How to reset light after oil change

How incredibly convenient to have a mechanic in your family! I’m sure it makes keeping up with basic car maintenance much more manageable!

To reset a BMW oil change light, you should:

1. Turn the ignition on but do not start the engine. If your car is push-to-start, you should press the start button without depressing the brake pedal.
2. Hold down the odometer or trip reset button on the instrument cluster until the service menu appears. The reset button is typically to the left of the speedometer, and the service menu should appear after holding the button for roughly 10 seconds.
3. Use the reset button to scroll through the settings until you find the oil change warning. Then, press the reset button.
4. Depending on the model, you may need to use the controls on the turn signal lever instead to scroll through until you see a prompt asking you if you’d like to reset the warning. Then, press the BC button on the end of the turn signal lever to reset it.
5. Hold the reset or BC button until the display shows it is resetting and confirm reset if prompted.

And just like that, you should be good to go!

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There's no need to fully start your car's engine. Simply insert your key and turn it until the car's dashboard lights come on.

Step 2: Scroll to Settings Menu

Use your steering wheel's control buttons to scroll to your car's Settings menu. When you get to the menu, press the right arrow button.

Step 3: Scroll to Vehicle Menu

In the Settings menu, scroll to the Vehicle menu and press the right arrow button again.

Step 4: Scroll to Oil Life

Scroll to the Oil Life section in your Vehicle menu, and press the right arrow button one more time.

Step 5: Hold OK Button

Hold down the OK button on your steering wheel until the display shows Reset Successful.

Step 6: Start Engine

When you've finished, turn the ignition off, and then start the engine to be sure that the oil light reset was successful.

Congratulations, you've successfully reset your oil light!

Signs You Need an Oil Change

Don't forget that there's always a chance you could need an oil change before your indicator light tells you so. It's important to be aware of your car's health by periodically checking the oil level and quality. If you don't have your oil changed regularly, your car's engine could suffer serious damage that could cost you a lot of money.

• If your oil looks dark and dirty, your engine won't run smoothly. This is one of the key indicators that you need to have your oil changed.
• Any smell of oil in your vehicle's cabin is also a sign that there could be an oil leak in your system or that your engine is burning oil.
• Pay attention for louder-than-normal engine noise or loud knocking sounds coming from under the hood, as these could be signs that your oil is low and the engine isn't running smoothly.
• Any smoke emitted from the tailpipe of your vehicle is typically a bad sign. This could indicate that there's an oil leak in your engine.

Never ignore any of these signs that something could be wrong with your vehicle. Always contact your dealer near Glen Allen, Ashland, and Short Pump for assistance. If these tips don't seem to be working on your vehicle, consult your owner's manual or contact our team at Richmond Ford West.

Each vehicle model has its own process for resetting the oil light, but the general procedure is the same for most cars.

Do not reset the oil light unless you have actually changed the oil. The light is there to tell you when it's time to change the oil. Resetting the light without changing the oil may cause you to miss an oil change, which can damage your engine.

Step 1

Turn the car's systems on, but leave the engine off. Typically, this requires turning the key part-way in the ignition, without turning it enough to start the engine.

Step 2

Locate the "Reset" button or stick, which is typically located on the dashboard, near the speedometer and fuel gauge. If you don't see a "Reset" button on the dashboard, it's probably under the hood. If necessary, consult your manual, or contact the manufacturer's customer service department.

Step 3

Hold the button down until the "Oil" icon or word starts to flash, or the indicator lights show some other sign of resetting. Some cars will flash the word "Reset," or display the numeral "100" to show that 100 percent of oil life remains after the oil change.

Step 4

Turn the ignition off, wait a few moments, and then start the engine. Look at the dash to see if the oil light is still flashing or lit. If so, repeat the reset process. If the light is still lit after three reset attempts, contact the manufacturer to learn the correct reset procedure for your vehicle. If you can't reach the manufacturer, you can call a local mechanic, who will probably be willing to tell you how to reset the oil light, provided you know the car's make, model and year.

Tips

• The oil lights on some car models cannot be reset by hand, because they are located inside the car's computer. It usually takes a special tool to reset these oil lights. If your car is one of these models, the manual should indicate whether it is possible to reset the oil light manually. If not, a mechanic will be able to reset the light for you.

Things You'll Need

• Car manual
• Make, model and year of car
• Flashlight (optional)
• Car keys

Writer Bio

Brenda Priddy has more than 10 years of crafting and design experience, as well as more than six years of professional writing experience. Her work appears in online publications such as Donna Rae at Home, Five Minutes for Going Green and Daily Mayo. Priddy also writes for Archstone Business Solutions and holds an Associate of Arts in English from McLennan Community College.

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