Service Message on: OK to keep driving?

[fromGMCtoAUDI]

My car is at 14,2xx miles, and the service message has been on since Monday. (I thought the service message would show up at 15k). I called the dealer and I'm scheduled for next week. Is it ok to keep driving for a week (~400 miles)? We have a minivan I could use but I hate driving that pos.

[Latin Audi]

Not at all, those are just little check ups, updates on the ECU, oil change, etc. You can reset it although I do not remember how. This is by no means an CEL.

[Glassnpowder98]

Yeah, you should be fine. The service light is just for the interval services (between your scheduled maintenances) mainly oil changes. Therefore, you will just be going a little bit over the recommended oil change miles. You should be good to go, don't worry about it.

Edit: Are you bringing your car to Audi of Alexandria? Have you brought your car there before? If so, how is the service?
I'm going to have to bring mine in for the hard starting problem and I'm definitely not trying to go back to HBL of Tysons.

[fromGMCtoAUDI]

Yeah, you should be fine. The service light is just for the interval services (between your scheduled maintenances) mainly oil changes. Therefore, you will just be going a little bit over the recommended oil change miles. You should be good to go, don't worry about it.

Edit: Are you bringing your car to Audi of Alexandria? Have you brought your car there before? If so, how is the service?
I'm going to have to bring mine in for the hard starting problem and I'm definitely not trying to go back to HBL of Tysons.

Yup. I've only had them do the 5k service and they found out the AC wasn't working so they changed it. They gave me an Audi loaner too which was great.
I don't know if they're mod friendly though but from talking with them they sound like they don't even know what a vag-com is . Give them a try but don't let them wash you're car.

PS - I saw your car last week, I think it was on Gallows road. Really nice btw.

[jahciple]

1. Place key in the ignition (leave it in the 'OFF' position),
2. Hold down the 'WRENCH' button directly above steering wheel column,
3. While holding the 'WRENCH' button, turn key into the 'ON' position (do not start the engine),
4. Let go of the 'WRENCH' button, and quickly press the '0' button.

That will reset the service reminder to the standard 5k interval.

[Longfist86]

the service reminder light is like an alarm clock its programmed to go off
every 5k miles or 6 months which ever occurs first.

[fromGMCtoAUDI]

the service reminder light is like an alarm clock its programmed to go off
every 5k miles or 6 months which ever occurs first.

I don't think that's the case because it was reset at 5k and now at 14k it's on again and it hasn't been 6 months either. I guess it has an engine oil sensor that calculates the engine oil life and reminds you when it's due for change.

[jahciple]

i think it actually goes on every 5k even though audi suggests oil change every 10k.

[Jibberific]

Get to the dealership right away!!! If you keep driving it will activate the self-destruction mechanism.

[fromGMCtoAUDI]

Get to the dealership right away!!! If you keep driving it will activate the self-destruction mechanism.

lol that's what I'm afraid of.

i think it actually goes on every 5k even though audi suggests oil change every 10k.

No it didn't go off for me at 10k when It was reset at 5k.

[nimski62]

I don't think that's the case because it was reset at 5k and now at 14k it's on again and it hasn't been 6 months either. I guess it has an engine oil sensor that calculates the engine oil life and reminds you when it's due for change.

No car has an oil analysis sensor to tell you the life of the oil, they have what everyone else is telling you,.. 'alarm clocks' that are programed to go off ever 5k miles or whatever..

[CoreyRandmetz]

No car has an oil analysis sensor to tell you the life of the oil, they have what everyone else is telling you,.. 'alarm clocks' that are programed to go off ever 5k miles or whatever..

They go off just shy of 10k miles i believe or 10k miles on the dot.

[Zebman]

I was pretty sure our car calculated the service intervals itself. Are we all on the same page? My car takes 2-300 miles to give me a date to service.

[fromGMCtoAUDI]

No car has an oil analysis sensor to tell you the life of the oil, they have what everyone else is telling you,.. 'alarm clocks' that are programed to go off ever 5k miles or whatever..

http://www.onstar.com/us_english/jsp...s/oil_life.jsp

[Quattro]

according to my service rep, "people drive the cars wayyyyy past the time needed and its still fine"

[AudiWxGuy]

Mine is going off too. I have to get it to the dealership for a 25k service. I probably wont go for another two weeks. I may get my oil changed soon tho. Although I don't drive that many miles so I'm not too worried about it.

[Brent27]

for service it will go off at 5k 15k 25k as they are schedule maintenance, after that I believe its every 10k since that's how often they "suggest" changing your oil, but most of us prefer every 5-7k...

[virgsa4]

I had the 5K service, and they told me to come in at 15k for my next one. Now the service message came back on at 10k. Should I just reset the message, because I don't think there is a 10k service, is there?

[jahciple]

I had the 5K service, and they told me to come in at 15k for my next one. Now the service message came back on at 10k. Should I just reset the message, because I don't think there is a 10k service, is there?

Yeah, I resetted mine unless you want to keep seeing the same message for 5k miles more.

[A4 S-Line]

I had the 5K service, and they told me to come in at 15k for my next one. Now the service message came back on at 10k. Should I just reset the message, because I don't think there is a 10k service, is there?

This depends on how often you think you should change your oil vs. how often Audi thinks you should do it. . .



My '06 has Audi Service included, but its only every 10K miles. I do my own oil changes in between as I think 10K is too long between oil changes.

[p1nk50ck]

http://www.onstar.com/us_english/jsp...s/oil_life.jsp

i'd hate to break it to you, but that's probably also a timer as well. normally, people have to take their oil to a lab to get a real reading of their oil condition.

[edit] found some more info on that site:

The GM Oil Life System is not a mileage counter. It is actually a computer-based software algorithm that determines when to change oil based on engine operating conditions. There is no actual oil condition sensor. Rather, the computer continuously monitors engine-operating conditions to determine when to change oil. Over the years, millions of test miles have been accumulated to calibrate the system for a variety of vehicles. The system was first introduced in 1988 and is now on more than 10 million GM vehicles.

that being said, "computer-based software algorithm" is a real fancy way of saying "timer"

standard cars will do just fine from 5,000 miles to 7,500 miles on regular old oil. jiffy lube was one of the big advertisers to encourage people to start changing their oil more frequently at 3k, so that they get more money. there usually isn't much harm to changing your oil frequently.

turbocharged cars often rely on engine oil to lubricate and cool the turbo, so the oil does go through more wear and tear than regular cars. it is recommended that turbocharged cars have their oil changed at least every 3,000 to 5,000 miles with standard oil depending on driving style. synthetic oils have higher tolerances, and can last much longer.


the catch, is that oil filters should always be kept clean. while some synthetic oils can last up to 25,000 miles without any breakdown, oil filters should still be changed every 5,000 miles.