The Maintenance light can come in many forms on different vehicles. Some as Check Engine Light (CEL) or “Service Engine Soon” lights with either yellow or red to indicate urgency. But for this article, we will be focusing on Toyota, specifically the Tacoma, what it means and how to handle it “when” and not “if” it pops up.
The maintenance light on in any vehicle is a message to the driver that the vehicle needs to be serviced. It’s normal to find the lights on the dashboards annoying when they pop up but its for your own good and simply is an indication that your vehicle needs attention and is not at its optimal working state..
The Tacoma is no different.
The illuminated lights on your dashboard are tied to the odometer to track the distance you have traveled. Lights or indicators such as the Maintenance light means that you have traveled a certain distance and it’s time for a routine maintenance check based on the distance traveled. Bearing in mind that vehicles are made up of moving components in an environment of high heat and pressure, it goes without saying that wear and tear is bound to occur at intervals.
The maintenance light on the Tacoma most times means an oil change and once done and indicators reset, the lights should go off on their own. However, when the maintenance light doesn’t go off and there is no more pending maintenance, it might indicate a problem that requires more than an oil or filter change..
What is the Use of Maintenance Light and Why is it on
The maintenance light is a regular reminder to carry out routine maintenance on your Tacoma. Maintenance such as replacing oil, tire rotations, replacing air filters, and other issues to make sure your Tacoma remains at its best performance.
The maintenance light on your Tacoma requires you to check your oil and do a tire rotation every 8000 miles. During your routine maintenance, make sure to check the brakes for wear and tear and ensure that all other components are in top shape. Replace all other oils like the brake fluid, coolant, and transmission fluid where necessary.
Source: Tacoma World
If after your scheduled maintenance your engine light is still on, check the battery for corrosion. Check your battery every 6 months for corrosion and have it cleaned to avoid loss of connection.
How to Reset Toyota Tacoma Maintenance Light
Resetting the maintenance light on your Tacoma is pretty much simple and you can find the steps in your vehicle’s manual. Your vehicle should also have a maintenance sticker that helps you determine your maintenance schedule based on the mileage or your last service date. You can always follow your owner’s manual to determine your maintenance schedule.
Resetting the maintenance light in your Tacoma is different for various models. The truth is you can continue driving your Tacoma without resetting the maintenance light without issues. However, to get the best performance from your vehicle, you need to replace your oil for guaranteed engine longevity and durability.
Let’s delve into the different reset methods for the different year models of Toyota Tacoma:
How to Reset Tacoma 2018 to 2022
- Turn on the ignition without starting your engine to turn on the electronics in your vehicle.
- Making use of the arrows, select the “Gear” Icon
- Select the “Settings” option
- Click on the “Maintenance Reset” option
- Select the “Yes” option
- You should see “Maintenance Reset Complete” on your screen.
How to Reset Tacoma 2012 to 2017
- Turn on the ignition without starting your engine to turn on all the electrical components in the car
- Click the “Odo/Trip” button and switch the display to “Trip A”
- Turn off your ignition
- Hold down the “Odo/Trip” button and turn on the ignition again
- After the trip meter has been reset to zero, release the “Odo/Trip” button
Your maintenance light has been reset.
How to Reset Tacoma 2005 to 2011
The 2005 to 2011 Tacoma models display the message “MAINT REQD,” but it’s a simple process to reset.
- Turn off your ignition and remove the key
- Press and hold the “Trip Stem “ button on the instrument panel. You can find this on the right side of the speedometer.
- While pressing the “Trip Stem” button, turn on the ignition without starting the engine
- When the odometer reading shows zero release the “Trip Stem” button
Your maintenance light has been reset
Please Note: Before proceeding to perform any form of reset, contact a professional mechanic for assistance.
Further Reading
- 2015 Used Toyota Tacoma Review
- 10 Used Cars That Offer The Best Resale Value
- 4 Easy Ways to Potentially Increase a Car’s Value
- 15 Error Fault Codes in your Toyota car – What do they Mean?
New or Used Toyota Tacoma
The entirety of this article is for Tacoma owners. You can always walk into a dealership to get a brand new Toyota Tacoma, if you can afford it. If you do not want to break the bank but looking to get an almost new Tacoma in good condition you can opt for a used version.
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