Needs Maintainance light flashing despite maintainance given

karat · 10-17-2006, 02:30 PM

My "Needs Maintainance" light blinks for a while when I turn on the car. I took it in to change the oil, filter, etc. However, the light still blinks when I turn on the car. The owner's manual says this means to change the oil, which I just did.

Can anyone give me more information? Is it a mileage-based timer? Is it an optical sensor for the oil? Do I need to reset something? Do I need to drive it for the sensor to detect the new oil?

eagle33199 · 10-17-2006, 02:33 PM

It's a mileage based timer. 4500 miles after being reset, it will start blinking like that, and stay on permanently after 5000 miles. There is a procedure for turning the light off for DIYers out there, but i don't happen to know it... maybe someone else will chime in here, but i think it should be in the manual somewhere.

Marlin · 10-17-2006, 02:36 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(karat @ Oct 17 2006, 02:30 PM) [snapback]334026[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

My "Needs Maintainance" light blinks for a while when I turn on the car. I took it in to change the oil, filter, etc. However, the light still blinks when I turn on the car. The owner's manual says this means to change the oil, which I just did.

Can anyone give me more information? Is it a mileage-based timer? Is it an optical sensor for the oil? Do I need to reset something? Do I need to drive it for the sensor to detect the new oil?
[/b]

It is a milage based timer. While I don't know offhand how to do it, there are supposedly instructions in the user manual for how to reset it. You could probably also find the instructions if you searched this site.

I found it... See this thread:

http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=12537

karat · 10-17-2006, 02:37 PM

I have both read the manual and searched the site. I still don't have an answer.

GeoGeek · 10-17-2006, 02:41 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(karat @ Oct 17 2006, 02:37 PM) [snapback]334035[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I have both read the manual and searched the site. I still don't have an answer.
[/b]

With the car on, toggle the odometer switch (below the MFD) until the odometer is
in the "ODO" position (not Trip A or Trip

Shut the car off.
While holding down the odometer button, turn on the car....hold the button until
the service light stops flashing....and "voila" you're done.
Cheers

karat · 10-17-2006, 03:11 PM

Aha. I found it under hacks and easter eggs. I was expecting it to be a main feature, not a hack or easter egg.

Thanks.

brandon · 10-17-2006, 03:37 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(karat @ Oct 17 2006, 01:37 PM) [snapback]334035[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I have both read the manual and searched the site. I still don't have an answer.
[/b]

In addition to what other posters on this thread have provided, you can find the instructions on pages 130-131 of your Owner's Manual.

Rmutzabaugh · 10-20-2006, 01:39 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brandon @ Oct 17 2006, 03:37 PM) [snapback]334070[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

In addition to what other posters on this thread have provided, you can find the instructions on pages 130-131 of your Owner's Manual.
[/b]

Gee and I had to bribe the salesman to ask the service tech "How you do that?" Guess it all comes down to the fact that we really need to read that book like they tell us to. I could have saved myself a brew!

brandon · 10-20-2006, 09:08 PM

Eh, it's kind of buried in there. That's one of those topics that makes you say, "Now where would they put that in the manual?"

aaf709 · 10-20-2006, 09:14 PM

I feel that this should be one of those items on the MFD when you press MENU, along with the settings for which doors will unlock when you grab one.

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10-17-2006, 02:30 PM	#1
karat Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 12 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	My "Needs Maintainance" light blinks for a while when I turn on the car. I took it in to change the oil, filter, etc. However, the light still blinks when I turn on the car. The owner's manual says this means to change the oil, which I just did. Can anyone give me more information? Is it a mileage-based timer? Is it an optical sensor for the oil? Do I need to reset something? Do I need to drive it for the sensor to detect the new oil?

10-17-2006, 02:33 PM	#2
eagle33199 Platinum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 4,283 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 35 Thanked 70 Times in 40 Posts Friends: 3	It's a mileage based timer. 4500 miles after being reset, it will start blinking like that, and stay on permanently after 5000 miles. There is a procedure for turning the light off for DIYers out there, but i don't happen to know it... maybe someone else will chime in here, but i think it should be in the manual somewhere.

10-17-2006, 02:37 PM	#4
karat Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 12 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I have both read the manual and searched the site. I still don't have an answer.

10-17-2006, 03:11 PM	#6
karat Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 12 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Aha. I found it under hacks and easter eggs. I was expecting it to be a main feature, not a hack or easter egg. Thanks.

10-20-2006, 09:08 PM	#9
brandon Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Manhattan, KS Posts: 770 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Eh, it's kind of buried in there. That's one of those topics that makes you say, "Now where would they put that in the manual?"

10-20-2006, 09:14 PM	#10
aaf709 Ravenpaw of ThunderClan Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 3,839 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I feel that this should be one of those items on the MFD when you press MENU, along with the settings for which doors will unlock when you grab one.