How to Reset Your Subaru at Home: A Step-by-Step Guide for Maintenance Resets and More

If you own a Subaru vehicle, chances are you’ve experienced a moment where you need to reset certain features or settings. Whether it’s a pesky check engine light that won’t turn off or a maintenance reminder that needs to be reset, it can be frustrating to not know how to do it yourself. But fear not, in this article, we’ll be guiding you through the different types of resets that may be necessary and providing step-by-step instructions to help you reset your Subaru at home.

Types of Resets

Oil Change Light Reset

When you’ve recently gotten an oil change in your Subaru, you might notice that the oil change light in your gauge cluster still remains on. This happens because the car’s computer doesn’t know that an oil change has been performed. To reset the oil change light, you need to follow these steps:

  1. Turn your key to the "on" position without starting the engine.
  2. Press the accelerator pedal all the way down three times in quick succession. Make sure to do this within 10 seconds.
  3. Turn off the key and start the car. If the oil light comes back on, repeat the steps again.

Check Engine Light Reset

If your check engine light is on, it’s important to first identify the cause of the issue before attempting to reset it. However, once the issue has been resolved, you can reset the check engine light by following these steps:

  1. Turn your key to the "on" position without starting the engine.
  2. Slowly press down and release the accelerator pedal 5 times within 5 seconds.
  3. Wait for 10 seconds and then start the engine. The check engine light should be off.
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Maintenance Reminder Reset

Your Subaru may have a maintenance reminder that will come on when it’s time for regularly scheduled maintenance. If you or your mechanic have performed the scheduled maintenance, you can reset the reminder by following these steps:

  1. Turn your key to the "on" position without starting the engine.
  2. Press and hold the "trip" button on your gauge cluster.
  3. While holding the trip button, turn the key to the "off" position.
  4. Turn the key back to the "on" position while still holding the trip button.
  5. Continue to hold the trip button until the maintenance reminder light starts to flash and then turns off. This can take up to 20 seconds.

Trip Meter Reset

The trip meter in your Subaru can be reset easily by following these steps:

  1. Push the trip button on your gauge cluster until the trip meter you want to reset is displayed.
  2. Hold the button down until the meter resets to 0.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need any special tools to reset my Subaru?

No, all you need is your ignition key and your foot!

Why isn’t my check engine light turning off after I reset it?

If your check engine light is still on after you’ve attempted to reset it, it’s likely that there is still an issue that needs to be addressed. It’s best to take the car to a mechanic to diagnose and fix the root cause of the issue.

How often should I reset my maintenance reminder?

Your maintenance reminder should be reset after every scheduled maintenance service.

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Conclusion

As you can see, resetting your Subaru is a simple process that can be done without the help of a mechanic. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you’ll be able to reset your oil change light, check engine light, maintenance reminder, and trip meter with ease. Remember to always address the cause of any issues before resetting them and to keep up with your regularly scheduled maintenance.

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Alton Brobst

As a longtime Subaru enthusiast, Alton brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our blog. From his early days of tinkering with engines to his current role as a certified Subaru technician, Alton has seen it all when it comes to Subarus. When he's not working on cars, he enjoys hiking and exploring the great outdoors.

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