oil change light

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Ron Seiden - 24 Nov 2007 04:42 GMT

The 2000 Grand Am SE (2.4L dohc 4) my son recently acquired has lit up its
"change oil" warning light. However, it didn't do that until a week or two
*after* he'd had an oil change! Anyone know how to shut off that silly
warning? (since my son is perfectly capable of knowing when it's time to get
an oil change without some idiotic piece of widgetry second guessing him...)

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80 Knight - 24 Nov 2007 05:52 GMT

> The 2000 Grand Am SE (2.4L dohc 4) my son recently acquired has lit up its
> "change oil" warning light. However, it didn't do that until a week or two
> *after* he'd had an oil change! Anyone know how to shut off that silly
> warning? (since my son is perfectly capable of knowing when it's time to
> get an oil change without some idiotic piece of widgetry second guessing
> him...)

The "Change Oil" light has to be reset each time you change the oil. Try
looking in your owners manual.

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aarcuda69062 - 24 Nov 2007 07:33 GMT

On the left end of the instrument panel is a cover, under that
cover is a fuse panel, on that fuse panel is a red re-set button.
Ignition on engine not running, press and hold the re-set button
until the oil change light begins flashing, when it does, you can
release the button.

> (since my son is perfectly capable of knowing when it's time to get
> an oil change without some idiotic piece of widgetry second guessing him...)

It's actually a very sophisticated algorithm programmed into the
PCM, naturally, it is dependent on using motor oil that meets the
GM specifications for that particular year, engine and model.
(which one would be wise to follow)
Changing the engine oil too often can result in poisoning of the
catalytic convertor.
*Not understanding the technology doesn't make it silly or
idiotic.

I have customers who do mainly urban type driving, their oil
monitor will trigger in as little as 2200 miles, I have customers
who do mainly highway driving, at 7500 miles their oil monitor
has not triggered.
One customer who does mainly highway driving put over 300,000
miles on a 2003 Pontiac Montana, the ONLY engine repair in those
miles was replacement of lower intake manifold gaskets due to
coolant leakage (common failure), original spark plugs, wires,
coils, catalytic convertor. His oil change interval was between
7000-8000 miles.

Your son should save his oil change money for when he needs to
replace the power window regulators, and -maybe-just-incase- he
needs a water pump and timing chain ($1000).

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