Can anyone explain how to detect if a 'runflat' is occurring......?

Thanks.....

 

if you mean a flat in a run-flat, on a mini, there is a warning. It works by sensing the difference in rotation. One drawback to that method, however, is that slow leaks may not be detected. A more obvious and surefire way is to check your air pressure.

 

Thank You... Is there a sensor icon; for this possible flat...?

 

Yes, but I forgot what it looks like. It's in the manual, or maybe someone can post it?

 

Yes, it should be a yellow light with black icon that looks like a squishy tire in cross section.

 

Yep. You'll get a ding (same as the 'low fuel' ding) and the 'squishy tire' light. (I don't recall if it's in the tach or speedo)

 

My car bongs on low fuel, it doesn't ding.

 

If you get a sudden blow out, it will not go off. The tire pressure indicator works using the ABS system on your brakes. It measures tire rotation speed and compares it with the other tires. If one tire is rotating significantly faster than the others, that means there's a flat as the diameter of your tire will be smaller. Usually it's down by about 5lbs of air or more.

I recently had something that caused All the air to escape and the indicator did not come on.

Best bet is to check your tire pressures regularly.

 

I would think it would be most likely to go off then, unless you stop before it has a chance.

 

When I popped my right rear, I heard a noise like running over a sealed potato chip bag, and the light came on a few seconds later. As I slowly drove home, the penetrant dislodged (heard it "thump" the inside of the wheel well) and all the air came out at once. Light stayed on, but more importantly, the car suddenly behaved squirrely...it was obvious I was running on the disk and not air at that point.

 

I would think that your car's behavior would be a better indicator in that instance! The car will pull toward the side with low (or "no") tire pressure - and as noted above the indicator will go off (unless there was damage to the ABS system during the incident, in which case you may also get an ABS light).

Also note: If all tires are equally underinflated, that can fool the sensor. Monthly (at an absolute minimum!) tire pressure checks are necessary in any vehicle with air-filled tires. They can all be 5lb low and, having gotten low over time, you'll have trouble noticing until the car's all squishy on the road and your tires are worn beyond salvage (and it hits you in the wallet).

Oh - in the '06s it's a "bing", in the '02-04 it's a "ding", and in the R56's it's a "bong". Mini wisely refrained from also adding a "burble" since the '05-06s already had one of those, and two would be overkill...

 

I got a little nervous on the freeway last week - the little yellow tire light came on. I pulled off the freeway and visually inspected the 4 tires, and they all looked fine, so I kept going. When I restarted, the light was out. I think I figured out what happened - a phone charging cord came into alignment with the button and the parking brake. At least I hope that's all it was - it has not come back on since.

 

With run flats it's a good idea to check you tire pressure at least once a week. Better yet, get rid of the damn things.

 

Your indicator light is in the speedo and of course will come on if you have low air pressure in one tire, but it will also come on for other issues. After a day of mountain road driving mine came on. When I checked the air pressure, all the tires were within 2 pounds of each other and above 30 pounds. Owners manual states procedures for reseting the light, and also states that the light may activate after a day of "spirted mountain driving". The service writer at the dealership also informed me that you will need to reset the moniter if you rotate your tires.

 

Hmm. Mine doesn't bong OR ding? And I've had it quite low too.

 

1) Not low enough
2) You don't have the BC1 set to ding (bong my ****!)
3) Since you're upside down, the remaining fuel is on the top of the tank so the sensor doesn't think it's empty.