Flashing Tire Pressure Light: Why It’s Blinking and What It Means

If your tire pressure light is flashing while driving through the Twin Cities this winter, you’re not alone. As temperatures drop, you might see that yellow horseshoe on your dash (sometimes flashing, sometimes solid) and wonder if it’s safe to keep driving. Whether you’re already on the road, pulled over, or just noticed it after parking, here’s what it means and what to do next.

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What Does a Flashing Tire Pressure Light Mean?

A flashing or blinking tire pressure light means your Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) isn’t communicating correctly with one or more sensors.

For most makes and models, a flashing light indicates a system fault.

Tire Pressure Light Blinking, Then Solid

If the tire pressure warning light flashes for 60–90 seconds and then stays solid, the TPMS has detected a fault. This is usually from a weak or dead TPMS sensor battery, a damaged or missing sensor, or a module error causing a poor signal. The system will not alert you accurately to low pressure until it’s repaired.

What to do: First, check and inflate all tires, including your spare, if needed. If pressure looks fine and the light stays on, schedule a TPMS diagnostic with LancerService. Your system may need a sensor reset or replacement. 

Tire Pressure Light Blinking Intermittently 

If the flashing tire pressure light comes and goes randomly while driving, it’s reacting to conditions rather than a permanent fault. This usually means borderline pressure changes from temperature swings or intermittent sensor communication due to a weak battery or interference.

What to do: Top off tires slightly above the door-label recommended tire pressure PSI on cold mornings. If flashing persists, have our auto repair technicians test your tire pressure sensors.

Solid Tire Pressure Light

A solid TPMS light (that comes on solid and stays solid) typically means at least one tire’s pressure is out of range. This is what the light is designed to signal when it’s working properly. This is often caused by a cold-weather pressure drop, a small puncture or slow leak, or sometimes over-inflation. 

What to do: Check all tires for proper pressure and visible damage. Inflate or deflate as needed, and recheck once the tires warm up. If air levels are fine but the light remains, schedule a service to have the TPMS inspected.

Can I Drive With a Blinking Tire Pressure Light?

If your tire pressure is fine, you can drive short distances, but once the light flashes, your TPMS isn’t reliably monitoring pressure. That means you could lose air without warning. Pull off safely, inspect your tires, and check pressure before continuing. Schedule an appointment with your service center soon to restore the system’s protection.

Why Is My Tire Pressure Light Blinking? Common Causes

If your tire pressure light is flashing instead of staying solid, it means the Tire Pressure Monitoring System itself has an issue – not the air in your tires. The most common causes of a TPMS system fault are aging TPMS sensors or modules, or weak batteries made worse by cold weather.

Aging Sensors

Each TPMS sensor has a non-replaceable internal battery lasting 5–10 years. A weak battery or a failed sensor is the most common cause of a flashing light. To fix it, have your auto repair shop perform a TPMS diagnostic to identify and replace the faulty tire pressure sensor. 

Cold Air Pressure Drops

Extreme cold can affect how aging TPMS sensors communicate. If the batteries are weak, low temperatures may make them perform worse, causing temporary misreads or delayed updates that trigger a flashing light.