Tire pressure monitoring system may need a reset
Q. I have a 2013 Honda Accord Sport. The TPMS sensor light comes on with the tire pressure only 2 PSI below what is indicated on the door placard. Is this normal?
A. Typically, a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) light will turn on when the tire is underinflated by about five PSI pounds of pressure. It may be that your car needs to have the TPMS system reset. The system in your vehicle is an indirect system and uses the antilock brake system to determine if one tire is low. When the car is cool, adjust the tire pressure as indicated on the door placard. Turn the ignition switch to the on position and then push the TPMS button for three seconds. When the calibration successfully begins the light will flash twice. This procedure should get the system working properly.
Q. I had a platter of chicken in alfredo sauce spill on my backseat between the cracks and the seat doesn’t lift, (2019 Jeep Compass). Who do you recommend to clean it, the dealership?
A. This could be the most devastating thing that I have read today. Alfredo sauce contains butter, cream, cheese and lots of oil. All of these ingredients are hard to clean. Hopefully, you can get to it sooner than later. Although the seats don’t lift up, they are removable and once removed you should be able to clean up everything. Dishwashing detergent with mixed with water and a little hydrogen peroxide may work. The best thing would be to bring the car to a vehicle “detail-shop” where they can use an extractor to remove as much of the sauce and stain as possible.
Q. How often does air suspension last in car? We have a S550 MercedesBenz -2010. How much does this usually cost when it fails?
A. The air suspension system in your car uses a pump, controller switches and the air springs/shocks. The typical life is 10-14 years and the replacement cost for the four air struts could run as much as $10,000.
Q. The check engine soon light is on. This notice appears and remains each time that the motor is activated. What does it mean?
A. The check engine soon light will illuminate when there is an issue with the vehicle emissions system. The problem could be as simple as a lose gas cap or much more involved. At this point, I would bring the car to a repair shop and have them check the car for computer fault codes. The code won’t tell the technician exactly what is wrong but will give them a direction of where to look.
Q. I have a 1993 Chevy 1500 Suburban. What is the correct tire pressure?
The door sticker rubbed off years ago and I can’t see the correct pressure. A. The tires on the 1993 Suburban are typically P245/75/16 with a maximum inflation pressure of 42 PSI. According to tirewheelguide.com, the proper pressure is 35 PSI front and rear.
Q. The tire pressure light was on, and I had pressure checked one tire was low and the leak found and fixed. A few days later the tire pressure monitor system message was on. The mechanic said it is the sensor, not tires. The car is a Honda Civic with only 79,000 miles on it. I was going to trade it in but I’m waiting for new car prices to go down. Do I need to take it to the dealer for this fix or could I drive with this through early next year, until I get a new car? Is this expensive to fix? Any advice is greatly appreciated.
A. Before there were tire pressure monitoring systems motorists or their repair shops would check tire pressure periodically with a tire pressure gauge. Your model Honda is using a direct style sensor that sends a signal to the dash and alerts you if the tire is low. The wheel-mounted sensors range in price from $65-$125 plus installation. Could you simply check the tire pressure monthly and ignore the light? Yes. Although keep in mind the TPMS is a safety system, and it needs to be functioning properly in most states get a vehicle inspection sticker.