Warning lights
Service reminder or wrench light on the dashboard: what to do
The service reminder, shown as a wrench or a service message, means the scheduled maintenance is coming up or overdue: an oil and filter change or another task in the manufacturer's schedule. It is not a fault, but it is best not to put it off.
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Reviewed by Daniel Morales, founder of Reprorace SL, on
Is it serious? Can I keep driving?
Usually not urgent, but do not ignore it. You can drive normally while you book the service. If the reminder comes with the red oil light, the check engine light or an oil level message, that is a fault: follow what that other light says.
A careful, general answer: only someone who inspects the car can say whether it is safe to drive. When in doubt, stop somewhere safe and call for assistance.
Most likely causes
- Scheduled service coming up: the car counts miles and time since the last service.
- Calculated oil life: cars with flexible service intervals bring the reminder forward with short trips, cold weather or towing.
- Counter not reset: if it was not reset at the last service, the reminder comes back.
- Other scheduled tasks: brake fluid, filters or belts by time or mileage.
Listed from more to less common in general; on your car they may be different. A fault-code reading and a check at the garage confirm which one it is.
To understand it better: Why is the warning light on when the scan tool shows no codes? How often should you run diagnostics on your car? Can I diagnose my car myself?
Car system: Engine and lubrication
What you can check yourself
See on the dashboard or in the menu how many miles or days are left and which task is due.
Check the oil level with the car on level ground and the engine cold or after a few minutes off.
Look in the service book or your invoices for when the last service was done.
If you have just had it serviced and the reminder is still there, ask the shop to reset the counter.
Safe checks only: with the engine off and cold whenever you look under the hood, without taking anything apart and without touching hot or moving parts.
Related fault codes
This symptom is usually mechanical and does not always store a generic fault code. Even so, reading the faults of every control unit helps to rule out other problems and to reach the garage with data.
How the ECO-LITE helps diagnose it
Plugged into the OBD socket, the ECO-LITE reads the fault codes of the control units that answer, with the freeze-frame data captured when the fault happened, and shows live data on your phone or computer. With your permission, your garage can see them remotely before you bring the car in.
What to look at here: mileage and the faults stored in the control units before the service; resetting the counter is a service function specific to each make.
Frequently asked questions
Can I reset the service reminder myself?
On many cars it resets from the menu or with a button sequence described in the owner's manual; others need a tool. Reset it only once the work is done.
Do I lose the warranty if I do not service at the dealer?
It depends on your warranty terms and your country. Usually any shop that follows the manufacturer's schedule and uses parts to the right specification is fine; keep the invoices.
What happens if I ignore it?
Oil and filters lose their properties and wear increases. In the long run it can cost more than the service.
Keep reading
- Engine and lubrication: how they work and what fails
- Oil warning light on: what it means and what to do
- Engine warning light on and steady: what it means and what to do
- Car using oil: when it is normal and what to do
- Car symptoms: what they mean and what to do
- Check engine light on: what to do
- How to read and clear your car's fault codes
- OBD fault codes: what each one means