Low Tire Pressure

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2016 RAM 3500 HD and 2016 RAM 2500 HD. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) indicator gives an indication to the vehicle operator of the status of the TPMS system. This indicator is controlled by a transistor on the Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) circuit board based upon cluster programming and electronic messages received by the IPC from the Wireless Ignition Node over the Controller Area Network (CAN) data bus.

The TPMS indicator Light Emitting Diode (LED) is completely controlled by the IPC logic circuit, and that logic will only allow this indicator to operate when the IPC receives a battery current input on the fused ignition switch output (run-start) circuit. Therefore, the LED will always be OFF when the ignition switch is in any position except ON or START. The LED only illuminates when it is provide a path to ground by the IPC transistor. Each time the ignition switch is turned to the ON position, the WIN sends an electronic TPMS indicator lamp-ON message to the cluster to illuminate the TPMS indicator for about three seconds as a bulb test. The instrument cluster will turn ON the TPMS indicator for the following reasons:

TPMS Indicator Lamp-On Message - Each time the IPC receives an electronic TPMS indicator lamp-ON message from the WIN, the TPMS indicator will be illuminated. The indicator can be flashed ON and OFF, or illuminated solid, as dictated by the WIN message. The indicator remains illuminated until the IPC receives a lamp-OFF message from the WIN or until the ignition switch is turned to the OFF position, whichever occurs first.
Communication Error - If the cluster receives no TPMS lamp-ON or lamp-OFF messages from the WIN for six consecutive seconds, the TPM indicator is illuminated by the IPC. The indicator remains controlled and illuminated by the IPC until a valid lamp-ON or lamp-OFF message is received from the WIN.

The WIN performs a self-test each time the ignition switch is turned to the ON position to decide whether the TPMS is in good operating condition and whether the tire inflation pressures are too high or too low. The WIN then sends the proper lamp-ON or lamp-OFF message to the IPC. If the IPC turns ON the TPMS indicator after the bulb test, it indicates that the inflation pressure of a tire is too low or that a malfunction has occurred and the TPMS is ineffective.