Knowing how to reset maintenance light on Toyota Camry is one of the basic skills you need to acquire if you own/drive any of the Toyota Camry models.
This article will look at the steps involved in solving the maintenance light issue (turning it off) whenever you notice it on your dashboard.
Although the process is easy and doesn’t consume much time, the timing between each step can be tricky.
Hence, you need to understand and remember what you are expected to do at each step since the reset requires you to get things done as fast as possible.
While ensuring regular maintenance like resetting the maintenance light is essential, enhancing your driving experience with a top-notch radio upgrade can also significantly improve your Toyota Camry’s comfort and enjoyment.
What is maintenance required light?
The maintenance required light is usually amber-colored. This light is different from the regular lights that shows on your dashboard.
This light doesn’t come on unless there is something critical that needs your immediate action. However, you have nothing to worry about. The situation doesn’t have to be extreme or terribly bad.
What does maintenance required light mean on Toyota Camry?
When the maintenance light comes on all of a sudden, it is an indication that your vehicle may be due for service.
How does the maintenance light work on cars?
Toyota Camry’s manufacturer understands how busy everyone is and how we might easily forget some vital activities or lose count on them.
Since many car owners do not keep a tap on when they last serviced their vehicle or when it is next due for service. The maintenance light is programmed as a prompt.
Usually, this light comes on around 5K miles. For every 5,000 miles you cover after the last or previous appointment, the maintenance light comes on to remind/alert you to schedule your next service appointment.
Why Should You Reset the Maintenance Light on the Dash?
Depending on the nature of your job or where you live, getting your vehicle serviced the same day the light comes on might be hard or impossible.
Most times, you may need to book an appointment with a Toyota specialist and wait for their confirmation. Hence, you can only have your vehicle diagnosed and fixed on the confirmed or given appointment date.
We know how distracting this light can be. A lot of car owners can testify to this. Hence, the need to shut it out until you finally get the issue corrected or resolved.
Also, the maintenance light may sometimes come on when you have the oil changed or replaced before the recommended/programmed 5,000 miles. Hence, you need to shut it off
What Could Cause the Maintenance Light to Come On?
Whenever the maintenenace light shows up on the dashboard, it may be time to replace, upgrade, or inspect crucial components of your vehicle. Some notable changes or upgrades that may be required include multi-point assessment, oil change, good tire rotation, filter replacement, and brake inspection.
Material required to reset maintenance light on Toyota Camry
Resetting the maintenance light doesn’t require any special tools or materials. Whenever the light pops up on your dashboard, all you need is the right instruction manual or guide on resetting or turning it off.
As you read along, you will be provided with the steps and instructions you can follow to efficiently execute this task.
Approximate cost to reset maintenance light on Toyota Camry
If you own or drive any of the Toyota Camry models. On average, you need to prepare a budget of about $400 per annum for servicing & maintenance.
How to reset the maintenance light on Toyota Camry
This section highlights the steps or instructions you can follow to reset the maintenance light whenever it comes on or perceive it on your dashboard.
The tips that will be discussed work for all models of Toyota Camry. It doesn’t matter if your vehicle uses a key or the push start button; the required steps are the same.
01. Ensure your odometer shows you are on Trip A
Before you begin the reset procedure, ensure your odometer displays or shows the total mileage. This is also known as the “trip A display.”
02. Switch off the engine
If your vehicle’s engine is on, you will need to turn it off at this stage.
03. Press the reset button
Once your vehicle is off, press & hold the odometer reset button. While at it (still holding on to the reset button), turn the ignition key (for keyed vehicle) slightly. At this stage, the aim is to keep the car in accessory mode to allow the dashboard display lights to come on.
Ensure you do not start the car or turn on the engine.
For keyless (push start button) Toyota Camry. While pressing and holding the odometer reset button, press the push start button to the on position (press it once).
Again, you are not starting the vehicle yet.
