Can You Still Drive When the Maintenance Reminder Light Is On?
2 Answers
You can still drive when the maintenance reminder light is on. This light serves as a prompt to perform vehicle maintenance and does not affect normal driving. Short-term driving is acceptable, but it is essential to schedule maintenance as soon as possible. After maintenance, remember to reset the maintenance reminder light. Car maintenance refers to the preventive work of regularly inspecting, cleaning, replenishing, lubricating, adjusting, or replacing certain components of a vehicle, also known as vehicle servicing. Modern car maintenance primarily includes the engine system, transmission system, air conditioning system, cooling system, fuel system, power steering system, and more. The purpose of car maintenance is to keep the vehicle clean, maintain normal technical conditions, eliminate potential hazards, prevent faults, slow down deterioration, and extend the vehicle's lifespan.
When the maintenance reminder light comes on, I've encountered similar situations. As a driver with over a decade of experience, I believe the light indicates the car needs servicing, such as an oil change or filter inspection. Technically the car can still be driven, and it's fine for short trips to the repair shop, but avoid long-distance or highway driving. Once I ignored the light for over two weeks, and the engine developed severe knocking noises—the repair cost me nearly two thousand yuan, which wasn't worth it. So my advice is: Don't delay when the light comes on; drive to the nearest service center for a check-up—it's safer and more convenient. Timely maintenance extends your car's lifespan and prevents the embarrassment of breaking down on the road.