TPMS (TYRE PRESSURE MONITERING SYSTEM)

 A faulty TPMS sensor can now result in an immediate MOT failure. As of 1st January 2015 any car manufactured from 2012 onwards that is displaying a TPMS warning light on the dashboard due to a system malfunction will automatically fail its MOT test. 

 There are 2 types of TPMS systems are fitted on cars today. Direct systems use radio sensors mounted inside of each wheel to measure the tyre pressures – they ‘directly’ measure the pressure within each tyre and send the data to a control unit whereas Indirect systems utilise the vehicle’s existing ABS sensors to measure and compare the rotational speeds of the tyres and vibrations to ‘indirectly’ calculate the pressure within the tyres. Both types of system work with the vehicle’s ECU to alert the driver via dashboard warning lights to any pressure loss or variance issues.