i got an "engine maintenace" light on my dashboard today....
is this serious or is it just engine oil and etc???

........i SOOOO hope this isn't serious....

 

It's a reminder to change your oil every 5000

I change my own and get sick of setting it so I just leave it on for now on.

I think there is a thread around here that examined a case where someone ignored that warning for about 20000(give or take) with some bad results.

 

its a reminder to change the oil, it will come on every 5,000 miles even if you change it before 5,000 miles. it also will start flashing at 4,500 miles when you start the car & then go away in awhile. my suggestion is change it & the erase it yourself. 'read the manual'

 

to erase:

1: set odometer to actual miles not trip a or b
2: with ignition turned off hold in the odometer button
3: while still holding it in turn the key
4: the odometer should start flashing and start counting down from 5 to 0
5: VIOLA! no more maintenance light

(that should be it. i havent reached that point yet but i just read how to do it the other day)

 

Just to be clear, you are talking about the Maint Required light not the Check Engine light, correct?

 

Its odd that you say that it will appear regardless, since I drive a low mileage car (not quite 7k miles in 1.5 years of ownership), and I don't recall seeing that light ever.

Edit: Nevermind, I obviously wasn't thinking, since I've had 3 oil changes already on the car, getting 5k miles after an oil change hasn't happened and is not likely to.

 

^^ actually the light should come on regardless if you changed your oil or not.There is no special sensor that tells the owner how dirty the motor oil and air filter is.

 

you know, that owner's manual is full of useful information to answer simple questions exactely like that! what an amazing little book we have that came with all our cars!

 

But you can probably reset the timer at every oil change.

Assuming he changed it at the dealership for the free ones, its logical that they reset the light anyway.

 

yes it's the maintenamce sign not the check engine light

 

thanks guys, im gonna go and do it myself!

 

yeah, thats true....... I never bring my car in so.. haha