Tire Pressure Warning Light
What it means
Shown in amber as a tire cross-section with an exclamation mark, this light belongs to the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). A steady light means one or more tires are below the required pressure; flashing for about a minute and then staying on means, on most cars, a fault in the system itself. It is normal for it to glow briefly at key-on and then go out.
Codes that may appear with it
The most common stored codes that may turn this light on; scan the car with an OBD reader to find the actual code.
Symptoms4
- A steady light with a tire that looks low or the car pulling to one side.
- The light on cold mornings that goes out after driving warms the tires.
- Flashing at start-up, then a steady light.
- A message showing each tire's pressure or the low tire on some cars.
Possible causes5
- Low tire pressure from normal slow loss over time or temperature changes.
- A puncture or nail, or a leak at the valve or the rim edge.
- A dead battery or failed pressure sensor in one wheel (direct systems).
- New tires or wheels fitted without sensors or without registering them.
- The system not reset after inflating the tires on indirect systems.
How to diagnose5
- Measure all four tires and the spare with a gauge while cold, before driving.
- Compare with the pressure on the driver's door sticker or in the owner's manual, not the number on the tire.
- Inspect the low tire for a nail, a hole or sidewall damage.
- If the light flashes and then stays on, read the system with a scan tool to find the sensor that is not transmitting.
- The workshop checks the sensor, its battery, the valve and sensor registration.
How to fix6
- Inflate the tires to the recommended pressure, then drive a few minutes until the light goes out.
- Repair the puncture or valve, and replace the tire if the damage is in the sidewall.
- Reset the system with the button or menu on indirect systems, as the owner's manual describes.
- Replace the faulty pressure sensor and register it to the car.
- Register the sensors after swapping tires or wheels.
- Confirm the light goes out after driving and the pressure holds over the next days.
Repair cost
In Saudi riyals; the highlighted part is the expected range for this fault.
In the Saudi market: SAR 30–2,000 (≈ USD 8–533)
Our prices come from the Saudi market, converted at a fixed rate (SAR 3.75 per USD). Prices in your country may differ a lot, so we show the cost level.
The cost starts with inflation or a simple puncture repair, and rises when several pressure sensors must be replaced and registered or a damaged tire replaced.
Prices are rough estimates for common cars at independent workshops and vary with the car and the source of the part.
Prices last updated: September 2026
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive with the light on?
Drive slowly to the nearest station and check the pressures. A badly underinflated tire overheats and can burst, especially in summer heat and at high speed.
Why does it come on in the morning and go off after driving?
Pressure drops when the air is cool and rises as the tires warm up while driving. It means the pressure is at the minimum, so inflate to the recommended value.
I inflated the tires and it is still on. Why?
Some cars need a few minutes of driving, and some need a reset with the button or menu. If it flashes and then stays on, a sensor is usually at fault.
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