How to Reset the Oil Change Light in a Car

Has the "Maintenance" or "Oil Change" indicator calorie-free appeared on your vehicle? Learn what it means and how to get it to turn off.

Introduction

Mod vehicles are equipped with several indicator lights to owners when something needs attention, and the oil change light (also called the maintenance low-cal) is one of them. This light is designed to let yous know when the engine oil needs irresolute, based on the automobile's odometer reading. The oil change light won't turn off on its own, even when the erstwhile oil has been drained and fresh oil added. That's where resetting the oil change light comes in.

Not all vehicles take an oil change low-cal, but if yours does, resetting it is worth doing, and non just considering of the annoyance of seeing the light on constantly. Unless the light is reset, your vehicle will have no way of telling you the side by side time an oil alter is needed.

Here I'll be demonstrating the reset on a 2003 Toyota 4Runner, and although the exact steps vary from make to make, the bones procedure is similar. Some makes and models have different procedures, similar tardily-model Dodges, which crave iii quick presses of the gas pedal to reset. If you endeavour the process shown here and your light doesn't reset, await at your owner's manual, or check online for help regarding your detail vehicle.

Project footstep-by-step (4)

Footstep 1

Find the Reset Push button and Turn On Vehicle System

  • Search your vehicle'southward gauge and dashboard expanse for a button, switch or stick the says "Reset."
  • Turn the ignition to the ON position so your gauges and electronics light up, but don't start the engine.

Turn On Vehicle System

Footstep ii

Set up Odometer to Display Mileage

  • Cycle through the different odometer modes until information technology shows total mileage driven.
  • Turn the ignition OFF.

Set Odometer to Display Mileage

Step iii

Hold the Reset Button and Turn the Key

  • Printing and hold the reset push button.
  • Turn the ignition back to the ON position while belongings the reset button.
  • Watch the oil change or maintenance light carefully. It should start to blink.
  • Allow the lite to blink ON and OFF for a few seconds, and so release the reset button and plow the ignition OFF.

Hold the Reset Button

Stride iv

Start the Vehicle

  • Start the engine and brand the certain the oil change or maintenance light is at present OFF.
  • If information technology's withal ON, repeat the reset procedure.
  • If the dashboard light remains ON later two tries, refer to your owner's manual or the car manufacturer'south site for more information near the process for your vehicle.

Start the Vehicle

Originally Published: July xxx, 2020