Low tire pressure
Most commonCheck all 4 tires (and the spare) with a gauge. Inflate to the PSI on the driver's-door jamb sticker — not the sidewall max. Drive a few miles. The light should go off.
Tire Pressure Warning · Long Beach
TPMS Light On? Here's What to Check.
Your tire pressure warning light is on. Most of the time it's a simple fix — and most of the time you can do it yourself in about 5 minutes. Here's the troubleshooting tree, from most likely to least likely.
First — What's Your Light Doing?
Read the Warning Pattern
Solid (Steady) Light
One or more tires is below the manufacturer's recommended pressure. Most common cause: a tire is low. Inflate all four to the door-jamb spec and drive a few miles. If the light goes off, you're done.
Flashing Light (Then Solid)
A flashing light for 60–90 seconds at startup that then turns solid means there's a system fault — usually a dead sensor battery, a damaged sensor, or a sensor that needs relearning. Pressure check won't fix this. Bring it in for diagnostics.
Causes & Fixes
From Most Likely to Least Likely
Work through these in order. About 80% of TPMS lights are solved by the first three.
Cold weather
Common in winterTire pressure drops about 1 PSI for every 10°F drop in temperature. Long Beach mornings can trigger the warning even on healthy tires. Top up to the door-jamb spec.
Slow leak
CommonIf the light keeps coming back even after inflating, you have a leak — usually a nail, screw, or a corroded valve. Bring it in for a free flat-tire repair inspection.
Sensor battery dead
Common on cars 7+ years oldTPMS sensor batteries last 7–10 years. When they die, the system can't read pressure on that wheel. Sensor replacement is the only fix — we stock OEM-grade and aftermarket sensors.
Sensor damaged
Possible after wheel workSensors can be damaged when tires are demounted by an inexperienced shop. If your light came on right after a tire install elsewhere, the sensor may need replacement — bring it in.
Spare tire under-inflated
Easy to missSome vehicles monitor the spare. If the spare is under-inflated, the warning shows even when all 4 road tires are fine. Check the spare's PSI.
System needs relearn
After tire rotation or sensor swapAfter rotation, sensor swap, or wheel change, some vehicles need a TPMS relearn so the car knows which sensor is at which corner. We do relearns as part of every install — free.
Quick Reference
5-Minute Self-Diagnosis
- Find the door-jamb sticker. Open the driver's door and look on the door jamb or B-pillar for a sticker showing the recommended PSI for front and rear tires (NOT the sidewall max).
- Check all 4 tires cold. Tires read 4–6 PSI higher when hot — check first thing in the morning or after the car has sat 3+ hours. Use a digital gauge for accuracy.
- Inflate to the door-jamb spec. Add air to any tire that's low. Most gas stations have working air pumps; many are free in California.
- Check the spare. Some vehicles monitor the spare. If your spare is in the trunk or under the bed and hasn't been checked in years, check it now.
- Drive 5–10 miles. The system needs road speed to re-read pressure. If the light goes off — fixed. If it stays on or comes back the next day, you likely have a slow leak or a sensor problem.
Still on after all that? Bring it in. Diagnosis is fast — usually 15 minutes. We tell you exactly what's wrong before any work begins, and the free TPMS reset is included with any tire or wheel purchase from us.
Common Questions
TPMS FAQs
Driving short distances to inflate or have the tires checked is fine. But low pressure causes heat buildup, premature wear, and increased risk of blowout — especially at highway speeds. A solid (steady) light usually means a tire is low. A flashing light or one that turns solid after flashing means a system fault. Don't ignore it for long.
Most cars need the wheels to roll for several minutes (or 5–10 miles of driving) for the system to re-read pressure. If the light is still on after that, you likely have a slow leak, a dead sensor battery, or a sensor that needs to be relearned to the system. Bring it in — diagnosis is fast.
Most TPMS sensors last 7–10 years. The battery is sealed inside the sensor housing — when it dies, the whole sensor needs replacement. If your car is 7+ years old and the TPMS light keeps coming back, sensor batteries are the most likely cause.
Sensor cost varies by vehicle — most are $40–$90 per sensor including programming. We stock OEM-grade sensors for common vehicles and can program/relearn the system to your car. Programming is free with any tire or wheel purchase from us; otherwise it's a small labor fee.
Yes. We can diagnose the cause, inflate to spec, run the relearn procedure, or replace a failed sensor — separate from any tire purchase. Free TPMS reset comes with any tire or wheel purchase as part of our install. See our offers page.
Direct TPMS uses sensors mounted inside each wheel that send actual pressure readings to the dash. Indirect TPMS uses the ABS wheel-speed sensors to detect a tire that's rolling differently (smaller circumference = lower pressure) — no sensors in the wheels. Most modern vehicles use direct TPMS. We service both types.
Light still on? Bring it in.
Free pressure check at both Long Beach locations, no purchase required. If you need a TPMS sensor or relearn, we'll diagnose and quote before any work.
Cherry Ave 562-422-4449
Paramount Blvd 562-395-4449