Your Mitsubishi Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) will alert you to any sudden changes in tire pressure. The system is usually triggered by at least a 25% difference between the recommended pressure and current tire pressure.
However, the system might also alert you to incorrect tire pressure after you change your tires or put a spare tire on. Here’s what you’ll need to know about the TPMS system and whether to reset it.
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How the TPMS System Works in Mitsubishi
Since 2006, Mitsubishi cars imported to the U.S. have mainly used a direct TPMS system. This means that each tire will have a pressure sensor that reports pressure information to the onboard computer. To do so, the car needs to precisely know the signals outputted by these sensors. This is done by pairing all the tires with the car’s computer through a TPMS tool.
While in traffic, the car constantly monitors tire pressure from the sensors and sends an alert if one or more tires are over- or under-inflated. Since tires naturally expand and contract with heat (whether due to ambient temperature or friction from driving), the TPMS system has controls to ensure you don’t receive constant alerts during normal driving.
Turning Off the TPMS Alert
In most cases, the TPMS alert indicates that you have an over- or under-inflated tire. If you fix the issue, the alert might not go away immediately. Here’s what you’ll need to do:
- Ensure that the tire is filled to the recommended pressure.
- Drive for 20 minutes.
In some cases, you may need to travel as much as 50 miles or reach 50 mph for the system to pick up that the tire has the correct pressure and turn off the alert.
Resetting the TPMS System
If you’ve recently changed your tires, the TPMS system might not recognize the new tires (or wheels, if you changed the entirety of it), and it will constantly send an alert that one of your tires has no pressure.
You can try to reset the system manually through the onboard computer:
- Turn on the car, but don’t start the engine.
- Put your vehicle in park.
- Press “Info” on your screen or use the navigational arrows until you reach the Settings menu.
- Select the menu by pressing the navigational arrows or long-pressing “Info” again.
- Find “TPMS” and select it.
- Locate the “Reset” option and select it.
Some cars also have a manual TPMS reset button (not all models do), but using it might not solve the problem.
What you’ll likely need to do is use a dedicated TPMS tool with an OBDII relearn function. Most mechanics will carry a tool compatible with your vehicle or can direct you to the right one to buy if you want to perform the process yourself.
Here’s what you’ll need to do:
- Inflate the tires to the recommended pressure. You can find the recommendations printed on a sticker in your cab, usually near the driver’s seat.
- Turn on the TPMS tool and select “Scan Vehicle VIN.” This may be hidden under “Service” or similar menus, and you can find its exact location by consulting the tool’s manual.
- Scan your vehicle’s VIN, which is printed on the driver’s side of the chassis once you open the door.
- In the TPMS tool, select “OBDII Relearn.”
- The tool will prompt you to scan the sensors on each tire. Start from the front left (driver’s side), then move to the front passenger’s side, back passenger’s side, and back driver’s side. You may also need to scan a full-sized spare at some point. Use the “Scan” button for each.
- Press “OK” when you scan all tires.
- Connect the TPMS tool to your car’s OBDII port below the steering column to the left.
- Turn the ignition on.
- The TPMS tool should automatically prompt you to transfer the tire’s sensor IDs to the car computer. Select “OK” to confirm.
If the tires are inflated properly, the car’s computer should now have correct tire IDs and detect tire pressure normally.
Resetting Car Electronics
If resetting the TPMS doesn’t work, disconnect the battery from the vehicle, drain the remaining charge by leaving the headlights on, and then reconnect the battery. It will reset all onboard systems, which may fix the issue. However, this should be a last resort and is not recommended as a frequent solution.
Common TPMS Issues
There are a few common issues you can face with the TPMS system.
TPMS Doesn’t Show Tire Pressure
When you first install the tires, the system might tell you to drive the vehicle for a bit before it can detect pressure. This is completely normal.
TPMS Alert Doesn’t Go Away
If you’ve changed tires and correctly performed the relearning procedure above, you’ll need to check if the tires are inflated properly. Use a different tire pressure gauge to recheck the pressure since a faulty gauge might’ve caused you to over- or under-inflate the tire.
Incompatible Tire
Not all tire sensors might be compatible with your model. In those cases, you’ll need to install a new sensor – which should be left to a professional – or get a different wheel.
In some cases, the sensor can break if it’s located next to the pump valve. It’s usually possible to replace the sensor, but you may need professional assistance.