Cadillac Indicator Lights

How to reset the 'check engine', 'service engine', 'transaxle fluid', and 'oil change' reminder lights on various Cadillac models and years.

No other automobile has so captured the admiration of American luxury car buyers... truer words have never been spoken. You can find out more about Cadillac in the following books and videos: (click on the title for additional information)

Standard Catalog of Cadillac: 1903-2000 by James T. Lenzke

Classic Cadillac by Jim Dietzler & James A. Dietzler

The Visual History of Cars - Cadillac VHS Tape

Cadillac : 1948-1964 Photo Album by Mark A. Patrick

Cadillacs of the sixties by Roy A. Schneider

Cadillac Automobiles 1949-1959 by R. M. Clarke

Cadillac Automobiles 1960-1969 by R. M. Clarke

Cadillac Related Links
Cadillac Owners Mailing List
Last-Generation Fleetwood Brougham FAQ
1993-96 Fleetwood Brougham Technical Archives
1998 Remote Keyless Entry System (RKE)
1996 Remote Keyless Entry System (RKE)
1994 Remote Keyless Entry System (RKE)
Cadillac Indicator Lights Resetting Procedures
Your Cadillac and the Year 2000
Diagnostic Trouble Codes (OBD-I)
Diagnostic Trouble Codes (OBD-II)
Cadillac Desktop Wallpaper Images
Additional Cadillac Resources

This FAQ is maintained by Anthony W. Haukap

The current version of this FAQ document can always be found on my website at:

http://www.cyberspace.org/~awh/

While every attempt is made to present accurate data it should be noted that the author makes no guarantee as to the accuracy of any information provided in this document, and is not responsible for any consequences of its use.

The Fluid Life Indexes are calculated by the Powertrain Control Module (PCM). The PCM uses many engine parameters to determine the percentage of fluid life remaining for the engine oil and transaxle fluid. The fluid life indexes are stored in the EEPROM of the PCM. When the PCM is disconnected from power these indexes will remain in memory. The indexes may not get stored if the PCM is disconnected from power within 30 seconds of the ignition being switched to OFF.

The engine oil life monitor will indicate when to change the engine oil and the engine oil filter - usually between 3,000 miles and 7,500 miles since the last oil change. Under severe conditions, the CHANGE OIL message may be displayed before 3,000 miles. Never drive the vehicle more than 7,500 miles or 12 months without an oil change.

The engine oil life monitor will not detect dust in the oil. If the vehicle is driven in a dusty area, be sure to change the oil every 3,000 miles or sooner if the CHANGE ENGINE OIL message is displayed.

Reset the oil life monitor when the oil has been change, use the following procedure.

How often should engine oil be changed?
- 3,000 miles (5000 km)
- 5,000 miles (8000 km)
- 7,500 miles (12000 km)
- 10,000 miles (16000 km)

Actually, all of these are correct, depending on operating conditions. Oil life is affected by many factors other than just miles driven. The type of driving, temperature, and engine load all play a part.

GM has developed the GM Oil Life System, an electronic watchdog that keeps track of all these variables and notifies the driver when it’s time to change oil. Since the 2000 model year, the system has become standard equipment on nearly all GM products.

The Oil Life System is programmed with a certain number of engine revolutions. As the engine runs, this number is reduced until it reaches zero, and the Oil Life light or message comes on. But there’s more. Operating the engine under low or high temperatures, and under high load conditions subtracts (penalizes) extra revolutions, so the light comes on sooner.

Changing engine oil according to actual need rather than an inflexible schedule provides several benefits.

First is simpified determination about when to change oil. No more decisions about “normal” conditions vs. “severe” conditions. Second is reduced operating costs for GM’s customers, who now have to change oil only when it’s needed. Third is minimizing the amount of used oil that must be disposed of. And fourth, engines will always be running with sufficiently fresh oil, for long life.

Some may be reluctant to deviate from traditional oil change interval charts, however these benefits will be realized only if engine oil is actually changed as indicated by the GM Oil Life System.