Wait for the odometer display to start flashing/blinking. You may also experience a beeping sound during this process. After a few times, it will display/show all zeros.
04. Release the odometer reset button
Now that the odometer has started showing all zeros.
You can remove/disassociate your hand away from the reset button. Follow up this action by turning the ignition key. This time, to start the car’s engine.
05. Start the engine
Once you start your vehicle’s engine properly, the maintenance light is expected to be off.
If the maintenance light is still there by the time you start the engine, you may have to repeat these steps all over again until you get the desired outcome.
If you’re planning some more extensive maintenance or experiencing any suspension issues, you might find our guide on the best struts for Toyota Camry extremely helpful.
Some common problems and solutions about Toyota Camry
Excessive oil consumption:
When you talk to many Toyota Camry owners, especially those who own or drive the 06-11 models. One of the common complaints is that their oil burns out at an unimaginable rate. Hence, the need for constant oil replacement.
According to some frustrated car owners, their vehicle consumes as much as 1 quart of oil for every 1.2K miles covered.
Whenever this issue begins, it gives an impression that there may be a leakage somewhere for such an absurd experience.
However, this perception always comes back negative whenever you inspect the affected vehicle for leakages internally and externally.
There are common symptoms or signs you may perceive as a result of a drop in oil level due to excessive oil consumption. For instance, The acceleration power will become weak. You may start experiencing smoke coming out from the exhaust pipe. The car may start stalling, and you may perceive an extreme decline in performance.
If care is not taken, the catalytic converters may go bad or become faulty. When the situation becomes critical (in extreme cases), the engine may seize, knock, or blow off entirely.
Excessive oil consumption in Toyota Camry is traced back to an engine issue. According to technicians, this issue is associated with damaged piston oil rings, resulting in excessive engine oil consumption.
Solution:
Makes sure you keep an eye on your vehicle’s oil level from time to time (weekly is great timing). Immediately you suspect any unusual activity with oil usage. Ensure you talk to an experienced mechanic or technician as soon as possible.
If the technician performs an inspection on your vehicle and the piston rings happen to be responsible for the excessive oil consumption. You will need to conduct a replacement immediately.
A new piston set may cost between $200 and $300 on average. While this is somewhat affordable, the installation cost isn’t. On average, the installation may cost between $600 and &1500.
An issue with the transmission:
This is another problem that is peculiar to most Toyota Camry models, especially models released from 2000 to date.
Car owners have reported various transmission issues, most especially when the transmission fails to key into position or doesn’t stay in gear. As a result, they experience irregular acceleration.
Whenever the transmission fails to stay in gear, the car may come to a sudden halt and immediately jump forward when they press down the gas pedal.
Also, there have been reports of the gears switching without any input or action from the car owners. For example, the gear may slip out of the 1st gear to the 4th and vice versa. This situation is dangerous. Not just to the drivers and their passengers but also to other road users.
Other signs and symptoms that inform you about a possible problem with the transmission include rough or hard gear shifting and slow gears response.
The car may begin to shake or wobble whenever you attempt to shift from one gear to another.
For delayed gears response, the gears won’t click immediately you engage it, taking several minutes before it shifts into your desired position. For instance, trying to change the gear from Drive to Park or vice versa.
Solution:
There are several reasons why the transmission of your vehicle may be faulty. These reasons may vary from one model to another. Whenever you experience any of the symptoms we have highlighted, consult an experienced technician as soon as possible.
If the fault results from a damaged torque converter, you should be prepared to spend between $600 and $1000. Again, the torque converter as a unit is not expensive. The labor or installation costs take most of the budget.
Braking system failure:
According to some Toyota Camry owners, the braking system sometimes fails to perform as expected or fails intermittently. You may just experience that the brake is not responding to your command, resulting in drivers losing control of their cars.
If care is not taken, an unresponsive or faulty braking system may lead to collisions on the road, which is dangerous to both the driver and other road users.
