How To Reset Maintenance Light On Toyota 4Runner?

Did you just recently bring your Toyota 4Runner in for regular maintenance, but your maintenance light stayed on? Worry no more, for we researched this issue and have the answer for you.

To reset the maintenance light on your Toyota 4Runner, simply follow the steps below:

  1. Turn the ignition switch to the “On” position.
  2. Press the odometer button to change the trip display to “ODO” mode.
  3. Turn the ignition switch to the “Off” position.
  4. Press and hold the odometer button.
  5. Turn the ignition switch to the “On” position while still holding the odometer button. The maintenance will light up solid for 3 seconds and then blink for the next 2 seconds. It will light up solid for a second then turn off.
  6. Release the odometer button, then turn off the ignition switch.

The light should go away after you turn your Toyota 4Runner back on.

Some Toyota 4Runner models do not respond to the steps that we listed above. There is an alternative way to reset the maintenance light for these Toyota 4Runner models, and we have the complete steps in the sections below. Read on!

Car speedometer with information display - Scheduled Maintenance Due, How To Reset Maintenance Light On Toyota 4Runner?

How to reset the maintenance light on Toyota 4Runner? [Alternative method]

Follow the simple steps below for the alternative method in resetting the maintenance light on your Toyota 4Runner.

  1. Turn the ignition switch to the “On” position or the accessory mode.
  2. Press the odometer button to change the trip display to “Trip A.”
  3. Turn the ignition switch to the “Off” position.
  4. Press and hold the odometer button.
  5. Turn the ignition switch to the “On” position or the accessory mode while still holding the odometer button. The maintenance light will come back with a progress bar at the bottom. It will have the message “Resetting maintenance data.” The progress bar will slowly fill up.
  6. Wait for the progress bar to fill up, holding down the odometer button the entire time.
  7. Once the progress bar is filled up, the maintenance light will go away.
  8. Release the odometer button, then turn off the ignition switch.

Toyota TRD PRO 4Runner posing in the Red River Gorge after a drive down a dusty country back road

The maintenance light should no longer be there the next time you use your Toyota 4Runner.

How to reset the maintenance light on a Toyota 4Runner with an engine start button?

Novosibirsk, Russia - September 24 , 2021: Toyota Land Cruiser 300, Car engine push start stop button ignition remote starter.

What about Toyota 4Runner models that use an engine start button instead of a keyed-in ignition? Follow the steps below to reset the maintenance light on Toyota 4Runners with an engine start button:

  1. Turn the ignition on by pushing the “Engine Start” button twice. Do not start the engine. If the engine started, turn the ignition off and do it all over again.
  2. Press the odometer button to get to “Trip A” on the instrument panel.
  3. Turn the ignition off.
  4. Press and hold the odometer button and turn on your Toyota 4Runner without turning the engine on by pressing the “Engine Start” button twice without holding the brake.
  5. Keep holding the odometer button until the odometer displays all zeroes.
  6. It will confirm that the reset is complete. Keep holding down the odometer button until you receive this confirmation.

Release the odometer button once the reset is complete. Turn off the ignition of your Toyota 4Runner. The maintenance light should no longer show up the next time you use your Toyota 4Runner.

Why does the maintenance light go on?

Car speedometer with information display - Scheduled Maintenance Due

Now that we’ve covered the three different ways to reset the maintenance light on your Toyota 4Runner, you’re probably wondering what triggers it to turn on in the first place.

The maintenance light is part of the system that monitors the health of your Toyota 4Runner. It lights up each time the odometer passes 4,500 to 5,000 miles. The exact number of miles depends on the model.

It is a great way to remind you to rotate your tires for proper tire maintenance. More importantly, it is a reminder that you need to change the engine oil on your 4Runner. It is a good idea to reset the maintenance light each time you complete changing the engine oil on your Toyota 4Runner.

Keep in mind that the maintenance light does not indicate any problem or malfunction on your Toyota 4Runner. It is simply a reminder of the regular maintenance routines for your Toyota 4Runner.

