False TPMS Alerts

venomx

Since owning my 2017 Mazda 3 -- I've had the TPMS light come on a total of four times in four months, three of which were false alarms, one of which was genuine. I regularly check my tyre pressures at least once a week, and as per the manual, I hit the TPMS light any time I do inflate my tyres which re-calibrates the system.

I run Michelin PS5's all round, and they have been fitted a few months back.

Sunday just gone, 25 mins down a longish A-Road the light came on, checked my pressures with a digital gauge and they were all spot on, no leak at all. I reset the light, drove home and no light came on

This morning, before setting off, I checked my tyres ( pre-motorway checks ) and they were all the right pressure.
Again, 25 mins down the motorway, light comes on. I get to my destination, and again, check my pressures - all was fine. Reset the light, drove home, and no light came on.

It is an " Indirect " TPMS system which does not use any special valve, but just uses the ABS sensor ( from what I know )
My only thought is that the tyres are heating up fast, and then throwing something off and causing a TPMS light.

What is the best course of action ? Tyre place, Independent Garage, or Mazda ( I am under warranty but their diagnostic fees are ridiculous )
 Ideally I want it sorted because I don't want it to come on one time, ignore it and think it's a hoax, but then realise I actually do have a puncture

diystarter7

Hi Op

The faults are they since new tyres recently

Is is one or two tyres?

IMHO and I'm no F1 mechanic,  but just a guess that the TPMS are damaged, or it could be a more complex fault ie communications between the T{MS and the antenna/etc.

If its just the 1/2 tyres it could be dmaged TPMS

Check out Mazda forums they will know for certain

Thanks

TadleyBaggie

There is a bit of the M25 in Surrey where I would get tyre pressure alerts on a regular basis. The road surface at this point is grooved and the vibration seemed to set off the system.

SaverRate

I constantly get false TPMS alerts on my Audi, also had it previously with BMWs especially in cold weather.

I would look at forums then go from there

venomx

Cool thanks guys. I'll ask around some Mazda owners and see what they think.
Because I am a responsible  driver it worries me when the light comes on and think safety first.

Doesn't bother me so much on slower roads, but on motorways and long A-Roads it does.

venomx

diystarter7 said:

Hi Op

The faults are they since new tyres recently

Not as far as I know.
When I first got the car they were fitted with some Dunlops, and it did go off once then incorrectly.

Got the Michellins ( all round )  3 months ago. Had no problems up until Sunday just gone.

Thanks

UncleZen

The mazda 3 system uses the abs to detect different wheel speeds.
I too have a mazda 3 and occasionally get false warnings.
Coincidently a neighbour also with a mazda 3 was getting false warnings at about the same time.
In both cases the tyre pressures all round were perfect. I think, possibly there was stuff stuck in the grooves that may have marginally increased the circumference that triggered the warning, but that is just a guess on my part. Now I just reset and carry on.

Belenus

This is a not uncommon problem.

The TPMS warning light on our 2015 BMW 116i Series1 F20 car goes off once every month or two.

Sometimes it resets itself within a minute or so, sometimes it stays on for longer. 

BMW could find nothing amiss with it.

We have learned to live with it.

The car has run flat Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT 225/45R17 91W tyres. I check them visually every time I drive and every week or so with a pressure gauge.

Ayr_Rage

@venomx have you had any ABS warnings and are the sensors in good condition ?

@diystarter7 there aren't any sensors in the wheels which could be affected by changing tyres, the system uses the ABS system.

venomx

Ayr_Rage said:

@venomx have you had any ABS warnings and are the sensors in good condition ?

@diystarter7 there aren't any sensors in the wheels which could be affected by changing tyres, the system uses the ABS system.

Nope. No ABS warnings, just the TPMS light when I set off for longish journeys ( so maybe something to do with my tyres heating up )

Round town there is no TPMS light ( I'll keep an eye on it over the next few days )

I may get myself an OBD 2 scanner and see if anything pops up ( however I'm sure if anything serious was wrong I would have an engine warning/management light )

Sarahspangles

Just checking that you’re resetting the TPMS after checking and/or inflating the tyres, AND are hitting the button when parked on a dead level roadway.  Even slight slopes make the TPMS more likely to report a change in pressure.  The alarm almost always goes off after a couple of miles, not on the drive.