Low Tire Pressure Warning

[VersaGirlASU]

Hi everyone. I have a problem. When I bought my Nissan Versa (dealer), I found out that all four tires measured between 40 to 42 pounds of pressure. That seemed like way too much, so I brought them down to 33 pounds-just like the owner's manual suggests. Now, the amber-colored low tire pressure warning light is "on". The Nissan dealer's mechanic told me that, because the car is at high altitude in Colorado (7,100 feet), I should pump the tires up to 36 pounds, and the light should go out. Well, I pumped them up to 36 pounds yesterday, and the low pressure light is still on. (Yes, I drove the car over 16mph...47mph.)

I can't believe that the low tire pressure warning light in all "high altitude" Nissan Versas comes on even with proper tire pressure. For that matter, I don't think high altitude has anything to do with the trouble.

Have any of you had this problem??? Is this something that Nissan knows about already??? What should I do???

Thanks,VersaGirlASU

[Ever Victorious]

Kick your dealer in the junk and then make him fix it?

Altitiude will change the pressure inside tires a little bit, but if you fill up the car at 7100 feet to 36 PSI, then the car is reading 36 PSI when you are at 7100 feet. There is no reason the light should be on at that pressure.

Question: When you turn on the car, does the light blink for a minute and then turn on solid? Or does the TPMS light start off dark, and then turn on at some point during driving?

If it's the first case, it has nothing to do with pressure in your tires... it's telling you there is a system malfunction. Either one of the TPMS sensors has failed, or the BCM has failed. This is common in early Versas (built before December 2006... open your door and look at the bottom of your b-pillar, the build sticker will tell you when it was built).

If it's the latter, it's a pressure problem. If it's coming on at 36 PSI, i'd still be inclined to say there is a system failure, probably a sensor that's not reporting the correct pressure.

[my_new_v]

Kick your dealer in the junk and then make him fix it?

So do you live in Colorado or Arizona?

[Frahman]

Altitude does affect tire pressure. A given amount of air in a tire will exert higher pressure at at a higher altitude, as the opposing atmospheric pressure is lower.

If you STAY at 7100 feet, the 36 pounds is 36 pounds, like EV said. But if you go to sea level, the atmospheric pressure is about 3.5 pounds higher, so the air in the tires will now exert approx 32.5 pounds.

So, it kinda depends. Personally, i think the dealer is giving you a line, but it DOES depend on where your vehicle goes.

[larry1186]

Well, I pumped them up to 36 pounds yesterday, and the low pressure light is still on. (Yes, I drove the car over 16mph...47mph.)

My TPMS light was on constantly, the dealer looked at it when I had it in for an oil change and they told me to drive at a constant speed between 40-45 mph for 1-1.5 miles to reset it. They reset it in the shop so I don't know if that's some sort firmware thing they can change (how resetting happens) or what... but you should be able to at least have them reset it for you.

[v-driver]

Someone please tell me if I am wrong but I thought that the low tire pressure warning worked off of your ABS braking system. Sensors at each wheel measure the distance the tire has rolled compaired to the distance of the other three tires. If one tire goes low then the other three roll farther because the circumference of a fully aired tire is greater than a tire that is under inflated. As long as all four tires are inflated close to each other, then the circumference will be the same and it would make no difference what pressure you run (within reason).

[Frahman]

Thats the 'indirect' system, and that is indeed what most cars used. However, since Sep 2007 (i think thats the date) all new cars made for sale after that date must use the direct system. That is, not the indirect ABS related system

[v-driver]

If I have described the 'indirect' system then would somone please explain the 'direct' system to me, or how the Versa low pressure warning works.Thanks

[Great White Versa]

If I have described the 'indirect' system then would somone please explain the 'direct' system to me, or how the Versa low pressure warning works.Thanks

The system in the Versa uses sensors installed in the valve stems of the tires. When the tire pressure gets either too high or too low they trigger the warning light in the dash. (of course, that's the overly simplified version)

[matttail]

The TMPS system is registered or reset frequently. I belive that if the dealre filled the tires to 40psi, then set the system it would register 32 or 36 PSI as being under inflated. All in all, your dealer should be willing to fix it with out question. But if, as EV said, the light is flashing first - don't let the dealer reset anything, make they replace what's broken.

[v-driver]

The system in the Versa uses sensors installed in the valve stems of the tires. When the tire pressure gets either too high or too low they trigger the warning light in the dash. (of course, that's the overly simplified version)

Do these sensors contain a battery to transmit a signal? if so how long are they expected to last? If I change wheels then I loose this function or can it be moved to new wheel?

[CodeRed]

I don't think they have a battery. And if you change your wheels you can swap the TPMs sensor into the new wheels or you could be like me and not and just see the TPMs light all the time.

[kcourtad]

I don't think they have a battery. And if you change your wheels you can swap the TPMs sensor into the new wheels or you could be like me and not and just see the TPMs light all the time.

id never get used to that... light alwas just looking at me in the face... in my 2007 i had 2 of them go out... the light was on when i left my dealer too... they replaced one... and it came on again... then they replaced the other one too...