Why is my Toyota Tire Pressure light blinking

If you’ve checked out our dashboard warning lights guide, you know that the tire pressure light turning on typically means that one or more tires have low pressure. However, what does it mean when your Toyota tire pressure light is blinking? Toyota of Orlando’s auto service experts are here with a guide – check it out.

Why is my Toyota tire pressure light turned on?

Your Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) constantly monitors all four of your tires to ensure they maintain the proper PSI. If you remember, low PSI can cause lower fuel efficiency, uneven wear on your tires (which means a shorter lifespan), and even flats or blowouts. If the light turns on, it means one or more tires are low so you need to add air and if necessary, seek tire repairs or replacement (if there’s damage to the tire). Low PSI can result from:

• Damage to the tire, which is causing a leak. Whether it’s a puncture from a nail or a tear in the tire from something worse, a leak can result in low PSI and all of the aforementioned negative side effects.
• Weather changes. If your Toyota tire pressure light turns on as the weather turns cold, it’s because cold temperatures = denser air. This can result in your TPMS sensing lower PSI than usual and sending you an alert – typically, as the day warms up your tires will readjust.

In the above instances, your Toyota tire pressure light will turn on and stay lit solid until the issue is fixed. But what if it’s blinking?

What does it mean when your Toyota tire pressure light is blinking?

When the Toyota tire pressure light blinks – or blinks for 90 seconds before turning solid – it’s a different story. A blinking light doesn’t indicate a problem with PSI – instead, it can mean that you’re having an issue with the battery or there’s a problem with a sensor. If you notice the tire pressure monitor light blinking, you need to bring your car to Toyota of Orlando so our techs can check the battery and sensors and get to the bottom of things.

How to reset your Toyota tire pressure light

If the light is on and staying lit (not blinking), however, you can usually reset it on your own. Here are two methods to try when you’ve filled up your tires and your tire pressure light is still on:

• The easiest way is to drive your Orlando Toyota at 50 mph for ten minutes or more. The next time you turn your car on, the tire pressure light should be turned off.
• Another option – with the vehicle off, turn the key to the “on” position but don’t start the car. Hold the TPMS reset button (located under the steering wheel) until the Toyota tire pressure sensor blinks three times, and then release it. Start the car and wait 20 minutes for the sensor to refresh.
• Disconnect the positive battery cable, turn the car on, and honk the horn for three full seconds. This will discharge any power still stored in the vehicle. Then, reconnect the battery and start your car up.

How much air should be in your tires?

The standard air pressure can vary between each Clermont Toyota model, so you are going to want to check your car manual. Here are a few examples:

• Toyota RAV4 Tire Pressure: Toyota RAV4 tire pressure should be between 32-33 PSI when your tires are cold. Cold tires are tires that haven’t been driven in a little bit (like a few hours). You should check your tires pressure when the tires are cold because as tires rotate on the road, they build up friction. This friction causes the temperatures of the tires to rise and subsequently, the tire pressure. If you read Toyota RAV4 tire pressure when the tires aren’t cold, the PSI reading will be inaccurate. (And if you’re not sure how to check your Toyota RAV4 tire pressure, ask one of our Orlando Toyota techs to check it for you.)
• Toyota Camry Tire Pressure: Toyota Camry tire pressure should be somewhere between 32-35 PSI. Don’t forget – check your Toyota Camry tire pressure when the tires are cold so your reading is accurate.
• Toyota Highlander Tire Pressure: Toyota Highlander tire pressure is recommended to be at 36 PSI. Different tire sizes require different PSI to ensure safety, comfort, and peak handling capabilities, so be sure to check your owner’s manual to figure out what PSI your individual car should be at.

In general, most cars recommend 32 psi to 35 psi for tires when they’re cold.

No matter what your tire pressure monitoring light is doing, we can help. Contact the experts at Toyota of Orlando today – we’re open seven days a week at Sales 407-298-4500 and we’re conveniently located just off I-4 near the Millenia Mall at 3575 Vineland Road. Don’t forget to ask about our Toyota service specials!