These instructions apply to the Honda CR-V Mk5 (RW/RT) 2018-2023.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
When the wrench/spanner symbol or a service code (“A”, “B”, with sub-numbers) appears on your Honda CR-V Mk5 (RW/RT, 2018–2023), the Maintenance Minder has counted the oil/service life down. You clear it yourself from the driver’s information display. Here’s the method; do the service first.
What the Maintenance Minder Means on the CR-V Mk5
The spanner symbol on a fifth-generation CR-V is the Maintenance Minder, Honda’s built-in service reminder. It is not a fault warning and it does not mean anything has broken. Instead of counting a fixed number of miles, the system watches how the car is actually driven — engine operating conditions, temperatures and use over time — and estimates the remaining engine-oil life as a percentage that ticks down from 100%. Because it is condition-based, two CR-Vs covering the same distance can reach a service at slightly different points depending on how they are used.
As the oil life falls, the display first shows the remaining percentage, then a wrench symbol with a service code once a service is due. That code is the system’s way of telling you which jobs are needed — the main letter covers the oil, and any sub-numbers add further inspection items. Once the underlying work is finished, the counter has to be told to start again from the top, which is the reset described below.
Before You Begin
Only reset the Maintenance Minder after the service work it is asking for has actually been carried out — the oil change, filter and any listed sub-items. The reset simply restarts the estimate; it has no idea whether fresh oil is in the engine, so clearing it early tells the car the oil is new when it is not, and the next reminder will arrive far too late.
- Park on level ground and apply the parking brake.
- Have the ignition on but the engine off (accessory/ON mode, not started).
- No tools, code reader or workshop equipment are required — everything is done from the steering-wheel buttons.
- Give yourself a moment; the reset needs a deliberate press-and-hold that is easy to cut short.
Reset After the Service Only
The Maintenance Minder estimates remaining oil/service life. Resetting without doing the work tells the car the oil is fresh, so it’ll run past the safe point.
How to Reset the CR-V Mk5 Maintenance Minder
- Apply the parking brake and turn the ignition on (don’t start the engine).
- Press the ‘INFO’ button on the steering wheel repeatedly until the service spanner / maintenance display appears.
- Press ‘ENTER’ to select it, then press and hold ‘ENTER’ for at least 10 seconds.
- Select the service item shown and press ‘ENTER’ to confirm.
- ‘Reset completed’ appears — the indicator returns to 100%.
If It Doesn’t Reset
If the wrench is still showing after you go through the steps, work through these before assuming anything is wrong:
- You didn’t hold ENTER long enough — the ~10-second hold is what opens the reset. Release too soon and the menu simply scrolls instead.
- You were on the wrong screen — keep pressing INFO until the maintenance/oil-life item is the one highlighted before you press and hold.
- The engine was running — do the reset with the ignition on and the engine off; don’t start it mid-reset.
- It didn’t confirm — cycle the ignition off and on and repeat the whole sequence until ‘Reset completed’ appears.
- A different warning is on — that’s a fault, not the Maintenance Minder, and won’t clear this way.
After the Reset
The oil-life figure jumps straight back to 100% and the wrench symbol disappears. From that point the system starts counting down again from fresh, based on how you drive. Nothing else on the car changes — the reset only affects the service estimate, not any other setting, and it will not clear a genuine fault light if one is present.
How Often You’ll Need This
Reset the Maintenance Minder every time you complete the service it asks for — no more and no less. Because the CR-V works out the interval from driving conditions rather than a fixed distance, there is no single mileage figure to quote; let the percentage and the service code tell you when a service is due, carry out the work, then reset. If you want a firm distance or time cap between services regardless of the display, follow the schedule in your owner’s handbook.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do the Honda service codes mean?
“A” is an oil change; “B” adds inspection items; the numbers are sub-items (tyres, brakes, fluids). The display tells you what’s due.
Do I need a diagnostic tool?
No — the reset is done from the INFO/ENTER buttons with the ignition on.
Does the engine need to run?
No — ignition on, engine off.
The wrench came back — why?
The reset didn’t confirm — repeat and hold ENTER until ‘Reset completed’ shows.
Can I reset it without doing the service?
You physically can, but you shouldn’t. The counter only measures estimated oil life — clearing it with old oil in the engine means the next reminder arrives long after the oil is due to be changed.
Does resetting one code clear the others?
Select and confirm each service item shown so every part of the message is cleared. If a sub-item is left highlighted, that portion of the reminder can remain.
If a warning light appeared with the service message, look it up on autodtcs.com. After battery work, see our CR-V Mk5 battery guide.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Honda. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.