What Does TPMS Mean?

You might have seen a TPMS warning light on your dash or read about it in your owner’s manual, but what does TPMS mean? It stands for Tire Pressure Monitoring System, and it’s just one of the systems fitted in every new Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, and Jeep vehicle to keep you and your passengers protected from harm.

It uses advanced pressure sensors to keep track of the amount of air in your tires. If one or more isn’t at the recommended pressure, the warning light activates to let you know more air is needed.

How Does the TPMS Improve Your Drive?

There’s a reason you’ll find a Tire Pressure Monitoring System fitted as standard in vehicles as diverse as a legendary off-roader like the Jeep Wrangler and the family-friendly Chrysler Pacifica minivan. Just a few compelling benefits include:

• Reduced Tire Wear: Underinflated tires place more of their surface against the road and don’t roll as efficiently, which means they wear out and require replacement sooner. You’ll also increase the risk of a blowout.
• Improved Traction: Tires that aren’t properly filled won’t grip the road as well, so your risk of losing control and being involved in an accident increases without a Tire Pressure Monitoring System.
• Improved Fuel Efficiency: Underinflated tires don’t roll efficiently, which means your vehicle needs to burn more fuel to deliver the same performance.
• Improved Load Carrying Capability: If you’re using your vehicle to carry plenty of cargo, you’ll notice it starting to struggle as the pressure in your tires decreases below the recommended level.

Whether you want to avoid a blowout as you cruise between Astoria and Manhattan or keep fuel consumption to a minimum as you commute out from Jackson Heights, your Tire Pressure Monitoring System can help make it happen.

What Does “Check TPM System” Mean on a Jeep?

If your Jeep or Ram displays “Check TPM System” or “Service Tire Pressure System” instead of the usual low-pressure warning, the system itself has a fault rather than a tire being low. The usual causes are a sensor with a dead battery (TPMS sensor batteries last roughly five to ten years), a sensor damaged during a tire change, a spare or aftermarket wheel without a sensor, or interference from a nearby device. The message often appears right after new tires or wheels are installed. Our service department can read the fault codes, test each sensor and replace or re-learn the ones that need it.

How Do You Reset the TPMS Light?

Start by checking all four tires (and the spare if it has a sensor) with a gauge and inflating them to the pressure on the sticker inside the driver’s door jamb, not the number on the tire sidewall. On most Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram vehicles the light turns off on its own after a few minutes of driving above about 15 mph once the pressures are correct. If the light stays on, or flashes for about a minute at start-up, a sensor or the module needs attention, and you can schedule service online.

The Team at Our Long Island City Showroom Can Answer All Your Questions

Whether you’re asking, ‘what does TPMS mean?’ or want to arrange a test drive in one of our new models, the team here at Major World Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram can help. For any further assistance, feel free to get in touch today.