Low tire pressure problem?

Question

Okay so I took my car last week to get the tires filled with air since my low tire pressure light came on, and the guy said that the drivers side tire was lower than all the others which meant it needed to be replaced? Everything was fine until now, I just got the light turned on again. Could it be that the tire...

Answer 1

Could be you caught a nail or a bad valve stem. Should be okay as long as an object isnt in the sidewall. Take it to a tire place.

Replacing a tire in any event but dry rot, blowout, or baldness is overkill.

Answer 2

A lot of the newer car TPMS systems are using the ABS system sensors to determine outer tire circumference, thus a damaged tire or a tire with extremely worn tread can set off the TPMS light (IE driving on the donut spare). If you have this ABS style TPMS system, it is imperative that all 4 of the tires match closely in outer tire circumference. If you tagged a curb really hard and messed up the tire, it can be the reason you keep getting the TPMS warning light.

ETA; You should buy a $5 tire pressure gauge for your glove box before trusting a tire shop wanting to sell you a new set of tires.
As others have said, it a simple dunk the tire in water to find the leak. It could be a valve stem, tire bead, or cracked ALM wheel.
Have someone pull the wheel off the car and take it to a bathtub where you can dunk it and spin it under water to find the leak.

Answer 3

Who the hell tells you your tire is lower than the other 3 tires but doesn't check for a nail or something sharp puncturing the tire?
I'll tell you who..a high school drop out doing oil changes!

Answer 4

Sounds like a hole in the tire or a bent rim. Temperature changes does it also. Have the tire checked for holes/ leaks from nails or so on then go from there. Maybe a patch thats it

Answer 5

Apparently it has something in it to make it lose air pressure.

Answer 6

any tire shop can check for a leak in a liquid bath , takes a few minutes , only sidewall leaks are unrepairable

Answer 7

Low tires usually need to just be patched, unless the valve leaks, then that core needs replacing. If the TPMS light keeps turning on and all the tires are properly inflated all the same, it could be the sensor's battery is weak and dying. Tire shops can check that with a computer. That computer is NOT an OBD2 code reader and is much more expensive and sophisticated. It can tell if a sensor battery is weak or dead. Sensor batteries are not replaceable- the sensor will need replacing and those lil bastards are pricey.

Answer 8

It could be a leaky tire, could be a bad sensor

Answer 9

"The guy said that the drivers side tire was lower than all the others which meant it needed to be replaced"

If you're going to swallow that without questioning it, I've got some cheap tropical beach property for sale in North Dakota to sell you.

"Everything was fine until now"

Air decreases in pressure when cold and expands when hot. Has it been really cold lately? That's why all the tires are a bit lower in pressure.

"Could it be that the tire needs to be patched?"

Possibly, but maybe not. It might be a leaking valve. Either get the tire leak tested, or keep driving on it and see what happens.

Answer 10

Air it up, If it leaks again quickly, replace the tire.