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Don't have a manual yet, "Maintenence Reguired" light comes on....

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by priusrecon, May 16, 2015.

  1. priusrecon

    priusrecon Member

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    I'm still trying to get a manual for my recently acquired 2004 Prius, so I can't trace down what this means....

    When I start the car, recently, a "Maint Required" light comes on and flashes about three or four times, then goes away. This is after all the other dash lights during the test phase go out. When I took it to have the codes read, the device said "No Codes" stored.

    What does this mean? And is it a serious problem?
     
    #1 priusrecon, May 16, 2015
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Go to Toyota Tech Info site:

    TIS

    Click on "Manuals"
    Choose Division, Model, Year, then Search

    You'll see the Maintenance Guide in the search results. If you have Acrobat you can save a pdf of it there.

    (I've attached the file, too, below.)
     

    Attached Files:

    #2 Mendel Leisk, May 16, 2015
  3. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    The MAINT REQD light is on a 5K mile odometer timer. Starting at 4.5K miles from the last reset, the MAINT REQD light will flash as you described. When you get to 5K miles the light will stay on solid.

    All this means is that the engine oil/oil filter need to be replaced. This is not a serious problem unless you do not change the engine oil/filter on a timely basis, and the engine fails due to inadequate lubrication.
     
    #3 Patrick Wong, May 16, 2015
    Last edited: May 16, 2015
  4. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    This is just a "change oil" reminder, like Patrick said. Eventually, it will come on and stay on. I'm away from my PC right now or I'd post the instructions to reset the 5k timer. Google it.

    In the meantime, get an oil change.
     
    #4 TonyPSchaefer, May 16, 2015
  5. priusrecon

    priusrecon Member

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    I just had the oil changed and a complete inspection and work-up done on the car. Didn't know the light was just a reminder as you said.

    Guess the mechanic didn't reset it, but now I understand it. Thanks!
     
    #5 priusrecon, May 16, 2015
  6. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    You are correct, it just means that the engine oil and oil filter need to be changed soon. The light was implemented starting with 2004 models (in North America only) as Toyota's response to a lawsuit where certain V6 engines developed sludge and the owners of those cars demanded an extended warranty.

    Also, the oil change interval was reduced from 7,500 miles to 5,000 miles.

    Toyota's point of view was that the owners with the engine oil sludge problem failed to have oil changes performed as per the maintenance schedule.
     
    #6 Patrick Wong, May 16, 2015
  7. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    In the situation you seem to have described, we're all thinking nothing is wrong with the car.
    Now, if you were driving on the interstate, lost all power, and that light came on with a few others, that would be a completely different situation.
     
    #7 TonyPSchaefer, May 16, 2015
  8. priusrecon

    priusrecon Member

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    Thanks guys. Life is hell without a manual yet, but I'm bumbling along learning.

    Once I get my count up, I'll post the photos from my leak fix for the trunk area.
    Can't get any photos to post yet.
     
    #8 priusrecon, May 16, 2015
  9. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    #9 JimboPalmer, May 16, 2015
  10. priusrecon

    priusrecon Member

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    Thanks JimboPalmer for the steer....

    In searching about, I stumbled upon a hack for getting the MFD to show codes. But there were also comments that the MFD shown codes were meaningless.

    It is the Diagnostic Mode reached by flipping the headlights....any comments on this?

    I took pictures of the results with my cell phone, and will look them up once I get a code directory. There seem to be some old codes thrown from a year or two ago.
     
    #10 priusrecon, May 16, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: May 16, 2015
  11. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    The codes on the MFD are meaningless, don't waste your time with that.
     
    #11 Patrick Wong, May 16, 2015
  12. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    The codes on the MFD are for diagnosing the MFD itself and communications between it and certain other components like the radio, CD changer, navigation, etc. If you're adding an audio component or the like, those codes can be just what you need. They are not meaningless if you're working on exactly that kind of problem. It's just that they have nothing to do with the diagnostic codes you need for the powertrain/battery/brakes/steering/etc.

    -Chap
     
    #12 ChapmanF, May 16, 2015
  13. Okinawa

    Okinawa Senior Member

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    To get an owner's manual call 1-800-782-4356.
     
    #13 Okinawa, May 16, 2015
  14. Erik Simonsen

    Erik Simonsen New Member

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    My problem is that I specify expensive synthetic oil and do no want to stick to the 5K interval. Any way to change that interval? Or turn off the light and rely on my calendar to change oil and filter?
     
    #14 Erik Simonsen, Jan 30, 2017
  15. hchu1

    hchu1 Active Member

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    Nope, can't change, just manually keep track of your mileage and change at whatever interval you feel comfortable.
     
    #15 hchu1, Jan 30, 2017
  16. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    Or, reset the light as per the owner's manual, every second time.
     
    #16 dolj, Jan 30, 2017
  17. bat4255

    bat4255 2017 Prius v #2 and 2008 Gen II #2

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    #17 bat4255, Jan 31, 2017
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