Service Engine Soon light comes on
No one wants to see a light on their dashboard after starting their engine, but did you know that some lights don’t always mean a problem? That’s the case with the Service Engine Soon light. So you can breathe a sigh of relief.
But just because it’s not a problem doesn’t mean you can just ignore it. Here’s everything you need to know, including what it means, how to turn it off, and some drawbacks.
What does “Service Engine Soon” mean? When you start your car’s engine and the “Service Engine Soon” light comes on, you’re naturally wondering what it means. Simply put, this light is a warning to you to perform certain scheduled maintenance, such as an oil change, air filter change, or transmission fluid change.
However, it’s important to note that this light doesn’t always come on precisely at the correct time. The Service Engine Soon light usually operates on a countdown with the odometer set to a pre-set interval. Some auto manufacturers allow you to change the interval.
The Service Engine Soon light typically doesn’t take into account the type of oil you used during your last oil change, your driving conditions, or the upgrade parts you used. For example, if your car manufacturer specifies oil changes every 3,000 miles, but you use a full synthetic oil with an oil change interval of up to 10,000 miles, the service engine light is simply not correct.
On the other hand, the original requirement may be every 10,000 miles, but if you use oil that only lasts 3,000 miles, the light will not come on when you need it.
Finally, keep in mind that if an unethical mechanic changes the interval, the light may come on more often than necessary, forcing you to do more oil changes and costing you more money. If the light is working properly, it is a great tool to keep you on track, but it should not be trusted blindly.
What Causes the Service Engine Soon Light to Come On There are several possible reasons why the “Service Engine Soon” light on your vehicle may come on. Therefore, we want to cover some of the most common reasons why the “Service Engine Soon” light comes on.
1) Oil Change
When the “Service Engine Soon” light comes on in almost any modern car, it means something needs to be done. Depending on the manufacturer, the message may be slightly different, but the meaning is similar.
Some vehicles may have a more scheduled maintenance program programmed into the Service Engine Soon light, but in most cases it just tells you that it’s time for an oil change.
2) Air Filter Change
The most likely reason for the Service Engine Soon light to come on is an oil change, but it could also be time to change your air filter (or clean it, if it’s a reusable filter like K&N). Air filters usually last between 15,000 and 30,000 miles, depending on the quality of the filter.
3) Transmission Maintenance
This is probably the least likely cause of the Service Engine Soon light coming on, but it’s worth investigating. Check the manufacturer’s recommended transmission fluid maintenance intervals. Recommended intervals are usually in the 60,000 to 100,000 mile range. Is it safe to continue driving? It is completely safe to continue driving with the Service Engine Soon light on.
You don’t want to drive with this light on forever, but your car won’t break down anytime soon either. Figure out what maintenance your car needs, and if it needs maintenance in the first place, and start from there.
How to Reset the Service Engine Soon Light
Just because you’ve performed the recommended maintenance procedures doesn’t mean the Service Engine Soon light will go off. The bad news is that the steps required to reset the light vary from one automaker to another, so it’s hard to tell you exactly what you need to do. Simply put, what works in a Ford won’t work in a BMW or Nissan. However, we’ll cover some of the most common methods here:
1. The first option is to have a diagnostic tool for your car. If so, there is often a feature to reset these lights, and it works on any vehicle with an OBD-II port.
2. If you don’t have a diagnostic tool, don’t worry. See if you can cycle through the dashboard settings using the buttons. If so, find the oil service screen and press and hold the button, or see if there is an “Oil Reset” button and press and hold it.
3. If your vehicle has an extended center console, the oil reset button may be one of the settings there.
4. Finally, try turning the key to the “on” position without starting the engine. Then, press the accelerator pedal three times within 10 seconds. Check your owner’s manual or a repair manual for your model to find out how to reset it.
Service Engine vs Check Engine Light
The service engine and the check engine lights are not the same thing. A service engine light tells you it’s time to take your vehicle in for routine maintenance like an oil change or a transmission flush.
Meanwhile, a check engine light is actively telling you that a sensor on the vehicle is giving a faulty reading. The problem could be the sensor, or it could be a sign your vehicle is having a more significant problem. Even if you reset a “Check Engine” light, the light will eventually reappear if the problem hasn’t actually been fixed.