How to Reset the Tire Pressure Light in Vehicles

by Contributing WriterUpdated June 12, 2017

Initially, this system had two types: direct and indirect. The direct system had a sensor inside each tire to monitor each tire individually. The indirect system worked through the Vehicles antilock brake system, measuring the speed of each wheel and comparing them with each other. If one tire rotated slower than the other, a light illuminated on the dashboard, alerting the driver of the low pressure. Resetting the Vehicles tire pressure light is not much more difficult than adding air to the tires.

Under The Hood:

 How to Reset the Tire Pressure Light in a 2008 Subaru Impreza

Checking and Adjusting the Tire Pressure

Unscrew the cap from each of the valve stems — the rubber stems protruding from each rim. Place the valve stem caps in a secure location.

Press the tire pressure gauge onto the top of the valve stem — the brass part — and hold it firm to gain an accurate reading of the tire pressure. Make note of the pressure. Ideally, you should check your tire pressure prior to driving and in a temperature of 60 degrees F or above — cold weather lowers the pressure inside the tire at a rate of 1 psi per 10 degrees F.

Repeat Step 3 on all four tires.

Compare the pressures noted in Steps 2 and 3 with the correct tire pressure for the 2008 Impreza — 33 psi in the front tires and 32 psi in the rear tires — to determine what tires require more air. Please note: only tires lower than the recommended psi by more than 2 psi require air.

Park the Impreza near an air hose connecting to a compressed air source and turn the vehicle off.

Press the air chuck onto the top of the valve stem — in the same manner you did with the pressure gauge — to start the flow of air into the tire. To estimate the amount of time to hold the air chuck onto the tire, a good rule-of-thumb is every 3 to 5 seconds increases tire pressure by 1 psi.

Remove the air chuck and check the pressure in the tire by following Step 3.

Repeat Steps 7 and 8 until the air pressure is within 2 psi of recommended tire pressure of 33 psi on the front and 32 psi on the rear.

Repeat Steps 6 through 8 to adjust any other tires that are low on air pressure.

Screw the valve cover caps back onto all four valve stems.

Resetting the Tire Pressure Light

Start the Impreza and drive to an open road with little or no traffic.

Accelerate to a speed of at least 20 mph.

Observe as the “Tire Pressure” light on the instrument cluster turns off after about 2 minutes.

Items you will need

  • Tire pressure gauge

  • Compressed air source with tire inflation chuck

 How to Reset the Tire Pressure Light on a Nissan Frontier

Examine your driver-side door jamb (with the door open) to find your Frontier's tire inflation label. The exact specification will depend on which model-year and tire size you have, but it will be listed on the label.

Note the inflation recommendation for all four tires--it's often different for the rear tires.

Drive your Frontier to a service station with an air machine. If you have an air compressor, feel free to use it instead.

Unscrew the valve stem caps on your tires. Attach the tire gauge to the stems to view the current inflation level.

Add air in small increments. Check the inflation level again, after each increment. Continue this until the tire reaches its recommended level. Repeat the procedure for all four tires.

Replace all four valve stem caps and tighten them by hand.

Drive your Frontier around the block a few times, at a speed of at least 16 miles per hour. At lower speeds, the tire pressure monitoring system does not recheck the inflation levels. After driving around a bit, your tire pressure monitor will recheck the inflation level. If the tires are properly inflated, the system will reset and turn off, according to the Frontier's manual.

Items you will need

  • Tire gauge

  • Air compressor (optional)

 How to Reset a Tire Pressure Light on a 2007 Ford Mustang

Allow the tires to cool off, if you just finished driving -- the tire's pressure rises as its internal temperature rises.

Open the driver's door and locate the vehicle information placard on the doorjamb. Read the correct psi tire rating on the placard and notate this pressure.

Remove the valve cap from one tire.

Press the valve part of a tire pressure gauge onto the end of the valve stem. Read the pressure displayed on the pressure gauge and notate this pressure. Compare this pressure reading to that you have noted from the vehicle information placard.

Release air from the tire, if the pressure in the tire is too high, by pressing the small pin in the top of the valve stem with a small flat-head screwdriver. If the tire is low on air, add air to the tire, using a compressed air source and a tire chuck.

Repeat Steps 4 and 5 until the tire is within 2 psi of the pressure recommendation on the vehicle information placard. Tighten the valve stem cap back onto the valve stem.

Repeat Steps 3 through 6 to check and adjust the pressure on all four tires.

Start the Mustang and drive it for approximately two minutes at a minimum speed of 20 mph -- once all four tires are at the correct pressure -- to reset the tire pressure light.

Items you will need

  • Tire air pressure gauge

  • Compressed air source

  • Tire inflation chuck

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