three can be replaced individually

VSS is an incorrect term for what you're describing.. The VSS is attached to the transmission.

The sensor in the hub is a Wheel Speed Sensor.

Nate's Alero · 12-10-2009, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cliff8928

VSS is an incorrect term for what you're describing.. The VSS is attached to the transmission.

The sensor in the hub is a Wheel Speed Sensor.

oooook, so a WSS....

a.graham52 · 12-10-2009, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cavaliers60

word of advice..... my brother aired his tires the same way you did.... and this is the result...

He ended up putting 50 lbs of pressure in the tires... This one blew and tore the car up pretty bad... Did some pretty major damage... So just be careful... Go to autozone and get one of those cheap $2 gauges....

most tires max psi is 50psi. iv seen some that are 45psi but not that many. u sure it was set at 50?

jayson_waltz · 12-10-2009, 12:19 PM

^all tires are different. my summer tires max out at 38 or 40 can't remember which one. 50 is way too much for anything unless you have HD pickup tires which run at 60.