So on Friday night just after I started the car, the "Maintenance Required" light comes on and blinks 6 times, then turns off. It happened every time I started the car. 6 blinks, then off. I'm thinking I musta broke my 'yoter somehow when I changed the oil a week ago, and it took 7 days to show up. Unfortunately there's no 'puter around to search the newsgroups since I'm at a gas station in St. Louis 125 miles from home.
All the fluids look fine, so I ask a fella what it could mean. He says the "Maintenance Required" light came on because the oxygen sensor probably broke its porcelain piece when I hit a bump or something. Couple hundred dollars in labor and parts, he says. Luckily the '06 is still under factory warranty.
The next day, while still in St. Louis, I take the car to Seeger Toyota, the dealership that sold me the car 2 years ago. When I explain what's been happening, the friendly and very helpful Chad in the service department says the "Maintenance Required" light only comes on when it's time for an oil change--only then and never else.
I tell'em I changed the oil myself a week ago--my first time doing it myself. He said I just needed to reset the Camry's
5,000-mile oil interval count back to zero by holding the odometer button in, then turning the key to the on position (not start), and waiting a few seconds until the ODO display turns to dashes, then zeroes. Then release the odometer button.
Well, that was easy enough! I didn't break my 'yoter after all!
My only thought is the warning light should say something like "Change Oil," not "Maintenance Required" since maintenance could mean anything from low coolant, break fluid, transmission problem, etc. Chad says "Maintenance Required" only comes on for one reason and one reason only: It's close to 5,000 miles since your last oil change, so change it again. (I had changed the oil after 4,000.)
Can't wait to rotate and torque the wheels soon with my trusty Craftsman torque wrench!