QA

Why Does My Car Say Maintenance Required

What ‘MAINT REQD’ Means. The ‘MAINT REQD’ light comes on every 5000 miles from the last time it was reset. It in no way indicates any system malfunction; it is simply a mileage counter intended to remind the user that an oil change is necessary.

Can I drive with maintenance required light on?

If it’s a service light then you can drive as long as you like. Of course that light comes on to remind you that a service is due. It’s at your own risk to ignore that light as the vehicle manufacturer recommends a service at certain intervals.

Why is my car showing maintenance required after oil change?

If your maintenance required light is on. It’s because your car thinks it’s gone over a set amount of miles without changing the oil. If you’ve had your oil changed and it’s still on. That’s because whoever changed your oil didn’t reset the light.

How long can you drive with oil maintenance required?

Generally speaking, you have about 2 weeks or 500 miles of driving before a flashing oil light turns into a legitimate problem. But once it hits that point, things can go downhill fast, leading to serious mechanical damage. So, try to get your vehicle into a mechanic sooner rather than later.

Does maintenance required mean something is wrong?

The maintenance required light isn’t present in every vehicle on the market. 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.

Why does maintenance required light come on?

The maintenance required light is notifying you that maintenance is required according to the driven distance on the vehicle’s maintenance schedule. Most often this just means your vehicle might be due for an oil change.

What does it mean if my maintenance required light flashes?

It’s basically just telling you that your car will need some kind of scheduled service soon. It could be an oil change, a tuneup, or maybe you need a new timing belt. When the light begins to flash at startup, you have about 500 miles or so to go before the next scheduled service.

How long can you go without an oil change?

Cars can generally go 5,000 to 7,500 miles before needing an oil change. Furthermore, if your vehicle uses synthetic oil, you can drive 10,000 or even 15,000 miles between oil changes. Continue reading to learn more about oil changes or skip to scheduling your oil change right here on our website.

What’s the difference between check engine light and maintenance required?

Some drivers might confuse the service required or maintenance required light on the gauge cluster for the check engine light. These warning lights are unrelated. The service required light just means the car is due for an oil change or other routine care.

How long can you go without servicing your car?

While many new cars with low mileage can go up to three years without needing a service, but for the majority of cars regular servicing is highly recommended.

What happens if oil change is overdue?

In fact, if you wait too long for an oil change, your smooth and clean oil will turn into dirty sludge. When this happens, your engine must work harder to fight through the buildup of muck. It loses its lubrication, and decreases heat absorption. This means that your car will be susceptible to major issues.

What happens if you go too long without an oil change?

Go long enough without an oil change, and it could eventually cost you your car. Once motor oil becomes sludge, it no longer draws heat from the engine. The engine might overheat and either blow a gasket or seize up. If the heat doesn’t cause a gasket to blow, it will warp the parts in your engine.

Will my car pass smog if maintenance required light is on?

You can’t pass a vehicle inspection with the maintenance light on. If an inspector sees this on, they can easily find the issues and fail you—so don’t try and hide it. The only way to pass inspection after failure is to get the proper repairs done.

What does oil maintenance required mean on a Lexus?

When the Lexus Maintenance Required light appears on your dashboard, it means that your vehicle is due for an oil change, tire rotation, or other routine maintenance task. This usually occurs every 3,500 to 5,000 miles, depending on your Lexus model.

What does maintenance required mean on Honda Accord?

The Maintenance Required light on your vehicle comes on after a specific mileage has been driven once the light has been reset. When this happens you will need to follow your owners manual and see what service is due for the mileage of the vehicle.

What does maintenance required mean on a Toyota?

The icon MAINT REQD meaning is important. When the MAINT REQD light goes on it indicates that the vehicle’s scheduled maintenance is due. This service may be covered under your ToyotaCare plan if your vehicle is less than two years old.

What is routine maintenance required?

Routine maintenance refers to any maintenance task that is done on a planned and ongoing basis to identify and prevent problems before they result in equipment failure. Some common routine maintenance includes regular inspections or service work. Routine maintenance tasks are usually fairly straightforward.