Resetting your Honda CRV can refer to several different actions, from clearing a dashboard warning light to refreshing an electronic system. The most common reset for a Honda CRV involves clearing the maintenance minder light, which signals that your vehicle is due for service, such as an oil change.
Resetting the Maintenance Minder Light (Oil Life)
After an oil change or scheduled maintenance, your Honda CRV's dashboard will often display a "Maintenance Due" message or illuminate a wrench icon, indicating that the oil life monitor needs to be reset. This ensures the system accurately tracks your next service interval.
Steps to reset the oil life/maintenance minder:
- Turn on the ignition: Ensure your vehicle is in the "ON" position without starting the engine (press the start button twice without pressing the brake pedal, or turn the key to position II).
- Navigate to Maintenance Info: Using the controls on your steering wheel or dashboard, scroll through the display options until you find "Maintenance Info" or "Service Due."
- Select Oil Life: Once you are in the "Maintenance Info" section, the display will typically show the oil life percentage.
- Initiate Reset: Select the option to reset. The system will usually ask for confirmation, such as "Yes" or "Reset." Confirm your choice.
- Confirm Reset: After confirming, the oil life percentage should reset to 100%.
Note: For some CRV models, you may need to press and hold the "SEL/RESET" button for several seconds while on the oil life display to initiate the reset.
Other Common Honda CRV Resets
Beyond the maintenance minder, you might need to reset other systems on your Honda CRV for various reasons.
1. Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Reset
The TPMS light illuminates when one or more tires are significantly under-inflated or if there's a system malfunction. After adjusting tire pressure or replacing a tire, you may need to reset the TPMS.
How to reset TPMS:
- Check Tire Pressure: Ensure all tires, including the spare (if applicable to the system), are inflated to the recommended pressure found on the driver's side door jamb.
- Locate TPMS Button: For many CRV models, the TPMS calibration button is located under the dashboard on the driver's side, often near the steering column.
- Press and Hold: With the ignition in the "ON" position (engine off), press and hold the TPMS calibration button until the TPMS indicator light blinks twice.
- Drive to Calibrate: Drive your CRV for approximately 20-30 minutes at a speed above 30 mph to allow the system to recalibrate. The light should turn off.
2. Infotainment System Reset
If your CRV's touchscreen or infotainment system becomes unresponsive, freezes, or experiences glitches, a soft reset can often resolve the issue.
How to reset the infotainment system:
- Soft Reset: Press and hold the audio system's power button for approximately 10-15 seconds until the system restarts. This typically resolves minor software issues without affecting stored data.
- Factory Reset (Hard Reset): For more persistent issues, you can perform a factory reset through the infotainment system's settings menu. Navigate to Settings > System > Factory Data Reset. Be aware that this will erase all personal data, paired devices, and customized settings, returning the system to its original factory state.
3. Check Engine Light (CEL) Reset
A check engine light indicates a potential issue with your engine or emissions system. While you can reset it, it's crucial to diagnose the underlying problem first, as simply clearing the light without addressing the cause will likely result in it reappearing.
How to reset the check engine light (use with caution):
- OBD-II Scanner: The most reliable way to clear a check engine light is by using an OBD-II scanner, which plugs into a port under your dashboard. After reading and understanding the diagnostic trouble code (DTC), you can select the option to clear the code.
- Battery Disconnect (Temporary): Disconnecting the negative terminal of your CRV's 12-volt battery for 15-20 minutes can clear the check engine light, along with other stored error codes and radio presets. However, this is not a diagnostic solution and should only be used as a last resort after the underlying issue has been identified and fixed.
4. Battery Disconnect (Full Electrical System Reset)
Disconnecting the battery effectively performs a hard reset on most of your CRV's electrical systems. This can sometimes resolve various electronic glitches or persistent warning lights, but it will also erase radio presets, learned engine parameters, and trip data.
How to disconnect the battery:
- Safety First: Ensure your CRV is turned off completely.
- Locate Battery: Open the hood and locate the 12-volt battery.
- Disconnect Negative Terminal: Using a wrench, loosen the nut on the negative (-) battery terminal (usually marked with a minus sign and has a black cable). Carefully remove the cable from the terminal.
- Wait: Leave the cable disconnected for at least 15-20 minutes. Some experts recommend pressing the brake pedal a few times during this period to fully discharge any residual current.
- Reconnect: Reattach the negative battery cable securely to the terminal.
- Idle Learn Procedure: After reconnecting, you may need to perform an "idle learn" procedure by letting the engine idle for about 10-15 minutes without any accessories on to allow the engine control unit to relearn its idle parameters.
Summary of Common CRV Resets
| Reset Type | Purpose | Common Method | Important Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maintenance Minder (Oil Life) | Clears service reminder after maintenance | Dashboard controls: Navigate to "Maintenance Info," select "Oil Life," then reset | Essential after oil changes; ensures proper tracking of service intervals. |
| TPMS Light | Clears low tire pressure warning | Inflate tires, then press TPMS calibration button (or via infotainment) | Always check tire pressure first; light may require driving to calibrate. |
| Infotainment System | Resolves screen freezes, glitches | Hold power button (soft reset); via settings menu for factory reset | Soft reset retains data; factory reset erases all personal data and settings. |
| Check Engine Light (CEL) | Clears engine/emissions fault warning | OBD-II scanner; temporary battery disconnect (after fixing issue) | Always diagnose the underlying issue first; light will return if problem persists. |
| Battery Disconnect | Resets most electrical systems | Disconnect negative battery terminal for 15-20 minutes | Erases radio presets, learned engine parameters; may require idle learn procedure after reconnecting. |
Understanding how to perform these common resets can help you manage your Honda CRV's warning lights and electronic systems effectively.
