How To Reset Oil Change Light (GMC, Chrysler, Jeep & Nissan)

If your dashboard’s change oil soon light is glowing, the simplest way to shut it off is to follow the light’s advice and have your oil changed. However, changing your oil is not always enough to address the problem since a sensor may fail regularly, or the cause is more complex than a straightforward oil change.

Taking the car to the repair shop with the oil change light on allows the technician to assess if there’s an underlying problem overlooked or whether it’s just a fuse or sensor that requires replacement.

Regardless of the kind of car you own, there are a few ways that you can DIY to reset the oil change light if it continues to illuminate even after an oil change. In this article, we’ll be discussing the various approaches to reset oil change lights; read on to learn more!

The Oil Change Light

Before we proceed with the list of guides on resetting the oil change warning light, let’s first have a brief review of the oil change light and why it’s illuminated. For most cars, routine oil changes must be performed every 3,000 miles or every three months.

However, some have modern fuel injection and a complex control system that improves the engine’s effectiveness. While most automakers have realized that this feature enhances the oil, some have rendered it outdated.

Usually, the oil change light should illuminate for around two seconds before going off once you start your vehicle. If such a light continues to illuminate, it indicates that your car’s oil or filter must be changed.

A particular vehicle equipped with an in-cabin information system will the oil life display in percentages ranging from 10% up to 100% in the middle of the dashboard and would be lit for around five seconds until turning off.

Whenever the oil life message shows an approaching 0%, the car’s messaging system will display an “oil change due” warning.

An oil messaging system won’t reset until the oil or oil filter is replaced, and the change oil light will remain illuminated. Additionally, this oil light could illuminate if the engine’s oil pressure is low.

Resetting The Oil Change Light

You’ve just changed the oil and oil filter in your automobile. However, as you go behind the wheel and turn the ignition switch on, you see the oil change light remains glowing. What is going on? 

Occasionally, the indicator lights must be manually reset. While the procedure varies by car model, here is a look at how to reset the oil change light on various standard vehicles.

GMC and Chevrolet Vehicles

With VIC

If you have a Chevrolet or GMC manufactured after 2006, the vehicle is equipped with a Vehicle Information Center (VIC), and the procedures are somewhat different.

1. You can turn the ignition key to the accessory power position.
2. Find the “enter” on the driver information center while the oil message is shown. For one second, tap and hold the button. The panel will recognize your reset and enable you to reposition the key into the off position.
3. Start your engine. The oil change indicator light should remain off unless it is due to replace your oil again.

Without VIC

1. Enter your automobile and keep the doors closed. Engage the key to the accessory power position in the ignition. The instrument panel should now glow with all the lights.
2. Then, press your accelerator pedal down the floor for the first five seconds after turning the key. Maintain a watch on your oil light; it usually flashes briefly before going away. After that, you can let off of your gas pedal, turn the ignition off, and take the key.

Whenever the maintenance light doesn’t turn off completely, redo the procedure.

Toyota

1. Switch your key to the “on” mode.
2. Ascertain that the vehicle’s odometer is shown. (On certain vehicles, only trip-meter “A” are displayed.)
3. Switch your key again to the “off” position.
4. Restart the trip meters by pressing and holding the reset button. (Identical pushbutton to the one used to switch among the two trip meters and odometer.)
5. Switch the key again to the “on” position, and don’t switch all the way to the “start” position while maintaining to press your reset button. Your odometer panel must show a sequence of dashes that gradually fade. When all of them have gone, a succession of zeros should emerge. Keep the reset button pressed till all zeros have cleared and your odometer or trip meter “A” display has returned.

Your maintenance light should be turned off, and your automobile should begin counting down towards another 5,000 miles, at which point it will switch back on.

Ford

1. Put your transmission into the park (P) or first gear if it’s manual. Apply your parking brake pedal and switch your engine off. Turn the key into “ON” again, but don’t start your engine.
2. To cycle thru the various onscreen settings, continuously push and release your trip/reset button till the screen shows “Oil life xxx% hold reset.”
3. Maintain a firm hold on your trip/reset button till the screen shows “Oil set to 100%.”
4. Switch “OFF” your ignition. Restart your engine and check whether your oil change message has been cleared; this should reset the oil lights.

