Honda CR-V: How To Reset Oil Life/Wrench Light (2002-2011)
Last Updated on July 14, 2024 by Nick
Hey there, Honda lovers! Today I’m going to show you how to reset the oil life or wrench light, and this is on a Honda CR-V. We just recently had the oil change, and they forgot to reset the indicator percentage. So let me show you how to go ahead and get this done.
This little trick works for pretty much any Honda vehicle that uses a maintenance light. This maintenance-required light is not a check engine light. It doesn’t mean that there’s something critical going on with the engine or the electrical components in your vehicle. So let’s dive right in.
Table of Contents
What does the wrench light mean on a Honda CRV?
The yellow wrench light is an indication of an upcoming maintenance interval on your vehicle. When the wrench illuminates this is letting you know that it’s time to make an appointment for your next service. It is important to note that the oil light percentage is not an indication of oil level. So you may not need to add oil to the engine.
2002-2006 Honda CR-V Wrench Light Reset Procedure
- With vehicle off, hold in the RESET button on the dash
- While you’re holding it in you’re going to turn the car on without starting it up
- Keep holding it in for about ten seconds and your maintenance required light will go off
Resetting Oil Life in 2007-2011 Honda CR-V
Time needed: 3 minutes
Alright, this is a 2011 honda CRV all-wheel drive, and I’m going to show you how to reset the oil life in this car. We’re going to be using the knob here on the dash, and I’m going to need the ignition key as well. So let’s get into the car to try to do it.
- First, insert the key and turn it to position 2
We’re not going to be starting the vehicle up, so you just rotate the key until you get to accessory mode
- Get the OIL LIFE screen
Then we’re going to push the SELECT knob on the dash and if you’re not on your oil life make sure you’re on the screen that says Oil Life
- Hold down the knob
Next, you press and hold the SELECT knob for about 10 seconds
- Rotate the knob
Once it does, you’ll see it says oil life and cancel on it and you’re going to turn this little knob till the Oil Life word is flashing
- Press the knob once
After that, you’re going to push the button one time and now you’ll see everything is flashing there
- Depress the knob
To reset it we’re just going to push it one more time and hold it for five seconds and the oil life will reset to 100%
For your info, this operation work for the second and third generations of the Honda CR-V (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 model years). For the new model, you can reach it here.
FAQ – CRV Oil Maintenance
So the base oil can either be conventional or synthetic. If the base oil is conventional, it means it’s only been refined from crude oil. If synthetic, it has been through an additional chemically engineered process to give it better properties for use in motor oil.
Yes. Motor oil labeled a synthetic blend already contains both synthetic and conventional base oil in the formulation. They also carefully test their motor oils with other motor oils to ensure compatibility.
Your engine was designed with a specific viscosity grade to lubricate mechanical parts properly. Using oil that is too thin can cause problems with wear. If the oil is too thick, the engine may not run as well. Always follow your vehicle’s owner’s manual to determine the correct SAE viscosity grade to use inside your engine.
So there you go, a couple of tips and tricks for the day. We have reset the warning light, so now I’m going to turn the car off and do everyday things. Anyway, thanks for stopping by, and have a great day.
About The Author
Nick
Hi! Greetings, I'm Nick, an automotive technician and a vehicle enthusiast with over a decade of experience working at a dealer service station. I have extensive knowledge of engine oils and lubricants and have helped countless customers maintain their vehicles. As an editor and author of articles on automobiles, I draw on my personal experience and professional training to provide readers with accurate and reliable information. I am passionate about sharing my expertise with others and helping them make informed decisions about their vehicles.