Each time you change your Acura TL’s oil, you will need to reset the oil life maintenance light. If you don’t reset this light, the system won’t be able to accurately track when you need to change out your oil again.
This handy post will guide you, step-by-step, on how to quickly reset your oil life light without needing to pay a mechanic to do the job.
Reset The Oil Life Light in Your Acura TL
While most Acura TL models use a similar method to reset the oil change light, there may be some vital differences from one model to another on what buttons or settings you need to access to complete this task.
Below is the step-by-step procedure for every year from 1995 to 2013. Scroll to the year of your Acura model and follow the steps to reset your Acura TL’s oil life maintenance light without any problems.
1995-1998
Reset the colored indicator by inserting your key into the slot directly below it.
1999-2003
- Turn the key to the off position.
- Push and hold both the “Select” and “Reset” buttons on the panel and turn the key in the ignition to position (II). Don’t start the engine.
- Press the SELECT button and the RESET button. Hold them for ten seconds, until you reset the indicator.
- Turn off the ignition and then start the vehicle to make sure that you successfully reset the indicator.
2004-2005
- Turn the ignition to position (II). Leave the engine off.
- Push the SELECT/RESET button and hold it until you see the oil life show up on the monitor.
- Push the button again. Hold it until you see a confirmation message. This message should appear in ten seconds.
- Push the SELECT/RESET button to choose the OK option. This action will reset the indicator.
- Turn the ignition off. Restart the vehicle to make sure that you reset the indicator.
Here is a video demonstrating how to reset the oil life light on the 2005 Acura TL:
2006-2013
- Turn the key to the ignition setting (II). Leave the engine off.
- Repeatedly push the SELECT/RESET button located on the steering wheel until you see the engine oil life on the display.
- Push the SELECT/RESET button and hold it for 10 seconds or more. You will see the engine oil maintenance reset mode on the screen.
- Select RESET by pushing the INFO (up/down) button. Next, push the SELECT/RESET button to restart the engine oil life maintenance indicator. You will see the maintenance codes vanish, and the engine oil maintenance indicator will return to 100.
- Turn the ignition off. Restart the car to make sure that you reset the indicator.
Here is a video demonstrating how to reset the oil life light on the 2013 Acura TL:
Watch Out for These Possible Sticking Points
These easy-to-miss details can cause some sticking points when trying to reset your oil light. If you’re having trouble resetting your oil light, check these notes to see if any of them pertain to your situation.
- If you have a model that uses keyless access, you will notice an engine start/stop button in the place of the ignition switch. Pushing the start/stop button once won’t start the engine, and is equivalent to the ignition (II) setting.
- If you drive an Acura RDX, the same methods work as if it were the same year Acura TL, but with a possible caveat. If you can’t see the engine oil life, repeatedly press the SELECT/RESET button located on the steering wheel until you see tire pressure and SH-AWD.
- If you choose to reset the indicator when the engine oil indicator says its life is over 15%, make sure you finish all required maintenance item(s) before you reset your indicator.
Conclusion
Now, when you take your Acura TL into the shop to get your oil changed and the mechanic forgets to reset the oil maintenance light, you don’t have to waste valuable time out of your day to fix this one little problem. You have the entire process of resetting the oil change light on your Acura TL model in your hands.
Follow the steps above for your model, take less than five minutes to work your magic, and enjoy the potential hours that you no longer have to waste waiting in a mechanic’s shop.
Check these guides to know how to reset the oil light of other vehicles:
How to Reset The Oil Light On The Ford Explorer
How To Reset The Honda Odyssey Oil Light
Dodge RAM 1500, 2500, 3500 Reset Oil Light Reminder
