One of my pet peeves of General Motors products is the "Service Engine Soon" dash light that stayed on until the dealer cleared it. Clearing it usually costs about $80, even if no "service" is performed.

Yesterday, at start-up, my non-nav TCH flashed a "Maintenance Required Soon" message momentarily. Since the odometer is at 4,610 miles, I assume it's referring to the first oil change. In any case, I'm happy that it did not remain on and my normal status display returned.

I don't know what the process is, but I thought there was a sequence to clear the maintence message.

I wonder if it works the same way as recent GM products. My GM truck gives a gentle reminder when an oil change is due by flashing the message upon startup, but then it goes out. If I ignore it long enough, the message stays on contantly. Doing the oil change does not reset it, as the engine has no way to know the oil was changed. The light is reset by a simple pumping of the gas pedal a certain number of times with the key in a certain position (I always need to look it up in the manual each time). Perhaps the TCH will behave the same way, with the light becoming more insistent if it is not reset.

The GMs do have a key-on, multiple-push accellerator sequence to clear the message, but the message itself does not differentiate between a failed air intake sensor and impending transmission failure. Even the GM dealer's sophisticated equipment codes can't differentiate between an inexpensive sensor and another one cosing hundreds.

Let's hope any similarities between the dumb nagging GM dash message and the temporary friendly reminder on the TCH display are just coincidental.

Toyota IGuide and the manual indicate how to clear the message.


The Maintenance Required Soon, kicks in 500 miles prior to your 5000 mi oil change interval, then a different message (Maintenance Required) shows up.

At least that's what I recall from the reading.

edit**

Yes, there are two levels of warning, one @ 4500mi that turns off shortly after ignition, and one @ 5000mi that will stay on while the ignition is on.
More information and reset procedure were found on page 144-5 of theowner's manual:

Maint Req'd Soon

This message is to remind the driver to

change the engine oil. The message is

a prior notice.

Toyota recommends that the engine oil

be changed as soon as possible.

If the driving range after the previous oil

change reaches 7200 km (4500 miles), the

message appears for about 15 seconds

with the master warning light and a warning

tone sounds.

The engine oil maintenance data must be

reset after the engine oil change. See

following “Resetting the engine oil maintenance

data”.

Maint Req'd

This message is to remind the driver to

change the engine oil.

Change the engine oil as soon as possible.

If the driving range after the previous oil

change reaches 8000 km (5000 miles), the

message appears with the master warning

light and a warning tone sounds. The

message stays on with the ignition switch

on.

The engine oil maintenance data must be

reset after the engine oil change. See

“Resetting the engine oil maintenance

data” below for the procedure to reset the

system.

Resetting the engine oil maintenance

data

The engine oil maintenance data must be

reset after replacement of the engine oil.

Reset the data by the following procedure:

1. Turn off the engine with the trip meter

A reading shown.

For details, see “—Odometer and two trip

meters” on page 137 in this Section.

2. The ignition switch must be set at ON

while holding down the trip meter reset

knob. A message “OIL MILEAGE

RESET MODE” will appear on the

display.

3. Hold down the knob at least 5 seconds.

A message “COMPLETE” will appear,

then the message “OIL MILEAGE

RESET” goes off.

Depends on the model. My truck specifically says "Change Engine Oil Soon" when it's oil change time.

Thanks!

What the heck is Toyota thinking, they have made everything so convoluted to set and change in this car. My TL was simple, you paged through the MID display then pressed and held the select button until it came up witht he service minder, then you held it agan to reset it, none of this turn the car off with the trip meter set one way then hold it when starting the car. Same thing with all the other options, like unlock and lock of doors, too convoluted, needs to be well documented in manual and an easier way to set/reset/chaneg them!

Aha! So that's why both my trip meters were reset after I got it back from service.

"Some luck lies in not getting what you thought you wanted but getting what you have, which once you have got it you may be smart enough to see is what you would have wanted had you known."
-Garrison Keillor