I've only owned my Fit for about 3 or so weeks and now when I turn the car on the maintenance minder comes on. The sticker in my windshield says I don't need an oil change for another 2000 miles. Can I turn this off or do I really need an oil change already? Any help is appreciated.

 

A bit more info would help, year/model, how long have you had your Fit, when was last oil change done, how many miles since last oil change, who put the sticker in the window.

When you say the MM comes on, what exactly do you mean.

Often an oil change sticker will not agree with the MM countdown.

 

the maintenance minder also tells of other necessary services. Are there alphanumeric codes that occur with the wrench symbol? Hopefully you have the owner's manual and that should shed some light on the various code's meanings. Also if a non Honda place changed your oil they might not have reset the maintenance minder so your fit is "unaware" it's oil has been changed.

 

It's a 2008 Sport. I got it on March 23. Only the orange wrench light comes on and then it says something about the oil being at 15%. I'm certain the oil was not changed at an authorized Honda service shop. It says the next oil change isn't due until 112K miles and I just hit the 110K mark.

 

they may have not reset your light when you got your oil change last? maybe?

 

Can I reset it myself? Also, do I have to take it to an authorized Honda service shop to get my oil changed to keep this from happening?

 

Well, if you bought it at a dealer and they put the sticker on they owe you an explanation because it's pretty simple to read the MM and see what percentage the oil's at, and if it was at 15% or 20% when they sold the car they shouldn't have put a sticker on saying you've got 2000 miles left because that's not likely at 20% or 15%.

The owner's manual explains how to reset it- it's pretty easy.

 

I got it at a used car lot.

 

With ignition in the on position, engine off, press the MM button until oil life shows. Release button then hold button down again until it blinks. Release then hold down again until oil life indicates 100%. This rests the oil life and clears any maintenance codes.

Looks to me like you're close to an oil change. You can ignore the window sticker and simply follow the MM if you choose.

Too much has been said regarding oil life and change cycles. Search the forum for oil threads and you'll be amazed at the number of opinions. I follow the MM for change cycles.

 

Does the sticker tell you when the last oil change was actually done? Or who did it?

 

Typical MM oil change interval (depends on the way the car is driven) is in the 5-6 k mile range. It looks like the MM wasn't reset the last time.

Given that your vehicle's service history is an unknown, here's what I would do - pull the dipstick and take a look at the color of the oil. Nice and light, no cooked smell, I would reset the MM and go till the 112k. At that change, reset it again and follow MM (or your preferred time or mileage based schedule). If the oil is looking or smelling tired, just go ahead and change it as the MM hits zero. I have personally gone as much as 900 miles between the 15% "service coming up" light coming on and hitting 0% (ALL easy highway miles, about 2 1/2 weeks commuting).

BTW - Congrats on the new ride!

 

An oil change is twenty bucks, you might as well just get it done now that the MM says 15% unless you're told the oil was changed recently.

 

I'm with the other replies that you should just go get an oil change for peace of mind. It's cheap, and your timing chain will thank you for it later.

And in case your oil change place doesn't know how to reset the reminder on your car, I have the instructions on my blog.

 

Have you read the manual for the car? Done a search on this forum for maintenance minder and how it works?

Stickers with suggested service dates from dealers or 3rd party mechanics have nothing to do with the onboard MM. Often times dealers will put stickers saying to come back in xxxx miles but will conflict with the MM. Just throw it away and stick to the MM.

 

I would say best case senario is the previous owner didn't trust the maintenance minder and changed the oil every 3000 miles and never changed the maintenace minder until the little wrench turned on. This is a common practice...you know Old Dogs/New Tricks.
I would change the oil now, reset the maintenance minder and then not worry about it until the wrench turns back on. Of course you need to check the oil, I'd say every fill up until the next oil change. You need to learn how much oil your car burns and whether you need to add any oil between changes. My Fit burns about half a quart between oil changes, but it only has 47,000 miles on it.

 

I would change the oil and reset MM. My 08 would go 6000 miles. I was just going through the mailers from Honda and they will sell 0w20 oil change and tire rotation for 54.95 and regular oil 34.95. So If you have a 2011 Fit it will cost 54.95 or so for a oil change because that is required and if you want it for the other cars.

 

I'm with the 'go ahead & change the oil' crowd. The maintenance minder is a great tool to help keep track of what maintenance to do.

 

Yep, change the oil and start the MM at 100%. My car does a lot of highway so mine pops on at +-7200 mile intervals. I use Mobil1 5W20 with a PureOne PL14610 filter

 

Since we don't know the whole history. Go ahead and change it now with a Synthetic Blend (don't waste $$ on full synthetic)... I think Honda dealers use either Castrol or Quaker State blend... I prefer Mobil1 though. Then reset the MM and follow it from there. Do that & you should enjoy many years of reliable service from your Fit.

ALSO: With that many miles on your Fit... I'd replace the spark plugs & check the engine & cabin filters. Everything shouldn't take you more than 1-hour (including the oil change). Don't pay the dealer or shop, it's all very simple.

 

Keep track of your services on your own. Decide what intervals are best for you and your use of the car. Treat the MM as a nuisance, and immediately reset it per the owners manual. You should decide what the car gets and when it gets it, not the other way around!

:flamesuiton