Your vehicle may have a Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS). This system uses radio and sensor technology to check tire pressure levels. If your vehicle has this feature, sensors are mounted onto each tire and wheel assembly, except for the spare tire. The TPMS sensors monitor the air pressure in your vehicle's tires and transmit tire pressure readings to a receiver located in the vehicle.
Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should be checked monthly when cold and inflated to the inflation pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label. (If your vehicle has tires of a different size than the size indicated on the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label, you should determine the proper inflation pressure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire pressure telltale when one or more of your tires is significantly under-inflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale illuminates, you should stop and check your tires as soon as possible, and inflate them to the proper pressure. Driving on a significantly under-inflated tire causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure. Under-inflation also reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and may affect the vehicle's handling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for proper tire maintenance, and it is the driver's responsibility to maintain correct tire pressure, even if under-inflation has not reached the level to trigger illumination of the TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
When a low tire pressure condition is detected, the TPMS will illuminate the low tire pressure warning symbol on the instrument panel cluster, and at the same time a message to check the pressure in a specific tire will appear on the Driver Information Center (DIC) display. The low tire pressure warning symbol on the instrument panel cluster and the check tire pressure message will appear at each ignition cycle until the tires are inflated to the correct inflation pressure. Using the DIC, tire pressure levels can be viewed by the driver. For additional information and details about the DIC operation and displays see DIC Operation and Displays and DIC Warnings and Messages .
The tire pressure warning light may come on in cool weather when the vehicle is first started, and then turn off as you start to drive. This may be an early indicator that the air pressure in the tire(s) are getting low and need to be inflated to the proper pressure.
A tire and Loading Information label, attached to your vehicle, shows the size of your vehicle's original equipment tires and the correct inflation pressure for your vehicle's tires when they are cold. See Loading the Vehicle , for an example of the tire information label and its location on your vehicle. Also see Inflation - Tire Pressure .
Your vehicle's TPMS system can warn you about a low tire pressure condition but it does not replace normal tire maintenance. See Tire Inspection and Rotation and Tires .
Notice: Do not use a tire sealant if your vehicle has Tire Pressure Monitors. The liquid sealant can damage the tire pressure monitor sensors.
The TPMS will not function properly if one or more of the TPMS sensors are missing or inoperable. If the system detects a missing or inoperable sensor, an error message SERVICE TIRE MONITOR SYSTEM will be shown on the DIC display. If you have replaced a tire/wheel assembly without transferring the TPMS sensors, the error message will be displayed. Once you re-install the TPMS sensors, the error message should go off. See your GM dealer for service if all TPMS sensors are installed and the error message comes on and stays on.
Each TPMS sensor has a unique identification code. Any time you replace one or more of the TPMS sensors or rotate the vehicle's tires, the identification codes will need to be matched to the new tire/wheel position. The sensors are matched, to the tire/wheel positions, in the following order: driver's side front tire, passenger's side front tire, passenger's side rear tire, and driver's side rear tire using a TPMS diagnostic tool. See your GM dealer for service.
The TPMS sensors may also be matched to each tire/wheel position by increasing or decreasing the tire's air pressure. When increasing the tire's pressure, do not exceed the maximum inflation pressure indicated on the tire's sidewall.
You will have two minutes to match each tire and wheel position. If it takes longer than two minutes to match any tire and wheel position, the matching process stops and you will need to start over.
The TPMS matching process is outlined below:
The Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) operates on a radio frequency and complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules and with RSS-210 of Industry and Science Canada. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
Changes or modifications to this system by other than an authorized service facility could void authorization to use this equipment.