HELP!!! - Run Flat Indicator!!!

[Wyattri]

HELP!!!!!!!!!
I've had my mini cooper S for a couple of months.....its my first one (i love it!!!) and is 4 years old.
However......being new to mini i need your help!
Last night a warning light started flashing and ive looked in my handbook and it is the Run Flat Indicator light. The book tells me that ive got a puncture. Have checked the tyres and they all seem fine.....Does anyone know if it could just be tyre pressure or that my tyre will eventually get flat cos at the minute they are all normal!!!!!!!!
I am meant to be going away tomorrow and need the little mini to get me there................

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

x x x x x x

[3rdpillar]

If you have run flat tyres they will look OK even if they are under inflated. Check pressures at a service station.. the recomended psi is on the inside of the door.

[Wyattri]

Thank you.....sorry if this sounds stupid but.....if the pressure is similar in all tyres and and they are a little low can i presume theyre fine?...is it just if one has down majorly then ive got a puncture?

[ScottyBoy]

As mentioned mate, check the pressures ASAP if there all fine then thats good and if one is under inflated then re-inflate it to the correct pressure then under your handbrake there is a button to reset the Run flat indicator, keep your finger on this button until the light changes colour and then it will turn it self off.

Regards Scott

[humph]

As 3rdPillar says if you have run flats fitted you won't spot a flat, hence the warning light. Runs flat tyres have reinforced walls so that, as the name suggests, they can be run on when they have not air in them. So check your pressures and you will probably find that one is lower than the other. If it is only slightly lower chances are you have a minor leak that over time has reduced the pressure. this can be topped up and monitored. If the pressure is very low you've probably got a puncture, and the tyre will need repair, or replacement. So places will not repair a runflat if it has been run on whilst flat. Take care when running on a flat tyre, stick below 50 mph and do not exceed the distance stated.

Quick lesson on the runflat system. It does not monitor the pressure in the tyre. There are no sensors fitted to the rim. The system uses the ABS sensors fitted to the brakes. It monitors the speed of all four wheels and if one is spinning at a different rate to the others the warning light comes on. This is because wheel with the flat has a different diameter to the others so spins at a different rate. Easy.

Hope this helps.

[ScottyBoy]

Quote: Originally Posted by Wyattri (original)

Thank you.....sorry if this sounds stupid but.....if the pressure is similar in all tyres and and they are a little low can i presume theyre fine?...is it just if one has down majorly then ive got a puncture?

This does not mean you have a puncture at all as its not a puncture indicator, you may have just lost a little pressure so this will mean the tyre will rotate faster as its now smaller with less air in there and that is what causes the light to come on.

[Wyattri]

Thank you for your help.......if the tyre needs replacing cos ive got a puncture....do a lot of places stock run flats?? am concerned as im going away tomorrow and would need it fitted before then???

x

[Wyattri]

Scottyboy...thanks.....in my handbook it says if that indicator is flashing then i've got a puncture!!!!!......This car business is confusing for a girl!!!!!

x

[humph]

Scotty is right. The warning light comes on if the pressures drops about 10% (3-4 psi) i think. So if when you check the tyres one is slightly lower then it may just be a slow minor leak that has occurred over a period of time. I had a runflat that would need topping up by about 4 psi every 6 weeks or so. Tyres are glued and sealed to the rim, but this is notoriously difficult with run flats. If you're worried then take it to a tyre place and get them to inspect it for nails etc.

[mikbmini]

So a quick question, in the last couple of months the light has come on in my car twice, and on both occassions the rear passenger side tyre has lost pressure. The pressure is meant to be 2.3 bar, and all the tyres except the rear passenger side have retained this (its dropped both times to around 1.6 bar). It was about 8 weeks between. Is it likely I may have a puncture then?

Its just I have the tyre insurance on my MCS, and if I have a puncture, I wanna make the most of it and get a new tyre if pos.

[COLIN271267]

I experianced a puncture this week, but didn't get any indication from the warning light at all.
Has anybody else had this problem.
The local tyre dealer did negotiate on the price and I got 2 x Pirelli's for £223.00 all in.
Not sure if that's a good deal, but when your strapped for time and under the circumstances,
can't drive about looking for alternatives, they beat a local competator prices.
For future, can anybody else advise a tyre dealer local to the Berkshire area with competetive
prices ?

Cheers

[bookem28]

Quote: Originally Posted by mikbmini (original)

So a quick question, in the last couple of months the light has come on in my car twice, and on both occassions the rear passenger side tyre has lost pressure. The pressure is meant to be 2.3 bar, and all the tyres except the rear passenger side have retained this (its dropped both times to around 1.6 bar). It was about 8 weeks between. Is it likely I may have a puncture then?

Its just I have the tyre insurance on my MCS, and if I have a puncture, I wanna make the most of it and get a new tyre if pos.

I've had this problem also, turned out just to be a faulty valve. Had it replaced and the problem went away.

[MINImeat]

Quote: Originally Posted by COLIN271267 (original)

I experianced a puncture this week, but didn't get any indication from the warning light at all.
Has anybody else had this problem.

The system must be set at the pressure(s) you prefer so that it will alert based on those pressures. If the system is set at a low pressure, then the tire pressures are increased, it is possible that the indicator won't light when you lose some pressure.

[c130jtechie]

Just had a situation whereby I was getting a strange noise from the front of the car when at low speed full lock, the dealer reckoned it may be the runflats once the tread wears. Thought I would check pressures just in case, to find the fronts had dropped by about 4 psi, no indication from RFI though.

Tyres re-inflated and noise has gone. Just thought I'd post this in case anyone else gets the same problem and not to only rely on the RFIs.

[ScottyBoy]

Quote: Originally Posted by c130jtechie (original)

Just had a situation whereby I was getting a strange noise from the front of the car when at low speed full lock, the dealer reckoned it may be the runflats once the tread wears. Thought I would check pressures just in case, to find the fronts had dropped by about 4 psi, no indication from RFI though.

Tyres re-inflated and noise has gone. Just thought I'd post this in case anyone else gets the same problem and not to only rely on the RFIs.

Thats correct about the noise when on full lock at low speed, i have just had that problem when my tyres were low on tread although they were not runflats....

...As far as im aware the RFI does not indicate a small drop over a longer period of time on sydden drops in PSI so if that 4PSI has gone down in say 4 weeks then it will not light up!

Scott