Phat Corolla

I just got back from about 600 miles of road trip, and i noticed that my "maint req" is flashing. It's only when i turn on the car -- it flashes for a few seconds and truns off. I don't remember it doing this before. Can anyone help set my mind at ease or tell me what i need to do??? thanks.

Gee3

That's normal. It always does that. You just never noticed. Even if it stays on, it's no biggie. You should be worried about the "Check Engine Light" when it comes on. The Maint Req'd Light can be reset by the button under the dash near the steering column by turning on the ignition (don;t start it) and holding the button for 10 seconds while it flashes and then turns off. It comes on automatically after so many miles. I think every 7500 miles. It's a reminder to you to do the oil change and stuff.

I disregard it since i change my oil at every 3k miles and do my own maintenance stuff.

Phat Corolla

Okay, thanks. I guess I was just getting paranoid since this is the first real long drive i've had to take in it. As far as oil changes go, is it the best plan to do it every 3000??? Or can you wait till like 5000? I don't have the Owners manual, and i don't think that the repair manual i have tells the correct intervals. Thanks.

Gee3

You can go longer than 3k miles but I drive the car hard so I change it religiously at about 3k miles. It's my own preference. The manual says every 7500 miles, I believe. But i can feel a difference if I don;t change the oil on time. It's wierd, but it feels different when the oil gets older, to me at least. That's how I can tell if I forget and go past 3k miles.

Phat Corolla

Ahh ha...I think I might get into the habit of every 5000 miles. Thanks for the info.

posixhacker

I think 3k is the maximum that anyone should go without changing their oil. It just adds to the breakdown of your engine the longer you wait. Just my .002 cents.

derrick m.
--

KL

RTFM, RTFM, RTFM, RTFM

Phat Corolla

Damn you, KL. I said I don't have the manual. I have a Chilton one. I looked in it and they didn't list the schedule...

Phat Corolla

Thanks a lot Teken. I appreciate your service...

GSRwBOOST

oh.. I thought that was what the oil light was for.. i change myoil when the light comes on...


ooooops


j/k

KL

Are you the one without the owner's manual from a few months ago? If so, my apology, but I can't possibly remember (nor would I try to) all the people who brought up this topic and figure out who has the owner's manaul and should have looked it up.

Besides you didn't mention this little detail in your original posting. Had you posted omething like "I don't have an owner's manual, what does the maintenance light mean?" will get me to respond with helpful information as quickly as all the other people have done so.

Rants? Yeah I guess, but aren't you guys and gals getting a little tired of the same questions coming up again anad again? Isn't that what archive search is for?

My last word on the topic of maintenance light, I promise.

Phat Corolla

No no no...i wasn't the one a few months ago. I have always known what it was for. My question here was if it was supposed to flash. I knew what it meant when it was on. However, I did do a search and didn't find anything about flashing maint req lights. Have a nice day!