Tire pressure sensors are present in Ford F150 trucks to monitor air pressure. These are present in the center of the wheels and on the opposite side of the valve stem. The tire pressure sensor fault means there is an issue in the operating system, and it cannot function well.
Tire pressure sensor fault code in the Ford F150 appears on your screen due to a dead battery of the sensor, low air pressure, damaged sensors, and a faulty control module. The fault code also comes after changing wheels, dirt, and corrosion on TMPS, fluctuating weather, bad wiring, and loose attachment. In addition, you can face this issue after changing the tires, using sealants, and when one of the tires is flat.
Many people ignore this sign on the screen and keep driving their trucks which is risky for them. In addition, it can cause poor handling and instability issues, increasing the risk of accidents.
The dead battery of the sensor
The TPMS contains a built-in battery for its functioning, which is not replaceable. Therefore, it becomes necessary to replace the whole sensor when its batteries become dead.
The batteries become dead with the age of your trucks. Many people face the issue because they have old pickups and dead batteries.
The device cannot provide short wavelength signals to the module with weak or dead batteries. However, you can see the warning light on your dashboard screen.
The purpose of the warning light is to alert the drivers that there is an issue with the tire pressure sensor and that it cannot give the correct reading.
The warning comes in the form of an exclamation mark. You can see the U-shaped icon on your screen, which have an exclamation mark on its inner side.
These batteries last for 8 to 10 years. The life of batteries depends on your number of drives and mileage.
It becomes dead early when your Ford F150 is more in use. Then, you must take your vehicle to the mechanics and replace the sensors.
These contain lithium-ion batteries and can work better when installing new ones. Drive a few miles after replacing the sensors to see the warning light on the screen.
Low or high tire pressure in Ford F150
The tire pressure sensor fault also appears on the screen when the pressure in the wheels is less or more. These are present in the stem area and detect the air pressure.
These are beneficial to warn the drivers timely about the less or more air pressure in wheels. It reduces accidents by giving timely warnings and also decreases instability issues.
The pressure in the wheels becomes low when you add a heavy weight to the cargo area. Collision with roadsides and hurdles also causes punctures and decreased air pressure.
Sometimes there are invisible holes in the tires, and you cannot see them, which can cause the gradual leaking of air.
The TPMS detects these holes and air leakage and shows the fault sign on the screen. High pressure is also problematic because it can disturb the steering wheel’s stability.
You can feel the bouncy ride which is uncomfortable for the passenger. The incorrect air pressure also affects the alignment of the suspension components.
You must check the air pressure when you see the notification on the cluster screen of your truck.
Take out the pressure gauge and measure the air pressure of all four wheels. The gauge shows the air pressure in the psi unit.
Inflate them properly and take them to the mechanic if there is a hole in the tread surface.
Damaged tire pressure sensors
The worn-out or damaged sensors in Ford F510 cannot signal the module correctly. In addition, these get damaged with their age, and their efficiency decreases.
The wear and tear in it also come when you drive on bumpy roads frequently. The stress from the sidewalls of the tire makes them faulty.
You can fix it by attaching the scanning tools with a computerized onboard system.
The scanning tool reads the error codes and explains the exact reason for this warning sign. It is necessary to replace the whole sensors if they are damaged or worn out.
Problem with a control module
The tire pressure control module is present on the inner side for data collection in the form of low-frequency radio signals.
The sensors that are mounted on wheels provide signals to these modules. The tire pressure sensor fault comes on the screen due to programming issues.
Programming errors in the module come after the alignment of the wheels. The module cannot identify the signal due to a change in the direction of the sensors.
The rotation of Ford F150 wheels confuses the module about the position of these devices.
You must recalibrate the control module’s programming after the wheels’ alignment. The resetting procedure is simple; you only need to press the button.
See the button of TPMS present on the side of the steering wheel. Press and hold this button until the sensor signs blink 3 times.
Drive your truck a few miles and wait 15 to 20 minutes for the resetting procedure. You can see the waning notification from the screen disappears after this time.
Changing of tire
The TPMS is specific to the wheels, which are programmed to measure their pressure. Therefore, the module cannot receive signals when you change the tires.
Many people install them in their trucks as an aftermarket addition. The major upgradation in vehicles gives them a new and luxurious appearance.
