What if the car ('01 XC) does need service?

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 06 Oct 2007, 06:23

Spoleto wrote (about his '01 XC70 and I tried to move his topic and instead deleted it accidently, so anyway...): i'm sure this is a dumb question, but the service light came on tonight for approximately 120 secs and turned off; of course it worried me... maybe this thread is about the service light coming on after a full service? otherwise, why would it come on and NOT cause concern to the owner other than "how to get rid of this light?"

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 06 Oct 2007, 06:30

To answer your question. This sometimes happens because the dealer forgot to reset your service needed light. Even if it's not illuminating yet, it is set to come on at a set interval, so if the car is serviced, it should be reset. You can easily do this yourself. Depending on your car, the process is different, but basically for '01 and up, you:
1. Without putting your key in the ignition, push the trip odometer button.
2. While still pushing it, turn the key to position II.
3. Within a few seconds you'll see the triangular warning light on the dash begin to flash. With this, you have only a few seconds to release the trip odometer button, but the end result is that your trip odometer get reset to "0.00" and your service light goes off.

Now the reminder light will not come on for the first 2 minutes of your drive.

Spoleto · Post by **Spoleto** » 06 Oct 2007, 07:42

thank you for replying. i'm going to follow your instructions this morning, but hoping you can clarify that the light coming on is NOT an indicator of service actually needed... the last time my car was in for service was 5 months ago. I asked then when I should schedule for a tune-up, and they said at 90K (at that time I had 80K miles).... now it's 86K.

At noon today i'm scheduled for the oil change... should I have them reset it instead?

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 06 Oct 2007, 09:30

If you're scheduled for an oil change, by all means get it done...AND have your mechanic reset the light....if he knows how. Your light comes on every 7500 miles (on Volvo's schedule) automatically, but the dealer can change the interval to 5K or 10K, I believe and maybe other intervals as well. Of course it will cost you. Since I change our oil every 5K miles on the '04 V70, I'm constantly turning off this light. Unless it's an engine light or other light (with message), I don't worry about it because I know it's just a reminder light for the oil change service.

Spoleto · Post by **Spoleto** » 06 Oct 2007, 09:37

Ok, thank you very much! And I'm going to follow your wisdom:

"Unless it's an engine light or other light (with message), I don't worry about it because I know it's just a reminder light for the oil change service."

Post by **JRL** » 06 Oct 2007, 12:22

Spoleto wrote:Ok, thank you very much! And I'm going to follow your wisdom:

"Unless it's an engine light or other light (with message), I don't worry about it because I know it's just a reminder light for the oil change service."

7500 is default but yours could have been set to 5K or 10K.
Either way your car needs an oil change as 10K is WAY too long to go without one.
You should go no more than 5K with regular oil and 7500 with synthetic
The SERVICE light means just that, service the car, a CHECK ENGINE light means see your dealer or Volvo tech ASAP.
But your answer is not exactly correct, you just "don't worry about it" you schedule the car for service as soon as you can

Spoleto · Post by **Spoleto** » 06 Oct 2007, 15:48

the service light has been reset... oil changed, everything checked, I'm good to go.

I should clarify the last time my car was taken in was at nearly 80K and radio needed to be replaced. Oil change just around that time as well and Im sure they used synthetic oil... now my clock is reading 85,558 miles... I should be ok, yes?

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 06 Oct 2007, 17:03

Yes, you are good to go for now, but don't always assume that they put synthetic oil in your car....they usually don't.

Post by **JRL** » 06 Oct 2007, 20:29

[quote="Spoleto"] Im sure they used synthetic oil...quote]
...and I'M sure they didn't. Did you pay $7.00 a quart for it?

Spoleto · Post by **Spoleto** » 07 Oct 2007, 08:52

JRL wrote:Did you pay $7.00 a quart for it?

invoice states, $8.00. Nevertheless, your doubt caused me some doubt so i left a voicemail w/svc dept last night to clarify.