VW Polo TPMS Warning Persists Despite Tire Checks

As a VW owner myself (Golf TDI 2004), I had this exact same TPMS issue last year. After checking air pressure multiple times and dealing with persistent low tire warnings, I learned it was more than just a tire inflation problem. The workshop diagnosed a failing battery in one of the air valve sensors. These tire pressure monitoring sensors have internal batteries that eventually die after several years. When they fail, they send incorrect signals or no signals at all to the control unit. The repair cost was 280€ total, which included: New sensor battery replacement, System reprogramming, Labor costs Since the fix, the tire pressure warning has not returned. Regular tire inflation checks still show normal readings on my pressure gauge. To help troubleshoot your specific case, could you share: Which tires show the warning (front/rear/all)? Does the warning appear immediately after starting or while driving? Have you had any recent tire work done? Does the warning come with any other dashboard alerts? This would help determine if you are dealing with the same sensor battery issue or potentially something else in the TPMS system.

Last service was at 85000km and my specific wheel sensors were calibrated then. After reading your reply, I had the workshop check specifically for sensor battery issues. The rear right sensor turned out to be completely dead, no signal transmission at all. The mechanic found corrosion inside the sensor housing, likely from road salt exposure. The total repair came to 320€ which covered: Complete new TPMS sensor unit, Recalibration of all sensors, System reset and testing The air pressure in all tires was actually fine when measured with a gauge. The sensor fault was triggering false low tire warnings. After the replacement, all tire check functions are working correctly with no more unusual alerts. Worth mentioning the workshop recommended checking sensor function during regular tire rotation to catch failing units before they completely die.

Thanks for the update on your Polo's TPMS issue. Had the exact same experience with my failing sensor, corrosion from road salt is a common killer of these units. The air valve sensor housing isnt as well sealed as it should be on these models. The 320€ repair cost sounds right, pretty close to what I paid. Good call having them check all tire pressure sensors during the service. These original sensors typically last 8-10 years before the batteries or housing fail. The tip about sensor checks during tire rotation is spot on. A quick air pressure test and sensor signal verification can catch problems early. Much better than waiting for complete sensor failure and dealing with constant tire pressure warnings. Your mechanic sounds thorough with the full system recalibration. Proper sensor programming is crucial, just replacing the physical unit without proper setup can lead to ongoing false low tire alerts. Let us know if you notice any other TPMS quirks. These systems can act up in cold weather when tire pressure naturally drops a bit.

The workshop was spot on about checking sensors during tire rotations. After dealing with this sensor fault, I now make it a point to have them verified during every service. My corrosion issue definitely came from winter driving. The total cost of 320€ was worth it to fix the constant low tire warnings. Having a working TPMS system is important for safety and the unusual alerts were getting annoying. The full sensor replacement and recalibration has completely solved the problem. The air pressure monitoring works perfectly now, no more false warnings. Good to know the typical 8-10 year lifespan of these air valve sensors so I can plan ahead for the others. Will schedule regular sensor checks with my tire rotations going forward. Much better to catch failing units early than deal with complete TPMS failure again. Thanks for sharing your similar experience and repair details, helped confirm I was on the right track with the full sensor replacement.