Brand new 2012: TPMS messages already?? [Update: It was the tire!]
 

Is it normal for the TPMS to go off often? It keeps on telling me that my front left tire needs attention. I look at it, and it looks fine, so I reset TPMS. Then a few days later, it goes off again.

Could this be due to the untold heat here in the North East? Or is this a hypersensitive TPMS gauge? Meh - brand new car already has issues??

Have you verified that the tire's pressure is correct and it's not leaking?

Have you actually checked it with a air pressure gauge? I would suggest that before passing go or trying to collect $200.

If it's where it supposed to be, then yes it could be a faulty sensor on that end of the car. FYI, TPMS is run from the same system that runs ABS/ESP on our cars.

No traditional TPMS sensors on these newest cars (thankfully).

The TPMS has never gone off for me, even in -25F weather. I wonder if one of those wonderful P6s already gave up the ghost.

Jon, the best thing you can do is to verify the correct pressure in all 4 tires using your most accurate tire gage.

• Refer to your Owner's Manual for comprehensive inflation recommendations (Normal load and Max load)
• Check you tire pressures, adjust as needed
• Using the MMI system, reset the TPMS under the CAR section
• If the TPMS warning continues, schedule a warranty visit at your dealer

I would check and set the pressures on all the tires and do a reset. If that doesn't do it then let the dealer deal with it.

Hey guys,

I am feeling a bit moronic, but thanks to the collective (and individual) wisdom here, you actually opened my mind to the possibility that the tire could actually be at fault!

So, I found my tire pressure gauge and, lo and behold, my front-left tire is at 23.5 and my front-right tire is at 35.5! So, it does seem as though the tire is at fault after all.

I'll be honest -- my pre-disposition toward Audi quality immediately led me to the electronics being at issue. I also couldn't fathom a brand new tire already dying (I did eyeball it and it seemed fine). Combine these two faulty presumptions, and you get a faulty assessment.

I stand corrected. Now I need to figure out how to get this tire repaired. The dealer will cover this, right? I don't have to go directly to Pirelli, do I?

Now you know at least there is no problem with the TPMS :) It always helps to get suggestions from others.

But how new is your car? Could it be that it was delivered from the dealership with a fairly low pressure to begin with? Inflate it back to the proper pressure and just wait to see what happens. If it deflates again, then you know there is a problem, either with the tire or the rim. Btwy, have you checked whether there is a nail or some other sharp object embedded in your tire? You want to make sure you don't go to the dealer with a non-problem, otherwise they might brand you "the boy who cried wolf" and they might not take seriously your future complaints (hopefully there won't be any).

Hey, that's more good advice. However, I've already emailed my sales guy to let him know what's up (twice - once thinking that TPMS is broken, and then to correct myself that it's the tire).

Because the car is only 5 days old, I'm presuming that the TPMS alarm going off twice is 5 days means that the tire really is at issue. I really shouldn't have to inflate such brand new tires, correct?

I suppose I'll check with nails tomorrow morning, but that seems soooo unlikely... but I'll check!

Thanks!