Driving your Honda is always fun. I’m sure you will take good care of it. What does the wrench light mean on a Honda? However, when a wrench light appears on the dashboard, it can cause you to panic! You may start asking, “Is it something serious?” Does the wrench light mean your favorite Honda is damaged? Hold on, my friend, there is nothing to worry about!
Yes, don’t get your heart rate high. That’s because the wrench light on your Honda dashboard only means that you should take it to the service center. You’re probably worried about what happened to your car and the fact that you need to take it to a mechanic.
But I already told you there was nothing to panic about. The light means different things at different times. Today, I will help you understand the meaning of the wrench light and various codes related to it on Honda.
What does the wrench light mean on a Honda?
The wrench light on a Honda’s dashboard means it is time for routine maintenance. It will remind you that you need to change the engine oil or some other parts. Usually, there is a code besides the wrench light that indicates what service you need for your Honda.
The wrench light on a Honda is also known as the Maintenance Minder Indicator Light. It is an automatic reminder system by Honda that the company uses in its vehicles to remind you that you need to take your car to the service center to ensure it runs smoothly.
What causes the wrench light to come on?
When the engine oil in your Honda reaches 15%, it will cause the wrench light to come on. It means that you should find a suitable time to take your vehicle to a service center.
Moreover, 5% engine oil means you should visit the service center ASAP, and 0% engine oil means if you do not take it to the service center, various parts of the vehicle get damaged.
However, the codes beside the wrench light will provide you with more details about the service your car requires.
It will tell you whether you only need to replace the engine oil or if you need to replace any other components as well. Hence, it is crucial to understand the Honda Minder Maintenance Codes.
List of Honda Maintenance Minder Indicator Codes with Meaning
The codes will use two characters. The first one will be an alphabet, the main code, and the second one will be a number, the subcode. Let’s find out what those characters mean:
| Honda Maintenance Minder Alphabet Code Meanings | |
| Alphabet | Meaning |
| A | Replace engine oilConduct multipoint inspection |
| B | Requires tire rotation, and verification of correct tire pressure and condition. |
| Honda Maintenance Minder Numerical Code Meanings | |
| Number | Meaning |
| 1 | Requires tire rotation, verification of correct tire pressure and condition. |
| 2 | Inspect the air cleaner element, drive belt, dust filter, and pollen filter, and replace if necessary. |
| 3 | Change the transmission fluid and transfer fluid if equipped. |
| 4 | Inspect spark plugs, timing belts (if equipped), water pump, and valves, and replace them if necessary. |
| 5 | Check the level of engine coolant and replace it if it’s too low. |
| 6 | Check the rear differential fluid and replace it if necessary. |
| 7 | Replace brake fluid |
Note: Check the owner’s manual/manufacturer’s description for more details for specific Honda models.
How do you decode Honda Maintenance Minder Codes?
Now you know what each code means, and you can easily decode them. For example, if the wrench light appears with code A5, then it means you should change the engine oil, and the level of engine coolant is probably low. Check the level of engine coolant and replace it if it is too low.
Not to mention, sometimes you may need to check multiple parts of your Honda. Then you get multiple numerical codes besides the wrench light.
For instance, if the code reads A167, then it means you should change the engine oil, rotate the tire, verify tire pressure and condition, check or replace rear differential fluid, and replace brake fluid.
I hope you already understood What does the wrench light mean on a Honda mean.
Can you drive Honda with a wrench light on?
Yes. There is no need to panic if the wrench light suddenly appears on your Honda’s dashboard. It only notifies you that routine maintenance is required soon for your vehicle. You can still drive the car and take it to the service center when you have time.
Nonetheless, you should not delay the maintenance for too long. There is no hard and fast rule regarding how long you can drive a Honda with the wrench light illuminated.
Some people instantly go to a service center, whereas many people drive mile after mile until another reminder appears with a new numerical code.
However, I prefer to go to the mechanic as early as I can. That’s because it helps me to keep the vehicle in good condition for a long time, and it also prevents unnecessary parts from being damaged.
How do I turn off the orange wrench?
You can turn off the orange wrench light on your Honda dashboard using the odometer button. Press the button and hold it down for a few seconds until the oil life indicator on the dashboard starts to flash.
After that, release that button and then again hold it down for a few seconds, and the wrench light will disappear.
The wrench light usually stays on the dashboard even after taking the vehicle in for service. That’s when you can follow this method to remove the notification.
However, if you do not know where the odometer reset button is, it is above the dashboard. You can see where the odometer button is in a Honda.
FAQs:
1. Does the wrench light mean oil change?
Yes, the wrench light means an oil change in Honda but with some additional replacement requirements. When the engine oil level is low, the wrench light will appear with various codes that will tell you what you need to change besides the oil.
2. How do you diagnose a wrench light?
You can diagnose the wrench light by reading the code that appears with it. You will find the meaning of the codes in the user manual. Then you should take the necessary action, and the wrench light will disappear soon.
3. Is it safe to drive with a wrench light on?
Yes, it is safe to drive with a wrench light on, but not for too long. Usually, the wrench light indicates a low engine oil, and if you drive your vehicle in such a condition, it can cause various engine malfunctions.