Warning lamp indicators are the last thing a car owner wants to see on their dashboard. With so many different symbols, it can be hard to tell what the particular glowing light means! Few lights, however, are more vague than the ‘MAINT REQD’, or, Toyota maintenance required light.

The Toyota ‘Maintenance Required’ Light – What Does it Mean?

The ‘Maintenance Required’ light on your Toyota is actually not a cause for concern!

This light is set to come on after a set number of miles, and doesn’t indicate an issue with the vehicle. In other words, it’s designed to keep you on your maintenance schedule!

The light is usually set to come on 5,000 miles after the last reset, and is a reminder for your vehicle to have an oil change.

If you’ve recently changed your oil and it came on after the fact, it’s possible that the technician simply forgot to reset it when they finished changing your vehicle’s oil.

Can I Reset the Toyota Maintenance Required Light?

You can reset the Maintenance Required light yourself, although this is not recommended unless you’ve already had your vehicle’s oil changed. The method will depend on the model, although the instructions below should reset the light for most Toyotas.

1. Turn your key to the ‘On’ position, but don’t start the vehicle.
2. Find the button used to toggle computer modes, and scroll to the Odometer (ODO) display.
3. Turn your key back to ‘Off’.
4. Push and hold the Trip Reset button (it may be the same button used to toggle between modes).
5. While holding down the Trip Reset button, turn your key back to ‘On’, but don’t start the vehicle. The display should populate with a set of dashes that will vanish one by one. A series of zeroes will replace them.
6. Continue holding the Trip Reset button until the zeroes have cleared, and the odometer reading reappears.

Your Maintenance Required light will now be reset.

Regular Oil Changes – Important or Not?

Oil changes may not seem like a big deal. In reality, this routine service can prolong the life of your engine and save you from possible expensive repairs!

Oil keeps your vehicle’s engine running smoothly and puts less strain on the moving parts. Oil also helps draw heat away from the combustion chamber, which can get quite hot – especially on long trips or during the summer!

Regular oil changes will also help prevent carbon from building up in your engine. Carbon buildups can lead to carbon deposits in the old oil. This turns into sludge, which in worst case scenarios can lead to pistons needing replacement, or a full engine cleaning.

By changing your oil regularly, you can keep your vehicle’s engine performing in top shape!

T3 Atlanta

If your Maintenance Required light is on, we can help! Whether you need your vehicle’s oil changed, or if you have any questions about your vehicle’s maintenance, call us at our Smyrna (404-794-7700) or Decatur (404-633-7722) locations. We look forward to helping you!