2009, ~85,xxx miles. Awful weather in MA lately, and lots of plow damage to roads. Yesterday, I hit a huge crater/pothole thing in the road, and my TPMS light came on. Later in the day, each time I started the car after it having been off for any amount of time, the TPMS light blinked for a while before then staying on. I wouldn't be surprised if the crazy temperatures have caused the tires' air levels to fluctuate, but it seems that my hitting the big bump in the road had something to do with it. i've also never seen the light flash. Any ideas?

 

Only one of two things:
Your tire pressure is low
The batteries are dying

Most shops will top of tire pressure for free, so that is where I would start.

 

Your battery is dying. Same exact senerio happened to me.

 

You either have a TPMS sensor failing or an issue with the BCM itself.

There is both a diagnostic procedure you can do yourself (see the section on TPMS without Consult III) that will pinpoint the defective component as well as a "relearn procedure" that you can do yourself as well.

See http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Maxima/2009/WT.pdf for a complete explanation. Of note: The "TPMS test connector" they speak of is a white connector behind the dash on the left just above the switch for the trunk release. You have to take off the lower dash unit to get to it (don't worry, it is only one screw and one clip on panel you have to remove.)

It worked well for me. Note that when you do the relearn procedure tire pressures MUST be exact. It is also best not to drive on hot roads when re-learning as the tire pressures go up quickly with the heat and you will have to try again and again. Do it first thing in the am!

Lt

 

If you have a blinking TPMS light then remaining on, then you have a fault in the system, somewhere. Especially if you hit a pothole and then, voila. Ironically, I had a battery go dead, tried to start the engine and got the lovely clicking noise. The low battery voltage did something odd to the electronics in the car and I had the same thing happen to me (blinking TPMS light, followed by it being lit solid). What fixed it for me - pulling the battery cable for about 20 minutes. Just reset everything and see what happens. It's a computer and it's prone to doing things it shouldn't....fortunately note very often, but still.

Please let us know what you find out. I'm curious.

Late,
Trav

 

I have the same situation but was under the impression that the TPMS sensors have their own batteries and they just die, which would cause this scenario. Am I incorrect?

 

You are correct Bluefish7. They do have batteries and the units are sealed, meaning that the faulty TPMS unit must be replaced, you can't just replace the battery. I have an 09 with 95k miles, and I have had two of the four sensors replaced. Not cheap at the dealer either. The last one I had replaced a couple of months ago was around $220. A total rip, if you ask me.

 

Where did you go to have them replaced? The dealer I take my car to get serviced said something in the neighborhood of $330

 

Thinblue, I took my Max to Antwerpen Nissan in Clarksville.