On Board Tire Pressure gauge and spare

[Gestalt]

Had to pop on the spare recently, and I'm noticing the tire pressure gauge for that tire is way off showing 14 psi (see screenshot attached from app).


I confirmed the tire has about 33 psi in it currently. Any ideas why it is reading so low?

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[Escape2Bronco]

I'd say because you are up in Minnesota, but then you said it read correctly I assume by checking it with a guage. Did it clear up after driving?

 

[Mark S.]

I'd drive it a bit and see if it corrects itself. It may be the battery on the sensor is going, going, gone.

 

[KidWiff]

could be a bad sensor in that tire..... maybe drive it for a bit and see what happens.

The sensor is (i think) attached to the bottom of the tire inflation valve... maybe it dropped of and is just rattling around inside the tire, or it just went bad.... the other option (and more favorable) is a brainfart and it'll come around for you.

 

[Gestalt]

Hey guys. After looking around, It sounds like the sensor is still attached to the old tire on the old rim in my trunk. I guess it will be fixed when I get new tires this weekend.

 

[Escape2Bronco]

Same issue today. After driving about 3 miles, the dreaded butt crack light comes on saying I was at 21 lbs. Right rear as well. Drove another couple of miles, said I was at 15. Pulled over to look. Didn’t look very low. Drove it another 5 miles or so home. Jacked it up, put on the spare. Looked at the “bad” tire, no signs of a leak. Went to fill it, compressor ran for 10 seconds and stopped. Already at 35 lbs!

In hindsight, probably should have put a guage on it right away. I was more concerned about it ending up on the rim so not NASCAR quick but less than 5 minutes the spare was on. Now it’s back in the well. Will check it later this week. Fortunately, I upgraded my spare to a Badlands rim and Falken tire so no big worries.

Still confused as to what is going on.

 

[Rogerthat898]

I don't think the spare tire has the TPMS in it.
So the low PSI reading you are getting would be of the flat tire you took off.

Also it takes a few miles of driving for the sensors to be read by the vehicle and updated.

 

[RushMan]

Same issue today. After driving about 3 miles, the dreaded butt crack light comes on saying I was at 21 lbs. Right rear as well. Drove another couple of miles, said I was at 15. Pulled over to look. Didn’t look very low. Drove it another 5 miles or so home. Jacked it up, put on the spare. Looked at the “bad” tire, no signs of a leak. Went to fill it, compressor ran for 10 seconds and stopped. Already at 35 lbs!

In hindsight, probably should have put a guage on it right away. I was more concerned about it ending up on the rim so not NASCAR quick but less than 5 minutes the spare was on. Now it’s back in the well. Will check it later this week. Fortunately, I upgraded my spare to a Badlands rim and Falken tire so no big worries.

Still confused as to what is going on.

Maybe a bad TPMS?

 

[Meanderthal]

I don't think the spare tire has the TPMS in it.
So the low PSI reading you are getting would be of the flat tire you took off.

Also it takes a few miles of driving for the sensors to be read by the vehicle and updated.

When I put the full size spare in, I had them add a TPMS sensor to that wheel. You are correct in that the stock full size spare does not have a TPMS sensor though. I just want to point out that the spare can have a TPMS if you make it that way.

 

[Escape2Bronco]

I don't think the spare tire has the TPMS in it.
So the low PSI reading you are getting would be of the flat tire you took off.

Also it takes a few miles of driving for the sensors to be read by the vehicle and updated.

My Spare tire has a TPS in it. Took about 3-5 miles to update to the correct pressure on the spare.

My spare was replaced with a Badlands wheel and new Falken tire right after I bought the vehicle. I can’t say with data if the original full size spare does or doesn’t include a TPS.

 

[Escape2Bronco]

Maybe a bad TPMS?

That’s what it seems to be. I’ll put it back on this weekend to see what’s up.

 

[RushMan]

That’s what it seems to be. I’ll put it back on this weekend to see what’s up.

I would just deflate it and then check it again.
If the TPMS light is flashing, there could be a fault in the TPMS or a bad sensor.
The owners manual has a reminder that the screen display may require some time to update.
Note: After you inflate the tires to
the recommended pressure it could
take up to two minutes of driving
over 20 mph (32 km/h) for the
warning indicator to turn off.

 

[Escape2Bronco]

I would just deflate it and then check it again.
If the TPMS light is flashing, there could be a fault in the TPMS or a bad sensor.
The owners manual has a reminder that the screen display may require some time to update.
Note: After you inflate the tires to
the recommended pressure it could
take up to two minutes of driving
over 20 mph (32 km/h) for the
warning indicator to turn off.

Fortunately, changing tires is quite easy since I have a nice floor jack, impact wrench and air compressor. I’ll try both it both ways.

 

[Dude]

After driving about 3 miles, the dreaded butt crack light comes on ..

Never heard it called that before

 

[Escape2Bronco]

Never heard it called that before

What does everyone else call it? That’s all I’ve ever called it. My Escape had it come all the time with one wheel/tire but just when it was cold and borderline pressure.