Well the other day I was driving dowwn the highway, and I glanced down and noticed that the flat tire light was on. I didnt notice any difference in the handling or anything, but none the less i slowed down and exited the higway. When I got out and checked my car everything was fine. I even checked the tire pressure, and it was fine. So i got back in the car reset the sensor and went on. I was just wondering if anyone would know why this happened, or if they've had a similar problem.

I've had a similar problem, two days after I picked up my MINI, checked the tyre pressure and found that one tyre had slightly lower pressure than the other three. I corrected the tyre pressure in all four tyres, reset the sensor and drove on, I haven't had the sensor light come on for the past two months. My understanding is the sensor is activated when there is a decrease in tyre pressure, I'm sure someone on here could clarify this. There are plenty of posts about similar situations, here is just one http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthread.php?t=52821&highlight=run+flat+sensor . Good luck with working out what could be the problem :)

I've had a similar problem, two days after I picked up my MINI, checked the tyre pressure and found that one tyre had slightly lower pressure than the other three. I corrected the tyre pressure in all four tyres, reset the sensor and drove on, I haven't had the sensor light come on for the past two months. My understanding is the sensor is activated when there is a decrease in tyre pressure, I'm sure someone on here could clarify this. There are plenty of posts about similar situations, here is just one http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthread.php?t=52821&highlight=run+flat+sensor . Good luck with working out what could be the problem :)

Hope I can help here.

My understanding is this... the ECU monitors the rotation speed of each wheel, by reading signals from the ABS sensors. If it detects that one of the wheels has a lag in rotational speed, it's going to be down to the extra drag/resistance caused by a tyre of low pressure.
This is why a tyre pressure difference cause trigger the alert light.

Each time I check the tyres, I check all four, and then reset the monitor. Had no problems.
Well , the light did come on, but thats because I had a puncture ;)

-Lee

Hope I can help here.

My understanding is this... the ECU monitors the rotation speed of each wheel, by reading signals from the ABS sensors. If it detects that one of the wheels has a lag in rotational speed, it's going to be down to the extra drag/resistance caused by a tyre of low pressure.
This is why a tyre pressure difference cause trigger the alert light.

-Lee

Actually, a lower pressure in one tyre would mean that it had an effectively reduced diameter - It would therefore rotate faster than the rest. I guess this system coul dbe fooled into thinking there was a problem if you had a very heavy load on one side of the car, as this would cause a similar change in relative diameters of the tyres on each side.

Ian

Well the other day I was driving dowwn the highway, and I glanced down and noticed that the flat tire light was on. I didnt notice any difference in the handling or anything, but none the less i slowed down and exited the higway. When I got out and checked my car everything was fine. I even checked the tire pressure, and it was fine. So i got back in the car reset the sensor and went on. I was just wondering if anyone would know why this happened, or if they've had a similar problem.


This happened to me on a few occasions - it turned out that the sensor was faulty. I just took it to the dealer and they checked it and then replaced the sensor. If it happens again for no reason - get the sensor checked!

Actually, a lower pressure in one tyre would mean that it had an effectively reduced diameter - It would therefore rotate faster than the rest.[..]


I stand corrected ;)

-Lee

on my last mini one which was DEC 01 car ic used to fire off whenever i drove through huby it did this several times in either direction but tyre preusre was ok

As I recall if the tire sensor light is blinking it's a tire problem, if it just comes on and stays on, it's a sensor or electrical problem.

I guess this system coul dbe fooled into thinking there was a problem if you had a very heavy load on one side of the car, as this would cause a similar change in relative diameters of the tyres on each side.

Ian


I wont let my wife drive on her own then... :D

(Large slap) "OUCH" :p

Last night i experienced the tire monitor coming on and staying on and as an added feature my DSC was off and I could not get it to come back on. Later on when i took the car to check tire pressure the tire light spontaneously went off and DSC came back. I did check pressures and found a low tire and fixed it. However, I haven't yet reset the monitor.

Found out from the Downtown MINI Service Advisor Sean that that happens when dust or dirt interferes with the sensor. He told me to restart the car and drive for a few and it will reset itself.

I just had our Cooper's 'Low Tire Pressure Warrning' light come on as well. Apparantly the right rear tire was about 5PSI low on air. I went ahead and put some more air in it and ill be keeping in an eye on it. I must say the warrning system they put in these cars are worth thier weight in gold (reguardless it's standard on the car) for the safty and security it provides!

I agree 100%! :)

My tyre pressure sensor is really annoying me. I hit a pothole the other day and popped one of my tyres (bl00dy Welsh roads ). The sensor didn't come on (although it was obvious that I had a flat).

I changed the wheel and two days later, the sensor came on, pinging away and generally bugging me. I checked the tyre pressures and they were fine. Mini told me that I had to reset the sensor when I changed tyre.

This week, I has another flat due to some grit in the tyre vale letting air out. Guess what? No light from the sensor!

I re-inflated the tyre and had the wheel checked my a garage. Later that day, the sensor came on again. ARRRGH.

What a complete waste of time. These sensors are useless.