The TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) light is one of the more misunderstood warning lights on GM trucks — and one of the easiest to deal with once you understand how it works.
What the TPMS Light Means
Solid light: One or more tires is 25% below the recommended pressure. Check and inflate all four tires to the pressure on your door jamb sticker (NOT the max pressure on the tire sidewall).
Flashing light (blinking for 60–90 seconds, then stays on): Indicates a TPMS sensor fault — a sensor battery is dead or a sensor has failed.
Step 1: Check Your Tire Pressure
Always start here. Low tire pressure is the most common TPMS trigger — especially in cold weather (pressure drops ~1 PSI per 10°F temperature drop).
Check all four tires cold (before driving). Inflate to the door jamb sticker pressure. The light should go off on its own within a few miles of driving.
Step 2: Perform a TPMS Relearn (If Light Stays On)
If tires are at correct pressure and the light stays on after driving 10+ miles, perform a sensor relearn:
GM TPMS Relearn Procedure (Most 1999+ GM Trucks)
Method 1 — Manually trigger sensors:
- Start the truck and leave it in Park
- Use the Driver Information Center (DIC) to navigate to Vehicle Info → Tire Pressure
- Press and hold the DIC reset button until the horn chirps twice — this enters relearn mode
- Starting with the left front tire, use a TPMS trigger tool (or let air out and re-inflate) to activate each sensor in order: LF → RF → RR → LR
- Horn chirp after each = sensor recognized
- Final double chirp = relearn complete
Method 2 — OBD relearn with scan tool:
An OBD-II scanner with TPMS function (many Autel units include this) can relearn sensors automatically through the OBD port.
When TPMS Sensors Need Replacement
TPMS sensors have a battery life of approximately 5–8 years or 100,000 miles. When a sensor battery dies, the only fix is sensor replacement.
Cost: $25–$60 per sensor (OEM or quality aftermarket)
Note: After replacing sensors, always perform the relearn procedure above
New Wheels / Tire Rotation
Any time new aftermarket wheels are installed, the sensors need to be moved to the new wheels (or replaced) and re-learned. Same applies after a tire rotation if your truck resets position-specific pressure monitoring.