Lights are On. Anybody Home
The most idiotic of all “idiot lights” in your car may be the Tire-Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). The problem isn’t with the TPMS itself. Rather, it’s that the TPMS light doesn’t illuminate until your tires are severely or, possibly, dangerously underinflated. Imagine a burglar alarm that doesn’t go off until the bad guys have already carried out the TiVo.
Lights On, Anybody Home?
If the TPMS light is not illuminated, many drivers assume their tires are fully or, at least, adequately inflated. Often, they are wrong. Many who used to regularly check tire pressure will stop doing so, incorrectly assuming TPMS now takes care of that chore. And many will continue driving long after the TPMS light glows: Idiots often ignore idiot lights. Even the shape of the TPMS warning symbol—an exclamation point inside a slice of a tire—isn’t too bright because many don’t recognize its meaning.
via Automedia