Resetting Acura TL Oil Light: Explained by Years

Owning an Acura TL means staying on top of regular maintenance, and changing the oil is essential for keeping your car performing at its best. The oil light on your dashboard is a helpful signal that reminds you when it’s time for this necessary upkeep.

However, just swapping out the oil isn’t the end of the process. Resetting the oil light after an oil change is equally important. Neglecting to do so might cause the light to persistently stay on, even if you’ve recently replaced the oil.

I’ll guide you through a simple step-by-step process to reset the oil light on your Acura TL, making it simple for you to do.

Determine the Oil Life Percentage

Understanding the remaining life of your Acura TL’s engine oil, signaled by the oil life percentage, is important before hitting the reset button on the oil light. This ensures the light doesn’t stick around after an oil change.

Here’s how to check the oil life percentage in simple steps:

Start Your Acura TL: Turn on the engine.
Find the “Select/Reset” Button: It’s on your dashboard.
Press the Button: Keep pressing until the oil life percentage appears on the display.
Hold the Button: Press and hold “Select/Reset” until the oil life percentage starts flashing.
Release: Once it flashes, let go of the “Select/Reset” button.

The oil life percentage shown indicates how much life your oil has left.

Reasons to Check the Oil Life Percentage

Keeping track of your oil’s life percentage is super important for a few key reasons. Firstly, it tells you how much life your engine oil has left, helping you decide when to change it next. Plus, it ensures you reset the oil light on time, so you don’t get annoyed by it after an oil change. It’s not just about keeping things in good shape; it’s about taking care of your engine. If the oil life percentage drops quickly, it could mean there’s a problem with your engine that needs fixing soon.

Checking this percentage regularly gives you a heads-up on your engine’s health. You might catch any issues before they become big problems. Whether it’s routine maintenance or addressing a potential problem, keeping an eye on the oil life percentage helps you take care of your car before things get complicated. This kind of attention not only saves you money but also keeps your car running better.

Factors that Affect the Oil Life Percentage

Maintaining your Acura TL’s oil health isn’t complicated. Here’s what you need to know:

The type of oil matters. Synthetic oil lasts longer than regular oil, so it’s a good choice. If you drive a lot in the city with frequent stops, your oil needs more attention because that kind of driving wears it out faster.

But it’s not just about the oil. How old your car is makes a difference too. Older cars might need oil changes more often. And if your engine is worn out or the oil filter isn’t doing its job well, they can make the oil deteriorate faster.

Managing these things might seem tricky, but understanding them can help your engine last longer. Use the right oil, think about how you drive, and make sure to keep your engine and filter in good shape. Doing this will keep your oil healthier for longer, making your Acura TL run better in the long run.

When to Change the Oil

Deciding when to change your Acura TL’s oil is crucial for keeping its engine healthy. While the oil life percentage can give you an idea, it might not always be spot on. Some say change it every 3,000 miles, others wait until the oil life hits 15%. ^[1] But really, the best advice comes from the Acura TL’s owner’s manual.

In my view, changing the oil more often as a precaution is a good idea. This helps protect the engine and keeps it running well. Following the recommended intervals helps prevent damage caused by dirt and worn-out oil. Stick to what the manufacturer suggests, and your Acura TL’s engine will work better, giving you a smoother and more reliable drive for a long time.

How to Reset the Oil Light on an Acura TL

Resetting the oil light on an Acura TL is a simple process that can be done in a few different ways. Here are the possible methods:

Acura TL Oil Life Reset, Years 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998

For Acura TLs made between 1995 and 1998, it’s easy. Just put the key below the indicator light. When you do this, the indicator will reset on its own, turning off the oil light.

Acura TL Oil Life Reset, Years 1999, 2000

Step 1: Turn off the key. First, make sure the car’s computer is off by turning the key to the off position.
Step 2: Press SELECT and RESET buttons. Find the SELECT and RESET buttons on the instrument panel near the speedometer or tachometer. Hold both buttons at the same time.
Step 3: Turn the ignition to position (II). While still holding SELECT and RESET, turn the ignition to position (II) just before starting the engine.
Step 4: Keep holding until the light flashes (about 10 seconds). Continue pressing both buttons until the oil indicator light starts flashing. This usually takes around 10 seconds. When the flashing stops, let go of SELECT and RESET.
Step 5: Double-check by turning the engine off and on. After releasing the buttons, turn off the ignition, then start the engine to confirm the reset. If the light is still on, repeat these steps.

Acura TL Oil Life Reset, Years 2001, 2002, 2003

Turn off your car.
Find and press both the SELECT and RESET buttons on the dashboard at the same time.
Keep holding these buttons and turn your car key to position (II).
Hold until the oil life indicator disappears from the display.
Turn off the car.
Start the car again to check if the indicator has reset. If it’s still there, try repeating the process.

Acura TL Oil Life Reset, Years 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009

Resetting the oil life indicator in older Acura TL cars is simple. Here’s an easy guide for Acura TLs made from 2004 to 2009.

Start by turning your car’s ignition to position (II) but don’t start the engine. Look for the INFO BUTTON and keep pressing it until you see the REMAINING OIL LIFE on the display. If you see a WRENCH symbol, press and hold the SELECT/RESET button to see the oil life display.
Once you have the REMAINING OIL LIFE on the screen, hold down the SELECT/RESET button for about 10 seconds until you see ‘SERVICE DUE SOON.’ While this message is visible, press the SELECT/RESET button until ‘MAINTENANCE RESET’ appears. Press the SELECT/RESET button again to confirm and reset the maintenance.
Finally, turn off the ignition and start the engine to make sure the service maintenance reminder has been reset.

Acura TL Oil Life Reset, Years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

Resetting the oil life indicator in Acura TL cars made between 2010 and 2014 is easy once you’ve changed the oil. Follow these simple steps to reset it:

Close all doors. Press the start button twice without starting the engine to turn on the ignition.
Look for the REMAINING OIL LIFE display. Use the SELECT/RESET button until it shows up.
While the REMAINING OIL LIFE is displayed, press and hold the SELECT/RESET button until the OIL RESET confirmation message pops up.
Use the Up button to choose “RESET,” then press the SELECT/RESET button again to confirm and reset the oil life. This action sets the oil life back to 100%.
Finally, turn off the ignition to finish the oil reset process.

Confirm the Reset

Making sure your Acura TL’s oil light reset worked right is super important. Here’s how to check:

Oil Life Percentage: After resetting the oil light, check the oil life percentage. It should show 100% if the reset worked.
Watch the Oil Light: Turn off the engine, then start it again. The oil light should flash briefly at startup and then go off. If it stays on, you might need to reset it again.

Conclusion

Resetting the oil light in your Acura TL is super important to keep your car running well and lasting longer. It’s an easy but crucial part of looking after your vehicle.

Before you reset it, just check the oil life percentage and follow the steps carefully to make sure everything goes okay. Doing this helps your car perform its best and stay in good shape for a long time.