car talk!?

W

wcwbf

Member
loved and miss that radio show with Click & Clack... but i have an actual car question. about 2 weeks ago, the tire pressure light came on in my 2017 hyundai tucson. within a few miles in 2 directions, there are auto parts stores. i went to Auto Zone and got some info on what i MIGHT be looking at. unfortunately, that gizmo they use to tell why the check engine light came on, only addresses the CEL?!

so i topped of the air in tires... manual and car door frame says 35 psi. air only pumped for a very short time before it dinged... indicating full. oh, originally car as telling me driver's side, front tire was only one low. got more are cuz was flashing on dash... all 4 tires at 27p si? only took a few seconds (maybe 15-20) before full.

if you experienced this problem, would love to hear your experience.
 

The pressure gauge that's built in to the air compressor is not accurate. I've tested it against 3 tire pressure gauges.
What I do is overinflate each tire by about 2-3 lbs, then use the pointed end to gradually deflate the tires until they read what I want.
 
Simple, really. During a hot summer, the air in the tires expands. When the weather cools, the air shrinks again, leaving you with a small loss of pressure. My Jeep does this every year, and I have to add a bit of air in the fall. Betting you also have the bigger wheel size tires, over 17 inch? Smaller size never seemed to be affected as much.
 

I bought a tire pump that runs off house current, and check mine twice a year when the seasons change. I do it in the garage.
 
oldaunt said:
Simple, really. During a hot summer, the air in the tires expands. When the weather cools, the air shrinks again, leaving you with a small loss of pressure. My Jeep does this every year, and I have to add a bit of air in the fall. Betting you also have the bigger wheel size tires, over 17 inch? Smaller size never seemed to be affected as much.
Click to expand...
a hyundai tucson is a small suv (4 cylinder)... not huge tires. i find it odd that all 4 tires would be under inflated and by the same amount.
 
so about a week ago, stopped in shop that has worked on previous car. talked with a guy i don't remember seeing before. i explained that i had checked for what correct pressure should be. went to a Wawa (free air) and pumped till the meter started dinging... sign that tire was full. tire pressure light stayed on. i started feeling like guy was being way too condescending to me?! he started to tell me how air expands when it's hot outside and contracts when it's cold. i was about ready to LEAVE when he suggested he make sure the psi was actually 35. said light would go out and stay out. damn if he wasn't right!
 
I've kept an eye on my tires since my bicycle days as a kid, and I neither need, nor want TPS's on my vehicles. That said they are a good idea for the average driver who pays very little/no attention to such things. Glad you got it figured out.
 
I used to do the DIY and tire gage thing. Hated it. Sometimes I felt I didn't have the physical strength. Or I was afraid something would explode.

Now I go to a tire shop and ask them to do it for me. They always do it for free, and I appreciate it very much.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top