What does low tire warning mean and how do you reset it on a Windstar?

Answer 1

The Windstar uses the ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) wheel sensors to provide 2 more features:

• Traction control
• Low tire pressure warning

A tire that is under-inflated travels at a different speed than the others - and the computer can figure that out from the signals coming from the individual wheel sensors - lighting up the low tire pressure warning light.

See "Related Questions" below for more about the ABS systems.

When to use the RESET button - procedureFrom the Owners Manual
The low tire warning system is designed to detect a significant loss of inflation in any one of your tires on your vehicle. The system uses the Anti-lock brake wheel speed sensors to detect a change in wheel speed due to tire deflation. When a tire loses inflation, the low tire warning system detects the change and illuminates the low tire warning indicator light as shown. If the light remains on while driving,
check the tire pressure refer to "Checking the tire pressure" in this chapter.

The low tire warning indicator light will also illuminate when using a temporary spare, refer to "Changing the tires" in the Roadside emergencies chapter.

The low tire warning system may not detect an under-inflated tire under all conditions and is not a substitute for manually checking tires regularly for proper inflation.

When to RESET the Low Tire Warning System: after any of the following
• Tire rotation
• One or more tires have been replaced
• Tire balancing
• Wheel alignment
• Adjusting the pressure on one or more tires (note: tire pressures are often adjusted during oil change service)

Reset ProceduresIf your Windstar doesn't have a dedicated low tire warning reset button (see next section), use these procedures from the Owners Manual:

• Turn the ignition to the ON position,
  
  
• Press the Trip/odometer button (located in the instrument cluster) until "TIRE RESET" or "CHECK TIRE AND RESET" is displayed in the odometer display window.
  
  
• Once "TIRE RESET" or "CHECK TIRE AND RESET" is displayed, press and hold the button for three seconds.
  The low tire warning indicator light will flash three times as the low tire warning system begins to initialize.
  

Reset Button - IF equipped
The low tire pressure warning reset button is low on the front of the dash, directly to the left of the steering column.

Look for it before you sit in the drivers seat - otherwise you'll never spot it - at least I didn't for months.

Press and hold the button for 3-5 seconds. The warning light will flash a couple of times and go out.

My own experience with my 2001 Windstar is the low tire indicator light is pretty accurate. On occasion it's a bit sensitive going off when only a couple pounds of pressure low - but there is always a tire with low pressure.

Put the proper amount of air into all 5 tires - counting the spare tire - and it will go out on its own.

The tire pressure information is on the door jambThis is well detailed and illustrated in the Owners Manual - See "Related Questions" below for more