When I took my '05 MT in for a state inspection (emissions and safety) the maintenance minder had my oil life at 5%. After the inspection the MM said 100%. Is there something that the inspection could have done to reset the MM.

 

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If I remember correctly, move your display (MID) to the oil life screen. Hold reset for 10 seconds, than it will say do you want to reset? Than you hold it for 10 more seconds than viola it should be at 100% unless they never did your oil change!

 

I don't think you read his post............

He had 5%! then after the inspection it went back to 100%. Sounds like something got reset... perhaps the batt?

 

if the tech was looking for codes they may have accidentally reset the mid

change you oil and you are good to go- it was time anyway

 

ahh my bad yeah they must've reset the mid on accident. Maybe they reset the ECU

 

agree..

 

I have a question that's a little irreverent, so I apologize in advaned. I always wondered since our cars are pretty smart and predicting oil life by how we drive (hard, slow etc).

The question is, if we reset the oil life WITHOUT changing the oil, should we expect the oil life to fall QUICKLY back to what it was previously before it was reset, or would it slowly go back down normally.

 

Nope, the system is not that smart to determine the quality of the oil. Once reset it assumes that the oil was changed and starts once again at square one. Same philosophy with any service reminders.

 

My dad's 05' Deville knows. If you reset it with say 30% without changing the oil it will go to 100% and then quickly decrease back to 30%. Not sure how it knows..