Most modern Mercedes vehicles come equipped with a sophisticated tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). This system checks the pressure in each of your four tires in real-time and indicates any problems on the dashboard. Driving with properly inflated tires has several advantages:
- Safer driving: Under- or over-inflated tires can make handling and braking dangerous.
- Less tire wear: Properly inflated tires wear less and last longer than when the pressures are incorrect.
- Better fuel economy: You burn less can when your tires are at the right pressure.
- Road noise and comfort: You get maximum comfort and reduced road noise when air pressure is optimal.
This is why the Mercedes TPMS system is such a popular feature on their lineup of cars, SUVs and vans. As with all underhood automotive systems, the TPMS can suffer from issues as it gets older. We've put together this troubleshooting guide to help you determine when your TPMS is malfunctioning and requires attention.
What to Watch For with your Mercedes TPMS System
There are several points to watch for concerning the proper function of your TPMS system:
- Dash light comes on: If you get an indication on your dashboard that one or more of your tire pressures are incorrect, it is always a good idea to check it with a manual gauge and adjust the air pressure as needed. You may need to clear the TPMS message/light. See the instructions below.
- Dash light stays on: If your dashboard tire pressure indicator light comes on and stays on for a certain time, even when you've adjusted the tire pressure, that TPMS sensor might be faulty. You will need to have your tires serviced to determine what is causing the error reading.
- All tire pressure dash lights stay on: If all of your tire pressures are displaying as incorrect and you've determined the pressures are okay, there is a problem with the main control unit of your TPMS system. We can run a diagnostics check and confirm a faulty component or controller.
- Dash lights switch on and off intermittently: One of your sensors likely has a connection problem or issue reading the tire pressure accurately. Try removing some air and refilling your tire to the correct level. This can sometimes ‘unblock' the TPMS sensor in the wheel and fix the problem.
How to Reset Your Mercedes TPMS Light
Once you have corrected the tire pressure in your Mercedes vehicle, or repairs have been made to faulty sensors, the dash light needs to be reset. The method can vary slightly depending on your model of Mercedes car, SUV or van, so we suggest you check your owner's manual for detailed instruction.
In general, you need to access the tire pressure settings in your onboard computer:
- Turn the ignition on
- Use the steering wheel controls to scroll through the menu to ‘Service.'
- Scroll through and select the ‘Tire Pressure' menu
- All tire pressures will be displayed (you can verify recommended settings on a label in the fuel door)
- Once your pressures have been adjusted, you will have the option to reset or restart the TPMS
- Choose this option to turn the dash warning light off
If you are unable to clear the TPMS light or have a tire pressure problem you can't solve, we invite you to contact us here at Burdi Motorworks. You can schedule an appointment to bring your car into our Chicago area shop, and we will diagnose all problems related to your tires, tire pressures and the Mercedes TPMS.