This process is the same for the majority of Ford automobiles. If this does not work with your vehicle, seek guidance from your owner’s manual.

Chrysler and Dodge Cars

2014-2015

1. Turn the key to the “ON” position.
2. To locate the “Vehicle Info,” use your up and down arrows located on the left side of your steering wheel.
3. Then, by using the left and right arrows, locate “Oil Life Left.”
4. Continue pressing and holding the OK button till the oil life reaches 100% to reset the oil light.

2008-2015

1. Turn your ignition into the “ON” position with your engine turned off.
2. After ten seconds, firmly press and release your accelerator pedal three times.
3. To check that the reset is successfully recognized, turn the key to the “OFF” position and then back to “ON.”

2001-2005

1. Place your gear in the park (P) and your key in ON mode.
2. On your EVIC, press and hold the MENU option till “Personal Settings” appears.
3. Choose “Reset Service Distance” using the STEP option.
4. On display, press the STEP option again and select “Yes” or “No.”

Jeep Wrangler

The process to reset an oil change indicator light on some Jeep models, especially the Wrangler, is as follows:

1. Turn your ignition into an “on” position.
2. Gently push your rev pedal 3 times within 10 seconds.
3. The system should’ve reset at this stage. You can test this by switching off and then restarting your ignition. Repeat the procedure if your oil light remains lit. Otherwise, switch off your ignition and take the key.

Nissan

1. Without starting your engine, switch your ignition key into the “RUN” mode. When your vehicle features a Smart key button, push its “Start” button 2 times without pressing your brake.
2. Two buttons are located on the lower left of your instrument panel. Press one of them till the “SETTING” appears.
3. By pressing the button, select “MAINTENANCE” and press the button to continue.
4. Choose ENGINE OIL, then press the button.
5. To enter, choose and press the RESET button.
6. Lastly, choose the mileage, click the button once, and click again to reset.

Kia and Hyundai Cars

1. Start the engine.
2. When a service is needed, the display reads “Service required.” To clear this warning, find and push the OK switch for a few seconds, located on the top right portion of your steering wheel.
3. The service interval is reset to its initial setting. You must activate and configure the service interval option using the INFORMATION option.
4. To open up the INFORMATION menu, click the MODE option on the top right of your steering wheel.
5. To enter the onscreen menu, push the OK button and use your directional keypad to activate your SERVICE INTERVAL setting and select the appropriate interval.
6. To ensure that the indicator light has been reset, switch off your ignition and restart your engine.

Honda

1. Start the engine (one click before starting).
2. Push the Reset/Select button, located either on your steering wheel or on your dash (tiny knob). According to your car model, you can scroll through or continually click the knob till the message “Engine Oil %” or “Engine Oil Life” appears.
3. For about ten seconds, press and hold your Reset/Select button. Your Oil Indicator will begin to flicker.
4. When the display reads “Engine Oil Life,” use the Info switch on your steering to enter the Reset mode. Then, by pressing the Select/Reset option, you can restore the oil life back to 100%.

Conclusion

When you’re unsure how to reset your oil change warning light, consult your owner’s manual, which usually has directions under the motor oil page. Not only do the processes necessary differ by automaker, but frequently by model and year as well.

FAQs

Why is my change oil light on when I just changed my oil?

If an oil light remains on despite you just changed the oil, you should examine your sensor initially to rule out a failing sensor as the source.

Dust and other objects might clog your oil pump, leading the sensor to report erroneous oil concerns. The second most frequently occurring reason is low oil pressure.

How do you reset mileage after an oil change?

Without turning your engine on, turn your ignition to the “on” position. Within 10 seconds, gently push the throttle pedal down the floor 3 times in succession.

Switch off your ignition. If your oil indicator light remains when you start the vehicle again, restart the procedure.