I’ve had my fair share of car problems, like any other vehicle owner. I learned how to change my own fluids and jump start a battery with my 2010 Kia Sorento, and now – with my 2014 Toyota Camry – I’ve learned how to reset the maintenance required light.

What does the Maintenance Required Light Mean?

The maintenance required light isn’t present in every vehicle on the market. Its sole purpose is to remind the driver that after so many miles the car needs to be taken in for regular maintenance. This can include oil or fluid changes, tire rotations, or changing the spark plugs. Typically, this light flashes for six seconds around the 4,500-mile mark interval when you start the vehicle and then disappear. Once your car reaches the 5,000-mile mark interval or more, the light stays on as long as the vehicle is running – this should be treated as a final warning.

While the maintenance required light doesn’t necessarily mean there’s something wrong with the car, you should still take it seriously if it pops up. Make sure you call your mechanic or dealership and schedule a service appointment.

How to Reset Your Maintenance Required Light

When you take your vehicle into the dealer or shop, the mechanic is supposed to reset the light so the car can let you know when it needs regular maintenance again. But, because not every vehicle has this warning light, some mechanics forget to reset it. It can be concerning when the light comes on if you know you were recently at the shop and had regular maintenance done well before the 5,000-mile interval mark. The good news is that you can reset it yourself, and don’t have to waste time schlepping the car back to the shop.

If you have a Toyota…

  1. Don’t put your foot on the brake, turn the ignition switch to ON, or, for push start, push the button once.
  2. Set the odometer/trip display to ODO mode (early models) or Trip A (later models).
  3. Turn the vehicle off.
  4. Press and hold the odometer/trip display button while turning the ignition switch to ON, or pressing the push start button once. Remember: never use the brakes or fully turn the car on!
  5. Keep holding the button down until the ODO screen, with five dashes, shows them disappearing one by one. Once the dashes are gone, the maintenance required light should turn off.
  6. Release the button and turn the vehicle off completely.
  7. Double check the maintenance required light is off by turning the car on.

If you have a Lexus…

  1. Don’t put your foot on the brake, turn the ignition switch to ON, or for push start, push the button once.
  2. Set the odometer/trip display to ODO mode.
  3. Turn the vehicle off.
  4. Press and hold the odometer/trip display button while turning the ignition switch to ON, or pressing the push start button once. Remember: never use the brakes or fully turn the car on!
  5. Keep holding the button down until the maintenance required light turns off. The light goes on and off for a few seconds before turning off.
  6. Release the button and turn the vehicle off completely.
  7. Double check the maintenance required light is off by turning the car on.

If you have a Honda…

(Note that Honda calls their maintenance required lights “maintenance minder lights”)

  1. Don’t put your foot on the brake, turn the ignition switch to ON, or for push start, push the button once.
  2. Press and hold the reset button until you see the oil life indicator (this says “oil life” and has a percentage). Resetting changes the percentage to 100.
  3. Let go of the button and press it again, holding it for 10 seconds. The oil life indicator and maintenance requirement light blinks.
  4. Let go of the button one more time and hold for five seconds. From there the maintenance light disappears and the oil life goes to 100 percent.
  5. Release the button and turn the vehicle off completely.
  6. Double check the maintenance required light is off by turning the car on.

If the light doesn’t go off when at step five (Toyota and Lexus) or step four (Honda), turn the vehicle off completely and start over. If after a few tries it still doesn’t turn off, consider taking it in to your dealership or local mechanic.

Maintenance Required vs. Check Engine Light

Is the maintenance required light the same as the check engine light? Not at all. As we discussed earlier, the maintenance required light is triggered by mileage, and is concerned with regular car maintenance schedules. The check engine light is triggered by something that’s faulty in the OBD II system. The check engine light can go on for many reasons, including:

  • Resetting Your Maintenance Required LightFaulty or missing gas cap
  • Overheated engine
  • Low oil pressure
  • Worn spark plugs or faulty wires
  • Bad oxygen or mass airflow sensors

These are more serious repairs that need to be done, and if the check engine light comes on, you need to use a special code reader to find out what the problem is. Major auto parts stores have these you can use for free, or you can bring the vehicle to the dealer or shop and have them look at it.

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