Is Your Maintenance Required Light On? Here's What You Need to Know

The maintenance required light on your car's dashboard is a simple reminder that your vehicle needs routine service. It's different from the check engine light, which indicates a potential problem with your engine or emissions system.

Automakers typically recommend basic maintenance like an oil change, filter replacement, and inspection every 5,000 miles. The maintenance required light is designed to alert you when you're approaching that mileage interval.

Here's how it works:

• Around 4,500 miles, the light will start flashing briefly when you start your car, reminding you that service is due soon.
• If you go another 500 miles without service (reaching 5,000 miles), the light will stay illuminated until you reset it.

Resetting the maintenance required light is usually a straightforward process outlined in your owner's manual. It often involves a sequence of turning the ignition and pressing the odometer button.

Once reset, the light will turn off and the cycle starts again, with the flashing reminder appearing around 4,500 miles.

So, if the maintenance required light is on, it doesn't necessarily mean there's a serious issue with your car. It's just a friendly nudge to get your routine maintenance done according to the recommended schedule.

However, if the check engine light comes on, that's a different story. That light indicates a detected problem that may require diagnosis and repair by a mechanic. You can use an OBD scanning tool to retrieve any fault codes that triggered the check engine light, which can help pinpoint the issue. 

Tooldom carries a variety of diagnostic tools, from simple code readers for the DIY  to OEM level scanners built for the professional mechanic. All with free and fast shipping.