2011 toyota corolla maintenance required light flashing

Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience.By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising.By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform.For more information, please see our Cookie Notice and our Privacy Policy .

  • Home

  • Questions

  • Why is the maintenance required light flashing when I start my car?

Every time I turn on my car, the maintenance light flashes on and off for about five seconds, and I can’t find my owner's manual to check what the light is telling me. Why is the maintenance required light flashing when I start my car?

Having a warning light flashing on your dashboard can cause some uneasiness if you’re not sure what the light means. Thankfully, it isn’t usually something you need to panic about.

In general, a flashing maintenance light is your vehicle’s way of alerting you that you’ll need to take your car in for service soon. The light is designed to illuminate at preset intervals to remind drivers that it may be time for an oil change or a tuneup.

When the light first begins flashing, you have about 500 miles before you need to have your car serviced. When the time for service has come, your maintenance light will alert you by coming on and staying on.

For answers to all of your maintenance questions, download the insurance expert super app Jerry.

Jerry is a car insurance super app that can find you savings on policies in just 45 seconds! Jerry will compare quotes from the nation’s top providers to find you the best deals and can even cancel your existing policy if you decide to make the switch!

WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY

Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

Browse More Content

Insurance in Your State

    What others are asking

    Read advice from car experts at Jerry

    Browse by topics

    Car Insurance by Make

    Car Insurance by State

    My daughter has a 2011 corolla and when she first cranks the car the maintenance required light flashes a couple of times and goes out. I think last time I changed her oil, it was steady on. Any idea what is causing it to flash?

    2011 toyota corolla maintenance required light flashing

    09 Corolla Base 17 Camry SE

    Joined Oct 19, 2013

    ·

    5,538 Posts

    My daughter has a 2011 corolla and when she first cranks the car the maintenance required light flashes a couple of times and goes out. I think last time I changed her oil, it was steady on. Any idea what is causing it to flash?

    Welcome to TN

    The light comes on solid to indicate 5k miles since last service. When it flashes it's telling you that 5k interval is near.

    Joined Jan 2, 2015

    ·

    3 Posts

    Discussion Starter · #3 · Jan 2, 2015

    Ok, Thanks for the welcome!! Do I just wait until it stays on before I change the oil. Didn't know if I could reset the light, if it is not on. Thanks for the reply!!

    2011 toyota corolla maintenance required light flashing

    09 Corolla Base 17 Camry SE

    Joined Oct 19, 2013

    ·

    5,538 Posts

    Ok, Thanks for the welcome!! Do I just wait until it stays on before I change the oil. Didn't know if I could reset the light, if it is not on. Thanks for the reply!!

    I change my oil 5k miles from my records of previous oil change. To me the light is just a reminder that oil change is needed soon.

    I don't know about re-setting if the light is not on solid.

    Joined Jan 2, 2015

    ·

    3 Posts

    2011 toyota corolla maintenance required light flashing

    Joined Oct 26, 2009

    ·

    23,510 Posts

    Don't reset the light until you change the oil.

    2011 toyota corolla maintenance required light flashing

    Joined Sep 6, 2012

    ·

    12 Posts

    I run Mobile 1 in my 2009 Matrix. So I change the oil every 8.000 miles. So I reset the maintenance when it comes on.

    1.With the car started (ignition on), set the LCD odometer readout to total mileage (not trip A or B).
    2.Turn the car off (ignition key to the OFF position).
    3.Push in AND HOLD the button/knob that switches the odometer
    4.Turn key to ON position without starting the car. You will notice the maintenance light blink and go out.
    5.Release the odometer button/knob.
    6.Turn key to OFF position.
    7.That's it! The "MAINT REQD" light has been reset to warn you to change your oil in another 5,000 or 7,500 miles or so

    Also plenty of videos on YouTube to show you how.

    This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

    Why was my maintenance required light blinking?

    In general, a flashing maintenance light is your vehicle's way of alerting you that you'll need to take your car in for service soon. The light is designed to illuminate at preset intervals to remind drivers that it may be time for an oil change or a tuneup.

    What does the maintenance required light mean on a 2011 Toyota Corolla?

    The Toyota maintenance light can appear on your dashboard as “MAINT REQD”. It's a light that remains active permanently, letting you know that you need to go for an oil change in a certified auto shop. Changing the oil in your Toyota can improve fuel efficiency and make your vehicle run as smooth as silk.

    What does a blinking service light mean?

    A flashing check engine light indicates a much more serious issue. Most often it means that the engine is misfiring and unburned fuel is getting into the exhaust system. This raises the temperature of the catalytic converter and can cause critical damage.