What does the maintenance required light mean?

SOURCE: Maintenance Required light came on & stayed on after oil change

I get many calls a week for this procedure...
This is really easy! Follow these directions:

Turn the key ON

Look at the odometer, and verify that it displays "ODO" and the total mileage traveled. If it is on "Trip A" or "Trip B", press the black stick next to the odometer to read "ODO", and the total miles traveled.

Turn the key OFF.

Press in, and HOLD the black trip meter reset button, hold it in.
DO not release it.

Turn the key ON

Observe the Odometer display. The total mileage traveled will disappear, and you will see 5 dashes, then 4, then 3, then 2, then 1 dash, and finally, 5 zeros. Then, the total mileage traveled will redisplay.

Release the black trip meter reset stick.

This completes the reset procedure, and it will be back on in 5,000 miles, to remind you of you next oil change.
If you do NOT see the dashes, followed by the 5 zeros, start the entire procedure again, but start with the odometer set to TRIP "A". Some vehicles use Trip A instead of the ODO.

You do NOT START the vehicle at any time during the reset procedure.
If the engine starts, the procedure will not reset.

SOURCE: Service required light flashes 5 times even when the other lights

It looks like your Oil Changhe Reminder needs reset... I get many calls a week for this procedure...
This is really easy! Follow these directions:

Turn the key ON

Look at the odometer, and verify that it displays "ODO" and the total mileage traveled. If it is on "Trip A" or "Trip B", press the black stick next to the odometer to read "ODO", and the total miles traveled.

Turn the key OFF.

Press in, and HOLD the black trip meter reset button, hold it in.
DO not release it.

Turn the key ON

Observe the Odometer display. The total mileage traveled will disappear, and you will see 5 dashes, then 4, then 3, then 2, then 1 dash, and finally, 5 zeros. Then, the total mileage traveled will redisplay.

Release the black trip meter reset stick.

This completes the reset procedure, and it will be back on in 5,000 miles, to remind you of you next oil change.

Hope this helps!
This is an addition to the reset procedure, I apologize for not mentioning it:

You do NOT START the vehicle at any time during the reset procedure.
If the engine starts, the procedure will not reset.

SOURCE: Flashing light shows a car and a keyh inside

Thank You Very Much for The Maintenance Required Light Info, as far as the flashing car w the key inside. I'm not sure what key we have? When we bought it it only came with one key so we tried to make a duplicate, which ended up not working because we later found out it needs a chip (or probably what I hear as the smart key?) If the light is supposed to be on (and normal) why does it need reset?

The Maint Reqd light blinks after 4,500 miles, and stays ON continuously after 5,000 miles. This is to remind you that you need an oil change. Give the info from you about your key, you do not have a smart key. You have a transponder key. Off topic, but, FYI, a Toyota dealer can program a transponder key for you.
Back to the Maint Reqd light. Here is how you reset it:
Turn the key on.
Make sure that the odometer reads "ODO", and displays the total mileage traveled...If it displays trip a or trip b, push the black button by the odometer to make the display read ODO.
Turn the key off.
Press and HOLD the black trip reset button until advised to release it.
Turn the key ON. (keep holding th reset button down)
Observe the odometer display.
you will see 5 dashes, 4 dashes, 3 dashes, 2 dashes, 11 dash, followed by five zeros, and the total mileage you started with will re-display.
Release the button.
Turn the key off.

Regarding the flashing light with the car & the key: This is the indicator to show potential theives thatyou vehicle has a sophosticated security system, and it CAN NOT be started by "hot-wiring" it. The flashing light is normal, and consumes no battery power. I hope that this helps you understand these two items better. Thanks for choosing FixYA, and the graciousness of a FixYa rating for my solution to you would be greatly appreciated. Glad to be of assistance; please feel free to call upon me anytime. Have a great day.

SOURCE: maintenance light flashing

h) Engine Oil Replacement Reminder
Light (for vehicles sold in U.S.A.)
This light reminds you when to replace
the engine oil.
This light will come on when the ignition
key is turned to “ON” and will go off after
about a few seconds.
When you drive for about 8000 km (5000
miles) after the engine oil replacement,
this light illuminates for about 3 seconds
and then flashes for about 12 seconds
with the ignition key turned to “ON” position.
If you continue driving without the
engine oil replacement, and if the driving
range exceeds 12000 km (7500 miles), the
light will come on after the ignition key is
turned to “ON” position. The light will remain
on thereafter.
If the light is flashing, we recommend that
you replace the engine oil at an early
opportunity depending on the driving and
road condition. If the light comes on, replace
it as soon as possible.
You need to reset the light after the engine
oil replacement. Reset the light by
following the procedure below:
1. Turn the ignition key to the “OFF” position
with the odometer reading shown.
(For details, see “Odometer and two
trip meters” on page 136 in this Section.)
2. Turn the ignition key to the “ON” position
while holding down the trip meter
reset button.
Hold down the button until the light goes
off. Before the light goes off, it illuminates
for 3 seconds, flashes for 2 seconds and
illuminates for 1 second.
If the system fails to reset, the light will
remain flashing.


I copied this from page 143 of the owners manual for the 2004 4Runner

SOURCE: what does maintenance required light mean in a

that light is the samething with check engine light,you have to take your car to mechanic they will help you daginose it and they will clear the light,but your car need some servicing.bye