Also, the anti-lock braking system warning light may turn on recurrently, indicating an issue with your car’s braking system.
When the light comes on repeatedly, this is an indication that the anti-lock braking system is not functioning appropriately. At this point, it becomes very difficult or even impossible to bring your car to a halt safely.
As you know, the primary role or function of the anti-lock braking system is to ensure the tires do not lock up whenever you engage the brakes. This ensures you remain in control of your car at all times.
Solution:
Whenever you experience any of the signs discussed or highlighted, ensure you have your vehicle inspected and fixed by an experienced mechanic.
Tips for maintaining Toyota Camry
- Avoid complete reliance on your vehicle’s oil pressure monitor while monitoring or tracking when next you need to refill the engine oil
- Develop a habit of checking your vehicle’s oil level manually. You can do this once a week
- Make use of quality oil only for oil change/replacement
- Do not ignore the maintenance light. Get your vehicle serviced as soon as possible
- Ensure you visit a Toyota-certified mechanic regularly to get your vehicle inspected whenever you notice any unusual activity.
- Adhere to the manufacturer’s maintenance tips
FAQs
Why should I reset the maintenance light on my Toyota Camry?
Resetting the maintenance light turns off the light and helps avoid any distractions while driving. It does not mean that the issue or problem has been solved. The car owner still needs to schedule the necessary maintenance/service to prevent any further damage to the vehicle.
How do I reset the maintenance light on my Toyota Camry?
To reset the maintenance light on Toyota Camry, follow these steps:
- Ensure the odometer displays the total mileage (Trip A)
- Turn off the engine
- Press and hold the odometer reset button
- Turn the ignition key slightly (for keyed vehicles) or press the push start button once (for keyless vehicles)
- Wait for the odometer display to start flashing/blinking and then show all zeros
- Release the odometer reset button and turn the ignition key to start the engine
- Once the engine is started, the maintenance light should be turned off. If not, repeat the process.
Can I neglect the maintenance light warning?
Neglecting the maintenance light warning can cause damage to the engine and make the car unsafe for other road users. It is important to get the vehicle checked and serviced by a Toyota-certified technician as soon as possible.
Where should I get my Toyota Camry checked and serviced?
It is advised to take your Toyota Camry to a Toyota-certified service center for the best result. These centers have experienced technicians who can diagnose and fix possible issues.
How long does a complete/full car service take?
A complete/full car service usually takes between 1-5 hours depending on the condition of the vehicle and the type of attention it requires.
Would the maintenance light reset solve the issue with my car?
Resetting the maintenance light doesn’t mean the issue or problem has been solved. Basically, you are turning off the light to avoid possible distractions it might create while driving on the road.
This way, you can concentrate on the road while driving until you finally secure an appointment with a Toyota-certified specialist or service center.
What happens if I neglect the maintenance light warning?
If you fail to check-in with a Toyota certified technician to inspect your vehicle or perform the due maintenance/service after resetting the maintenance light. You are at the risk of getting your engine damaged.
Also, it makes your vehicle unsafe for other road users.
How long does the reset period last?
If you have mastered the steps or processes involved in completing this task, you can fix the issue in about 3 minutes.
Where should I get my vehicle checked and serviced?
For the best result, it is advised you only take your vehicle to a Toyota-certified service center. These centers have many experienced technicians that will diagnose/inspect your vehicle and fix possible issues.
How long does a complete/full car service take?
Taking your car for service is more like a day’s job. Here, we do not mean it takes 24 hours to complete this routine check/maintenance.
However, the process takes a lot of patience to get your vehicle inspected or checked adequately. Depending on your vehicle’s condition or the type of attention it requires, it may take between 1-5 hours to service your Toyota Camry.
Verdict
So far, we have discussed the simple/easy steps that you can follow or rely on when you need help on how to reset maintenance light on Toyota Camry.
Irrespective of the model that you own or drive, these instructions give you the idea and support to get the job done at zero cost.
