Are you driving your Toyota and wondering why the maintenance light keeps coming on? Maintenance light is one of the most frustrating parts of driving that vehicles often have. It adds to the stress we feel behind the wheel and is dangerous.
Do you want to save yourself from further frustration and possible danger? If so, read on! This post will walk you through the steps to reset your Toyota maintenance light. So, if you are ready to learn, let’s get started!
What Is a Reset Toyota Maintenance Light?
The reset Toyota maintenance light alerts you to concerns like engine difficulty or damaged transmission fluids. The light will turn on to inform you that a car service is required near the soonest possible time.
If your car is more than a few years old, it likely has something that could trigger a reset light. In this case, older cars are prone to problems that cause the light to be more common than newer models.
When your car is new, you may be able to avoid resetting the maintenance light if you have a very good and proper maintenance program.
Why Should You Reset the Maintenance Light?
Obviously, if you don’t want the light to turn on all the time, you should reset it. However, there is another good reason to reset this light. It basically resets your car’s computer.
The maintenance light is connected to your car’s engine control unit, which is connected to the battery and ignition wires. If you reset the light, it keeps your car from storing data that could harm your engine.
The main benefit of resetting the light is that it can keep your car from storing data in its memory. The car’s engine control unit and all the computers that link with it are designed to monitor you’re driving.
They record data like the engine revolutions per minute and how long you keep your foot on the accelerator. This data is temporarily kept in more expensive vehicles to monitor driving and optimize automobile performance.
However, using cars with cheaper computers, this data accumulates and can be permanently retained. If it’s not deleted now and then, it can damage your engine.
How to Reset the Toyota Maintenance Light?
If you encounter this problem, the first option is to contact your Toyota dealer and see if he can fix it for you. However, because this is a serious problem, you may want to try the other option first. Here’s how:
Turn Off the Engine: The first thing you need to do is turn off your car completely. If you have an automatic, disengage the transmission and neutralize it. If you have a manual transmission, put it in the park.
Then turn off the engine so no energy can physically flow through its systems. When the car is turned off, all its systems should go into maintenance mode.
Open the Hood: Now, you can open your hood. After that, you should disconnect its power source and make it stop working. You can remove the wires from its bulb socket using a flat blade screwdriver or pliers (if it’s missing).
For safety reasons, there should always be someone else in your car while you work on it or even if you’re alone in your garage.
Remove the Wires from the Maintenance Light: You can find all your maintenance light wires on your car’s fuse box or behind it. If you have a manual transmission, you must remove them with a flat blade screwdriver.
If you have an automatic gearbox, remove them from under the hood before opening the engine compartment. Then turn off the car’s power source so that all its systems go into maintenance mode, including the maintenance light.
Clean the Bulb Socket: You’ll now need to remove the bulb socket from its socket on your car’s dashboard. The bulb should be easy to unscrew as it is located between two plastic covers. You can get to the bulb when you take out the two covers.
To do this, push down around it with your hands and then turn it counter clockwise until you hear a click. The bulb should pop out easily. If not, use a flat blade screwdriver to pry it free.
Rewire the Maintenance Light: Put the maintenance light bulb back in its socket and then screw it back in clockwise until it stops moving. The bulb should snap into place when you’ve put it in completely.
After that, put everything back together by reattaching your covers and putting all your wires back in their respective spots.
FAQs
Can you reset the maintenance light when the battery is dead or missing?
If your battery is dead or missing, it may not be possible for your car’s systems to go into maintenance mode. As a result, you’ll have more difficulty resetting the light. To do this, find a way to start your car so that it goes into this mode. You can start your car while moving on level ground with no problems and without going above 40 miles per hour.
How much does it cost to get your Toyota’s maintenance light reset?
It depends on where you choose to have it done. If you’re willing to do it at home, you can do it for as little as $60. If your car is in the shop, it may cost anywhere from $149 to $250, depending on the dealer. However, if you decide to do it at home, you can save approximately half of the cost.
It is possible to reset the maintenance light twice in a row?
Yes, you can reset your car twice, but it is not recommended. Resetting the light twice a row will cause your battery to die even faster. If you get stranded, you’ll have to call for a tow truck, which can cost you $100 or more.
Final Word
At the end of the discussion, resetting your maintenance light is necessary when you’re having problems with it. It’s not something you can always avoid, but if done correctly, it can save you a lot of time and money.
If you follow my steps, you can easily reset your maintenance light at home and not have to pay for a trip to the dealer. By resetting your maintenance light, you can identify what is causing it to turn on and then fix it accordingly.
As a mechanical engineer, it’s easy for David to explain the functionality of the tool. David test most of the tools before writing a review. its help him to learn something new and suggest the best product for you.