By wkohler, Mon Jul 16, 2007

Original thread: Service Indicator Reset

Problem: My "Oil Service" and/or "Inspection" lights are on.

Cause: The car has accumulated enough use to trip the lights. They are designed to come on every 7,500 miles, alternating between "Oil Service" and "Inspection."

How to fix: After completing the Oil Service or Inspection I/II procedures in the Bentley manual (section 2, pages 6–10), reset the lights at the diagnostic connector in the engine compartment.

Motronic 1.1 cars have a 15-pin connector. Motronic 1.3 cars have a 20-pin connector.

1. Straighten a paper clip, then bend it in half into a narrow V.
2. Jump pins 1 and 7 in the diagnostic connector (pin positions are shown on the underside of the red cap, as the pins sit when the cap is installed).
3. Sit in the car and turn the key to position 2 (dash lights on).
4. The Oil Service light should go out in 3–4 seconds. The Inspection light should go out in 8–11 seconds.
5. As soon as the desired light goes out, turn the key off. Leaving it on will set an incorrect interval for the other light.

If the lights will not reset, or both stay on, the Service Indicator (SI) board has likely failed (the original Ni-Cad backup batteries leak). Cluster removal, SI board replacement, and a remote battery-box workaround are in the original forum FAQ.