Does my car have tyre pressure sensors?

[Jhunter_83]

Hello, I have a 2017 Leon fr technology st and was wondering if my car has tyre pressure sensors?

The reason I asked is that when I picked up the car I was looking through the settings and there was a set tyre pressure settings but about a month later when checking the pressures there was about a 5psi drop on one of them.

 

[Dr.Dash]

For me true Tyre Pressure Sensors directly measure the actual tyre pressure. Usually via a sensing/sender unit in the valve. You can access the readings in Psi or BAR via a menu.

The SEAT system is a tyre pressure warning, using the sensing components of the ABS system to indirectly "measure" wheel diameter, when it senses a discrepancy then you get a warning to indicate a possible flat/significant pressure drop.
As a result you need to set the base line for the Warning system, accurately check tyre pressures and then use the menu system to "Set Tyre Pressure".

Generally they are pretty handy and sense drops of 3-5psi in one tyre, if all your tyres drop a similar amount then it won't sense a failure. The dealer may simply have not set your system, or set it with one low tyre pressure (there's no knowing, they are generally lazy/shoddy/careless). Just do the setting procedure after you've next checked/inflated your tyres.

I've had one false warning recently, no reason I could ascertain. I always carry a pressure gauge so quickly checked (ok) system reset and carry on.

 

[Shaady]

Did you check the pressures when you picked the car up?

Dealers are rubbish at getting pressures right in my experience so it might have been off since you got the car. I would top it up, set the pressures and just keep an eye on it

 

[KXL]

My Leon SE Tech and Ibiza FR Tech had a share of 3 tyre warnings ping up in 4 years combined. Both times on the Leon it was correct, it was a slow punture, and handheld PSI reading showed 10PSI lower on one tyre twice. On the Ibiza, the only time it ping up, it was a false alarm, but it was damn cold though, -3 degrees, plenty of icy slush around.

 

[Jhunter_83]

For me true Tyre Pressure Sensors directly measure the actual tyre pressure. Usually via a sensing/sender unit in the valve. You can access the readings in Psi or BAR via a menu.

The SEAT system is a tyre pressure warning, using the sensing components of the ABS system to indirectly "measure" wheel diameter, when it senses a discrepancy then you get a warning to indicate a possible flat/significant pressure drop.
As a result you need to set the base line for the Warning system, accurately check tyre pressures and then use the menu system to "Set Tyre Pressure".

Generally they are pretty handy and sense drops of 3-5psi in one tyre, if all your tyres drop a similar amount then it won't sense a failure. The dealer may simply have not set your system, or set it with one low tyre pressure (there's no knowing, they are generally lazy/shoddy/careless). Just do the setting procedure after you've next checked/inflated your tyres.

I've had one false warning recently, no reason I could ascertain. I always carry a pressure gauge so quickly checked (ok) system reset and carry on.

Thanks, I’ll keep an eye on it. If I let air out the tyre it should flag up.

 

[Jhunter_83]

Did you check the pressures when you picked the car up?

Dealers are rubbish at getting pressures right in my experience so it might have been off since you got the car. I would top it up, set the pressures and just keep an eye on it

I didn’t check tbh, I just expected it to be checked before I picked it up. Thanks for the response

 

[Jhunter_83]

My Leon SE Tech and Ibiza FR Tech had a share of 3 tyre warnings ping up in 4 years combined. Both times on the Leon it was correct, it was a slow punture, and handheld PSI reading showed 10PSI lower on one tyre twice. On the Ibiza, the only time it ping up, it was a false alarm, but it was damn cold though, -3 degrees, plenty of icy slush around.

I’ll keep an eye on it and see what happens. Thanks

 

[Dr.Dash]

Thanks, I’ll keep an eye on it. If I let air out the tyre it should flag up.

Yep, as long as its sufficiently deflated to trigger the system and you obviously need to drive the car!
IME they are reasonably sensitive and stop people driving around on nearly fully deflated tyres, or give you time to stop safely from a puncture before the tyre self destructs.
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I'm still amazed how many people are driving around on visibly deflated tyres, from experience they are probably in the 10-15Psi range. I've even offered to pump someone's tyre up in the supermarket car park, (had an electric pump in the boot), guy wasn't interested and drove off with two littluns in their car seats and the "careful baby onboard" sticker in the rear window.

 

[Kempo]

I have a feeling that my pressure sensors are faulty. In the vehicle menu I click the Set button for the tyre pressure monitor and it says they are set but when I go back into the menu it asks me to Set them again. Might have to get the dealer to check as it’s got a warranty until December.

 

[Shaady]

I have a feeling that my pressure sensors are faulty. In the vehicle menu I click the Set button for the tyre pressure monitor and it says they are set but when I go back into the menu it asks me to Set them again. Might have to get the dealer to check as it’s got a warranty until December.

Dont think the system is intelligent enough to know when you have checked the pressures, it will let you keep setting them as often as you want without complaining about it.

 

[Bailer]

On my previous vRS the Tyre pressure would need to drop 18-20 psi before the tpms would start crying, I believe it’s the same system monitored by the abs, I think it was the 19s and the low side wall that required such a severe drop before warning, so a weekly pressure check along with all the fluid levels keeps my mind at ease