Major bump in the road causing TPMS light?
 

Hey all,

Trying to figure out what happened today, so I come to you for input.

I was driving down the highway this afternoon (280 south near 85 for those in NorCal), and I hit what seemed like a minor buckle in the pavement.

Instead of the normal bump I was expecting, it sounded like I had just run over (and set off) a live ammunition round. Huge impact to the right side of the car, loud bang in the cabin, I thought I had blown a tire and possibly even cracked one of my wheels.

While looking for a safe place to pull off the road, my TPMS light starts flashing and then goes solid. Wonderful, now I'm expecting to notice the effects of a flat tire in a few moments.

I pull off as soon as I can, and check all 4 tires. Not a scratch anywhere, no flat tire, no sound of escaping air, nothing. All 4 tires look/feel just dandy.

I finished my drive (car tracked straight as an arrow with no signs of anything happening at all), but this damn TPMS light will not go out. As soon as I turn the car on and the cluster does it's normal pre-flight check, the TPMS light starts flashing and then goes solid.

I've already checked air pressure in all 4 tires, and I'm still at 35 all around. I'm completely at a loss as to what might have happened. Should I just take it into the dealership and have them reset the light?

I would take it to the dealership and have them check the sensor. This happens in my parents Toyota's all of the time. My buddy's Mazdaspeed3 has the same issue. It happened after hitting a pot hole. Plus the roads in Nebraska suck anyways.

But yeah just hit up the dealership, they should fix it with no charge.

Probably fubar'd your TPMS. Not sure if the dealership will warranty replace an item like that.

Do you know what the explanation is for this phenomenon?

Electronics have a hard time in high vibration / shock applications.
Any solder joints are subject to cracking (there are lots).
The sensor on the wheel - tire valve, could have broken.