These instructions apply to the Honda Accord Mk7 (CL/CM) 2003-2008.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
The seventh-generation Accord sold in Europe (the CL saloon and CM Tourer, 2003–2008, and mechanical sibling of the Acura TSX) uses a simple mileage-based Maintenance Required light rather than an oil-life percentage readout. Once you have finished a service, you clear the reminder from the instrument cluster in a few seconds.
Before you start
- Only reset the light after the service is genuinely done — this is a distance-counting reminder, not an oil-condition sensor, so clearing it early just tells the car a service happened when it hasn’t.
- Begin with the engine switched off; you will turn the ignition on partway through the procedure, not start the engine.
- Locate the Select/Reset knob on the instrument panel — it is the small trip/odometer button on the cluster that you normally press to cycle the trip meters.
Resetting the Maintenance Light — Step by Step
- Turn the engine off and make sure the ignition is fully off to begin.
- Press and hold the Select/Reset knob on the instrument panel, and while you keep holding it, turn the ignition switch to ON (position II) without starting the engine.
- Keep holding the knob for about 10 seconds until the Maintenance Required indicator resets and clears.
- Release the knob. The reminder is now cleared and the distance counter starts again from the service you have just completed.
If It Doesn’t Reset
- You likely let go of the knob too soon — it has to be held for roughly 10 seconds while the ignition is on, so try again and keep the pressure on until the light clears.
- Check the ignition is in ON (position II) and not merely in the ACC accessory position; the reset only registers with the ignition fully on but the engine not running.
- A brief flash of the indicator for about two seconds each time you switch the ignition on is completely normal for the first 8,000 miles after a reset — it is a confirmation blink, not a fault.
- If a solid, steady light comes back some time later, that simply means the next reminder interval (around 10,000 miles / 16,000 km) has elapsed and another service is due.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the same as the oil-life Maintenance Minder?
No. The pre-facelift European Accord uses the older mileage-based Maintenance Required reminder. The percentage-style Maintenance Minder, which estimates remaining oil life, only arrived with the 2006 facelift and later Honda models, so it isn’t fitted to earlier CL/CM cars.
Where is the Select/Reset knob?
It is the small knob on the instrument cluster that you press to switch between the odometer and the trip meters. The same button doubles as the reset control for the maintenance reminder when you hold it with the ignition on.
Does resetting the light change my service schedule?
No. Clearing the light only zeroes the distance counter behind the reminder. Your actual service intervals are set by Honda’s schedule and your own mileage and usage; the light is just a prompt, so always base servicing on the maintenance schedule rather than the light alone.
Why does the light flash after I reset it?
That short two-second flash at ignition-on is designed behaviour for the first 8,000 miles following a correct reset. It confirms the reminder is armed and counting; after that mileage it stops flashing and stays off until the next interval is reached.
If a warning light other than the service reminder is also showing, it is worth reading the stored fault codes before you clear anything — you can look up what a specific engine or ABS code means over at autodtcs.com to see whether it points to a genuine fault.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Honda. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.