In addition, many people add winter tires, which can cause programming issues. The installation of winter type is necessary for cold weather because of snowy roads.
The adjustment is essential for people living in snowy areas. It is better that you can prefer to use nitrogen gas as compared to compressed gas during the winter season rather than changing the tires.
It stays for a longer time and cannot decrease the air pressure in winter.
Corrosion and dirt
The corrosion and dust also come on these devices during driving, affecting their functioning. In addition, it cannot signal properly, and you can see the exclamation mark on the dashboard screen.
These are present on the stem or side walls of the tires. The aluminum or steel material is present near them, which becomes rusty due to exposure to road salts and water.
Driving on poor roads causes dust to accumulate on their surface. Therefore, it cannot release low radio frequency waves due to dust accumulation on its surface.
Many times, driving on muddy roads during rainy days cause this problem. You should give the pressurized water wash to your truck during the winter season to remove road salts.
Wash the lower side, including wheel wheels, to remove the mud and decrease corrosion risk.
Fluctuating weather
The temperature fluctuations affect the air pressure in the wheels. Therefore, the fault code of TPMS comes on the screen due to less tire pressure.
The pressure in the wheels decreases during winter when the temperature becomes low. The low or freezing temperature causes the compression of the air.
The air gets compressed, and devices detect the low pressure and alert the drivers. Many people face the problem during the winter when there is a drastic change in weather.
It is better to replace the regular compressed air with nitrogen during cold weather.
It provides more consistent pressure during winter because it can easily withstand low and high temperatures.
Bad wiring
The bad wiring and electric current lead to the malfunctioning of the TPMS in the Ford F150. The module cannot function accurately due to loose connections of wires.
The connections become loose when you drive on uneven roads. The continuous jerk causes wobbly wires and disturbs their electric connections.
In addition, the wires also get damaged because of overheating issues. Overheating occurs when a fuse blows out and cannot control the current supply.
The power supply surge in wires causes overheating and damages their insulating layer. Short circuits are also common in cables due to improper flow of current.
You can fix it by finding the electric wiring of the tire pressure module. The wirings are present on the side of the passenger seats in the glove box.
Open it using a ratchet wrench and inspect the wiring in the electric circuits. Tight the loose connections using a screwdriver carefully.
Loose sensors
The accurate attachment of these sensors at their correct position is necessary. It cannot work correctly when its connection with valve stems is loose.
It also happens due to driving your Ford F150 off-road at high speed. In addition, you can face the issue when you take your truck to unauthorized dealerships for installation.
The loose installation means the module cannot get the signals from these devices because of their continuously changing position.
It is necessary to fix this issue by their correct installation and attachment with stem valve o the wheels. Take your Ford truck to the dealership, and he will tighten the loose screws and bolts.
Dissimilar sizes of tires
You can see the tire pressure sensor fault on the touch screen if the size of the tires is not similar. The dissimilarity issue comes when you add winter wheels during cold days.
In addition, the issue also comes due to the overloading of the truck and improper adjustment of luggage in their cargo space.
The different tire pressure in wheels also affects the size. The device recognizes a difference in the size of wheels due to over and underinflation.
You can fix the issue by checking the air pressure in all the tires using a gauge. Then, add an equal amount of air to the wheels to get rid of size difference issues.
Use of sealant
Many people use sealants to fix small holes and punctures in emergencies. However, it is not a suitable option because it causes malfunctioning of the TPMS.
Moreover, using slime during roadside emergencies to cover the holes also affects the functioning of these devices.
These devices cannot signal to the module because of the sealant or slime on their surface.
It is better to take your truck to the mechanic for wheel repair. The mechanics wash the wheels to remove sealants from TPMS and install them back.
Reset the operating system after installation of the wheel with a tire pressure sensor.
Flat tire in Ford F150
The fault code on the screen comes when one or more tires of your vehicle suddenly become flat during driving.
It is a suitable option to make the drivers aware because driving in this situation causes irreversible damage and disturbs stability.
You can also see your Ford F150 truck leaning to one side while driving. The problem also comes when one of the wheels hits the roadside or other hard objects.
Park your vehicle and inspect the wheels and check the air pressure in them.
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