What does the wrench symbol on the car dashboard indicate?
2 Answers
The appearance of a wrench symbol on the car dashboard indicates that the vehicle's maintenance period has arrived. This is not considered a malfunction of the vehicle, but rather a normal reminder. When the vehicle reaches its maintenance cycle, the maintenance indicator will appear on the dashboard. After the vehicle maintenance is completed, the maintenance indicator can be reset. Car maintenance cycle: Generally, the maintenance cycle for cars is the first maintenance at 5,000 kilometers, followed by maintenance at 10,000 kilometers, 15,000 kilometers, 20,000 kilometers, up to 60,000 kilometers, with maintenance every 5,000 kilometers in between. This is typically divided into minor maintenance and major maintenance. Major maintenance is usually performed every 10,000 kilometers, while minor maintenance is done every 5,000 kilometers. Main car maintenance items: Basic maintenance includes changing the engine oil and oil filter, replacing the air filter and cabin air filter, replacing the coolant, cleaning the throttle body, carbon deposit cleaning, as well as replacing the brake fluid, transmission fluid, spark plugs, brake pads, etc. It also includes routine vehicle inspection items such as light checks, tire and tire pressure inspections, and various fluid level checks, all of which are part of the car maintenance program.
Last time I got my car serviced, the mechanic specifically pointed out this wrench icon. It's essentially a reminder that your car is due for maintenance, especially when the oil change interval is up. This setting is quite customizable—some cars trigger it at 5,000 kilometers, while others can go up to 8,000. If you've just changed the oil and it's still lit up, chances are the repair shop forgot to reset the system last time. For my older car model, the reset method involves holding down the dashboard button while the engine is off, whereas newer models require navigating to the maintenance settings on the central control screen. The easiest way is to dig out that nearly dusty owner's manual. Remember to address it promptly; expired engine oil can seriously damage the engine. My neighbor once spent over 8,000 on major repairs because of this.
