How Do I Reset the Tire Pressure Light in a Honda?
Read these tips to keep your Honda’s tires properly inflated.
Honda
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Technology is great when it works, less so when it disappoints. Case in point: your Honda’s tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS).
Since 2007, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has mandated this system to be fitted to all passenger cars, light trucks, and vans. When the TPMS works properly, it’s a great early warning of an under-inflated tire. Here’s how it works on your Honda—and what to do when it doesn’t work.
Why Is the Tire Pressure Light on My Honda Coming On?
There could be several reasons—some serious, others less so.
The TPMS on your Honda utilizes sensors to gauge air pressure in each tire; when it senses a tire is low, you’ll see a tire icon with an exclamation point in the instrument panel. If the system is particularly sensitive, it could be a matter of a tire being low by just one pound per square inch (PSI)—that’s not an emergency.
This low tire pressure reading could be due to cooler ambient temperatures. As you drive your Honda, the offending tire warms up, and the air inside expands. At that point, the light may go out on its own. But the warning light could also signal a rapidly deflating tire due to damage, so it’s critical not to assume anything.
What Should I Do First When the Tire Pressure Light Comes On?
As soon as possible, pull over and check the tire pressure and condition of the tire. If you can drive to a service station with an air compressor, that’s even better.
Check the owner’s manual or the driver’s side door jam sticker for the optimal tire pressure for your Honda. Inflate the tires to that pressure and see if that does the trick. If the TPMS light goes out, you’ve successfully identified the issue.
But sometimes the light stays on—even when all four tires are inflated to the correct pressure. If this is the case, drive your Honda to determine if the light will reset. There’s a possibility that the TPMS could reset itself once it figures out the tires are correctly inflated and adequately warmed up.
How Do I Manually Reset the TPMS Light in My Honda?
Fortunately, resetting the TPMS light in your Honda manually is relatively simple. More accurately, it involves one of two possible processes.
If your Honda has a center touchscreen like the Pilot, find the settings icon on the home screen, then go to vehicle settings. You'll find the TPMS calibration setting within that menu—choose "Calibrate."
If your Honda doesn't have a touchscreen, you can calibrate the TPMS through the Driver Information menu in the instrument panel. With the steering wheel's buttons, scroll to "Driver Information" and select "Vehicle Settings." Within this sub-menu, select "TPMS Calibration" and choose "Calibrate."
Finally, Honda suggests driving for up to 30 minutes to gauge if the calibration is successful. If this final option doesn't work, your car could have a faulty tire pressure sensor, so you must visit a trained technician.