Is it safe to drive with the maintenance light on?

You might be wondering if it is safe to continue using your Toyota 4Runner while the maintenance light is lit. There is nothing wrong with your Toyota 4Runner if the maintenance light is lit.

It simply means that it is time to change the engine oil and perform maintenance activities that are normally done when you replace your engine oil—like checking coolant, power streering, and brake fluid levels.

So, it is still safe to use your Toyota 4Runner when the maintenance light goes on. However, keep in mind that the maintenance light is a reminder to replace your engine oil. This means that your Toyota 4Runner’s engine oil is old, dirty, or is no longer that effective in protecting the engine from the effects of friction.

What happens if you don’t change your engine oil?

The engine oil protects the parts of the engine by reducing friction. The engine oil gets in between the engine parts to create the effect of lubricated friction. Lubrication effectively reduces wear on the parts of the engine.

The engine oil also reduces the stress that is applied on the bearings of your engine that is caused by the constant movement from combustion.

Effects on warranty

Most vehicle warranties carry a condition that the vehicle should be serviced according to the specified schedules of the manufacturer. Failing to do voids the warranty.

So, one of the biggest effects of not regularly changing the engine oil is that your Toyota 4Runner’s warranty will get voided.

Poor performance

The engine oil also keeps the engine clean. Additives in the oil transport debris and dirt in the engine to the oil filter. The oil filter is changed each time you replace your engine oil, and out goes all the trapped dirt and debris.

Delaying engine oil replacement also delays the removal and replacement of the oil filter. This creates the risk of all those trapped dirt and debris going back into the engine and causing problems.

The engine oil gets thicker as it ages, and the engine needs to work harder to move through this thick oil. Your Toyota 4Runner’s engine performance gets worse the longer the engine oil replacement is delayed.

This results in more fuel burned for less performance.

Engine failure

Since engine oil reduces friction between engine parts, it effectively reduces the heat produced by the movement of the engine parts in addition to the heat produced by combustion. Old engine oil becomes less effective in reducing friction which causes your engine to easily overheat.

Overheating can cause an engine gasket to blow or the engine to seize up. A blown gasket is expensive to repair. And the cost might not make sense based on the age of your Toyota 4Runner.

If you’re lucky enough not to get a blown gasket, the heat will warp some parts of the engine. Without the lubricating qualities of fresh oil, metal is grinding against metal, and this can cause the engine to seize. This is a problem that cannot be repaired. An engine that has seized should be replaced.

Can I just add oil to my Toyota 4Runner?

Refueling and pouring oil quality into the engine motor car

It is ok to add new oil into your Toyota 4Runner, but this cannot match the benefits and effects of replacing the engine oil. When you add new oil into your Toyota 4Runner, the old oil is still there. The old oil contains acid, dirt, and debris that will not be removed by simply adding new oil into the engine.

Additionally, simply adding new oil into your Toyota 4Runner will not replace the oil filter where all the dirt and debris that was taken by the oil from the engine is trapped. Adding new oil doesn’t remove the risk of trapped debris and dirt flowing back into your engine and causing problems.

A genuine Toyota 4Runner oil filter is available on Amazon. Check it through this link.

What color should oil be on the dipstick?

An auto mechanic checks the oil level in a car engine during routine maintenance

A new motor oil is an amber color. It will be clear when you look at it on your dipstick. The motor oil in your Toyota 4Runner gets darker in color as it gets older.

When the color starts to become brownish, it is a sign that it is time to replace the engine oil and the oil filter. A dark-colored oil means that there are a lot of contaminants and dirt mixed in with the engine oil—especially if it is thick.

Conclusion

The maintenance light is a way for your Toyota 4Runner to remind you that it is time to replace the engine oil. Replacing the engine oil is an important activity that helps maintain the health of your Toyota 4Runner.

If you enjoyed this article, check these interesting articles too:

How Much Cargo Space In A Toyota 4Runner?

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