1. Press the up or down arrow on the INFO button located to the right of the DIC display to access the DIC menu.
2. Once XXX% ENGINE OIL LIFE menu item is highlighted, press and hold the CLR button. The percentage will return to 100, and the oil life indicator will be reset.
3. Turn the key to OFF.

Navigation System

Press the display button to acknowledge the Change Engine Oil message. This will clear the message from the display and reset it. To reset the oil life indicator, use the following steps.

1. Turn the ignition to ON with the engine running.
2. Turn the system on by pressing the PWR/VOL knob located to the lower left of the DIC display.
3. Press and hold the vehicle information display button located in the upper right of the screen for 3 seconds to enter the vehicle information menu.
4. Use the scroll up or down display keys to select Engine Oil Life.
5. Press and hold the RESET button on the display. The percentage will return to 100, and the oil life indicator will be reset. Repeat the steps if the percentage does not return to 100.
6. Press the RETURN button on the display to return to the main page.
7. Turn the key OFF.

1. Turn the ignition key to the RUN position.
2. Press the up or down arrow to scroll the DIC to show OIL LIFE.
3. Once the XXX% ENGINE OIL LIFE menu item is highlighted, press and hold the RESET button until the percentage shows 100%. Repeat the steps if the percentage does not return to 100.
4. Turn the key to OFF.

1. Turn the ignition key to the RUN position.
2. Fully depress and release the accelerator pedal 3 times within 5 seconds.
3. The CHANGE OIL light should flash two times and then go out.
4. Turn the ignition OFF.

Base Audio System

1. Turn the ignition key to the RUN position.
2. Press the UP or DOWN arrow on the INFO button located to the right of the Driver Information Center (DIC) to access the DIC menu.
3. Once XXX% ENGINE OIL LIFE menu item is highlighted, press and hold the CLR button.
4. The percentage will return to 100%, and the oil life indicator will be reset.
5. Turn the ignition OFF.

1. Turn the ignition key to the RUN position.
2. Turn the system on by pressing the PWR/VOL knob once. The PRW/VOL know is located to the lower left of the Driver Information Center (DIC).
3. Press the INFO button located to the left of the display to access the Vehicle Info menu.
4. Turn the TUNE/SEL knob located to the lower right of the display until Engine Oil Life is highlighted. Press the knob once to select it.
5. Once XXX% Engine Oil Life is displayed, press the multi-function button next to the Reset prompt in the upper right corner of the display.
6. The percentage will return to 100%, and the oil life indicator will be reset.
7. Turn the ignition OFF.

1. Turn the ignition key to the RUN position.
2. Press the INFO button on the Driver Information Center (DIC) button to display ENGINE OIL LIFE.
3. Fully push and release the accelerator pedal 3 times within 5 seconds. If the CHANGE OIL SOON light flashes 2 times, the system is reset. However if the light comes on and stays on for 5 seconds, the system did not reset. Repeat the he procedure if the system does not reset.
4. Turn the ignition OFF.

1. Turn the ignition to ON but with the engine off.
2. Press the INFO button on the Driver Information Center (DIC) button to display ENGINE OIL LIFE.
3. Press and hold the INFO RESET button on the DIC until the display reads 100% ENGINE OIL LIFE. The engine oil life index is now reset.
4. Turn the ignition OFF.

1. Turn the ignition to ON.
2. Press the INFO button on the Driver Information Center (DIC) button to display TRANS FLUID LIFE.
3. Press and hold the INFO RESET button on the DIC until the display reads 100% TRANS FLUID LIFE. The transaxle fluid life index is now reset.
4. Turn the ignition OFF.

To reset the service Oil Life Indicator;

1. Turn the ignition key to the RUN position.
2. Display the "OIL LIFE LEFT" message by pressing the "INFORMATION SKIP" (skip info) button.
3. Press and hold the "RESET NO" (no info reset) button until "100% OIL LIFE" is displayed.
4. Turn the ignition OFF.

1. Turn the ignition key to the RUN position.
2. Display "ENGINE OIL LIFE" or "OIL LIFE LEFT" by pressing the "INFORMATION" button.
3. Press and hold the "INFO RESET" button until the message shows "100".
4. Turn the ignition OFF.

Resetting the automatic transaxle message: