Toyota Tacoma is a highly popular vehicle that comes with a maintenance light to remind you of your scheduled service. However, users of this car often run into an issue with it, so today, we will talk about how to turn off the maintenance light on Toyota Tacoma.
As you probably know, this light will turn on when your vehicle requires an oil change, but many drivers run into some problems when they do their scheduled service and want to turn it off afterward. There are several pretty straightforward solutions for this, and we are going to share them with you, so read on if you want to find out more.
What Is the Purpose of the Maintenance Light?
The maintenance light or the engine oil indicator light comes on to inform the vehicle’s user that it is time for an oil change. This light will come on at specific mileage intervals; on Toyota Tacoma, it is usually between 3.000 and 5.000 miles.
Oil is the lifeblood of your vehicle, so it is essential to have a reminder whenever you need to change it. After you have performed this task, the light should go off. However, sometimes this does not happen, and it creates issues for the drivers as they are not certain whether or not they need to maintain something new on the car or the light simply does not function properly.
How to Turn off the Maintenance Light on Toyota Tacoma
Turning off the maintenance light is not the same process for every model. You will need to know your car’s model and the year of production to figure out how to turn off the maintenance light. In the section below, you will find methods for each year and model of Toyota Tacoma and step by step guide to clear the maintenance light.
2011 or Older Tacoma Models
The first thing you need to know is that 2011 or older Tacoma models’ maintenance lights cannot be cleared when the car is on, so the first thing you need to do is turn the ignition off before you start anything by turning the key to the OFF position.
Once the engine stops, the next thing you need to do is to locate the trip stem button, which is located on the instrument panel. It is placed on the right side of the speedometer and is very easy to find.
Afterward, you will have to turn the ignition key to the ON position without releasing the trip stem button, and this will turn all the dashboard lights on, including the “Maint Reqd” message, which is the maintenance light.
Once the odometer starts reading zero, you should release the trip stem button. This will turn off the maintenance light, and it will not turn on until the odometer reads 5.000 miles again. If you followed all of these steps and the light still stays on, you should consult a licensed professional to figure out the problem.
2012 – 2017 Tacoma Models
Tacoma models manufactured between 2012 and 2017 are more advanced, and turning off the maintenance lights on them is a bit different. You will have to turn the ignition key to the ON position, but do not start the vehicle. If the model you own has the Start button, you should press it without engaging the brakes.
When you hit the Start, you will see the DISP button on the dashboard, and you should press it and hold it for a few seconds until the TRIP A button appears, then release it. Afterward, switch off the car, and then press the ODO/trip button and hold it.
Without releasing it, turn the ignition key back to the ON position, and do it slowly, so you do not start the engine; otherwise, you will have to repeat the process all over again. As you hold the ODO/tip button, you will notice that the odometer is counting back. Keep holding the button until it reads all zeros, then release it, and you have successfully reset the maintenance light.
2018 or Newer Tacoma Models
Newer Toyota Tacoma models come with advanced displays that make turning off the maintenance light a much more straightforward task. You will do this by pressing the power button without starting the engine. This will turn on the car, but you should keep your feet off the brake pedal since engaging them will activate the car’s electronic system.
The next thing you need to do is to move the left and right arrow buttons on display and select the gear icon. The next step is to move the up and down arrows and choose the Settings button, which you can do by using the middle button.
You should move the up and down arrows until you find the Maintenance button, then click it. Once more, you will have to scroll up and down until you see the Reset button. Click the middle button, confirm, and select Finish. When you do this, the maintenance light will turn off, and the odometer will start counting from zero again.
Is It Possible to Drive With the Maintenance Light On?
It is indeed possible to drive your vehicle with the maintenance light on, but you should understand that this light is there for a reason and to remind you that you should service your car, so driving with caution is advised.
Another important thing you need to know is that ignoring the oil change reminder will increase the strain you are putting on the engine. Disregarding this signal and leaving your engine unchecked can lead to a series of problems that will cost you a lot more than a simple oil change and service.
With that said, when you notice that the maintenance light is on, the safer and wiser course of action would be to take your Tacoma to the mechanic. They will do everything that is necessary to service your car, and the light will be off before you know it.
Final Words
This concludes our article about resetting the maintenance light on Toyota Tacoma. As you can see, it is a fairly straightforward process that does not require much knowledge about cars or your time.
However, keep in mind that if you are resetting this button just because it bugs you, you are ignoring the small problem that can easily turn into a big one. So, make sure to do the service regularly, and this light will never be a problem.