Hello, and welcome to another response post; this time, I will discuss issues that have to do with the tire, which is a part of one of man’s earliest inventions, the wheel.
In this post, I will look at the tire monitor system in the Chevy Cruze in particular, and I will share why the service message “Tire Monitor System” is triggered, the possible reasons, and remedies.
Sounds interesting? Tag along.
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Direct and Indirect Tire Monitor System Functionality
There are two types of tire pressure monitoring systems; one is indirect, and the other is obviously direct. The difference is in how the pressure is ascertained.
In the direct method, a pressure sensor is installed on each wheel barrel (part of the wheel on which the tire is mounted).
In the indirect method, wheel speed sensors are used instead of pressure sensors. The rate of revolution of each wheel is fed to the central computer, where it is compared to the others.
Based on this comparison, the system can determine the relative size of each tire.
A tire that has lower tire pressure than the rest, effectively having a smaller circumference, will have to spin faster to keep up with the rotation of other tires. So the indirect method is based on calculation.
Chevy Cruze uses the direct method that has its own controller.
How to Reset the Tire Pressure Monitor System on A Chevy Cruze?
As with all electrical systems, the tire monitor system will fail, and when it does, you can rely on our trusted friend, “The Reset,” to rescue you from this dilemma.
There are several ways to reset the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS).
I have them arranged from easier to tedious. If the first one doesn’t work, move on to the next one, and keep going.
If you can still not get it to work, don’t worry, I have your back.
Step 1
Insert the key in the ignition and turn to the “ON” position. Do not start the car. Push the TPMS reset button and wait for the tire pressure light to flash three times. Release the button.
Start the car and wait for the tire pressure sensor to refresh. It takes about 20 minutes. If this trick doesn’t work, move on to the next.
Step 2
Drive around for about 10 minutes at or above 50 mph. Park your car. Turn off and then turn on the car.
The message should be reset. If not, you know the drill.
Step 3
Remove both terminals of the car battery; negative first. Honk the horn to drain any floating current. Leave it for about 10 minutes. Connect the terminal; this time, positive first.
You can use a 10 mm socket wrench on most models; however, some might require a 13mm wrench.
Here’s a link to this amazing set with a bunch of different sockets to make your life easier.
The alarm should be reset, but your settings on other gadgets, such as FM radio, Bluetooth, etc., would be reset too.
Step 4
Inflate all tires to three PSI above the recommended level and then, one by one, completely deflate them and then inflate them to recommended PSI. It should reset the service message.
Here’s a tire inflator you can use with your 12V port on your car and get all the tires pumped up within seconds.
Inflator
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6 Major Causes Of Service Tire Monitor System on A Cruze
There can be several reasons for the failure of the tire monitor system and the subsequent service message. Below are some of the most common ones.
- Faulty tire pressure monitor controller/receiver
- Faulty tire pressure monitor sensors
- Low tire pressure
- Wheel speed sensors
- Use of Spare Tire
Faulty Tire Pressure Monitor Controller/Receiver
Each tire pressure monitor sensor has a transmitter that communicates the tire pressure to the tire pressure controller module via a receiver.
In the worst-case scenario, the controller can become faulty.
Diagnosis of a faulty module needs to be done by a qualified technician, but you can do a preliminary check.
Ensure that all tires are at the recommended PSI.
Manually check to confirm. Check the tire pressure on the monitoring system; if the system reports values that differ from your manual reading, then the module is suspected.
A qualified technician can make the further diagnosis by scan testing or through any other physical observation to rule out possibilities other than the module.
If this comes out negative, the probable cause will be a module that needs to be replaced.
The average cost of replacement, along with labor, is somewhere around $450.
Faulty Tire Pressure Monitor Sensor
In direct TPMS, each tire has its own pressure sensor mounted on the wheel. This sensor continuously transmits its pressure reading to the module via a transmitter.
Remember that the sensor is susceptible to damage because of the bumps and constant weight of the car, vibrations, etc. A failed sensor is the major cause of TPMS failure.
Replacing the pressure monitor sensor is a straightforward DIY. But how to find which sensor is the faulty one?
One way is to manually check the tire pressure on each tire and then compare it with the reading from the monitoring system. A failed sensor will either give no value or a wrong value of PSI.
Take off the wheel with the faulty sensor and deflate the tire, remove the wheel from the tire. The sensor is attached to the wheel via a screw, as shown in the picture below.
Courtesy: HOW TO REPLACE TPMS SENSOR ON CHEVROLET CRUZE MALIBU SONIC IMPALA TAHOE TRAVERSE EQUINOX SILVERADO
Remove the screw to access the sensor, replace it with a new one and tighten the screw.
Mount the tire onto the wheel and inflate it to recommended pressure.
Reset the system and check tire pressure readings.
Here’s one for the 2011-2016 Chevy Cruze models.
Faulty Wheel Speed Sensor
Although not relevant to Chevy Cruze, for completeness, in cars with indirect TPMS, faulty wheel speed sensors will likely cause the service message.
Use of Spare Wheel
Please note that the spare wheel in the trunk of your car does not have a factory-installed sensor.
So if you have replaced one of the running tires with the spare one, the alarm will pop up. When you install the original one back on, go through the reset procedure to suppress the alarm.
Low Tire Pressure
Not surprisingly, a low tire pressure scenario will also trigger the alarm. Inflate to the recommended PSI and reset the alarm.
Aggressive Potholes
Sensor or no sensor, avoid potholes to protect the tires on your car; this will most likely protect the sensors too.
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ
What is the recommended tire pressure on sedans?
The recommended tire pressure for sedans is between 32 to 35 PSI. Lower psi can give you a smoother ride overall, while the higher end will provide you with better mpg; however, the ride quality will be compromised to an extent.
Can I drive with a faulty TPMS sensor?
Yes, you can drive with a faulty TPMS sensor. Just make sure to have the correct tire pressure. If the TPMS is not faulty, and you are, in fact, running your car with low tire pressure or possibly a flat, you will end up with a completely destroyed tire.
How much does it cost to replace the tire pressure sensor on a Chevy Cruse?
The estimated cost for parts and labor is between $200 to $250 when replacing the tire pressure sensor on a Chevy Cruse. You can also DIY; I have explained everything in the description.
Conclusion
Continuing with our response posts related to various service messages that show up on the DIC (Driver Information Center) on Chevy Cruze, I have touched upon the “Service Tire Monitor System” message.
Relative to the other faults that result in service messages, this particular fault is rather a straightforward one to deal with.
Mostly, it is the sensor that gets faulty; there is no wiring to worry about because the sensor has a built-in transmitter to talk to the module.
Nevertheless, the information from the sensor is critical for safety features such as ABS, traction control, etc., and hence should not be neglected.
Sources
https://www.bridgestonetire.com/learn/maintenance/tire-pressure-monitoring-system-how-tpms-works/
HOW TO REPLACE TPMS SENSOR ON CHEVROLET CRUZE MALIBU SONIC IMPALA TAHOE TRAVERSE EQUINOX SILVERADO
Chevrolet Cruze | TPMS – Tire Pressure Monitor Operation
https://repairpal.com/estimator/tpms-sensor-replacement-cost
