HOW TO RESET: Subaru Forester Oil Service Indicator Light

Subaru Forester Oil Service Maintenance Indicator Reminder Light Reset

Simple tutorial with an image guide on how to reset the oil service maintenance reminder indicator light on Subaru Forester from the year 2012-2013-2014-2015-2016-2017-2018-2019-2020.

2012-2020 Subaru Forester Oil Service Maintenance Light Reset

STEP 1

  • Close all doors. Gearbox to PARK position.

STEP 2

  • Turn the ignition on (RUN) position. Don’t start the engine.

STEP 3

  • Use the NAVIGATION button to navigate to (Press and hold the ENTER button to access settings screen).Subaru Forester Oil Reset - Press and hold the enter button to access settings
  • For some model of Subaru Forester, you need to use the navigation button on the steering wheel. (ENTER/SET)(2012-2018)2012-2018 Subaru Forester Oil Reset -Set Button

STEP 4

  • Press and hold the ENTER/SET button to open SETTINGS then scroll to MAINTENANCE then press the ENTER button.Subaru Forester Oil Reset - scroll to maintenance

STEP 5

  • Select ENGINE OIL then press the ENTER/SET button.Subaru Forester Oil Reset - scroll to ENGINE OIL

STEP 6

  • Then set the DATE or MILES for the next OIL CHANGE service reminder, then scroll to the SET button then press ENTER/SET.Subaru Forester Oil Reset - set the date to the next service oil reminder

STEP 7

  • Turn off the IGNITION, then start the engine to verify the service maintenance reminder has been reset.

About Subaru Forester

The Subaru Forester is a compact crossover SUV (sport utility vehicle) that’s been manufactured since 1997 by Subaru. Available in Japan from 1997, the Forester shares its platform with the Impreza.
The Forester was introduced at the Tokyo Motor Show in November 1995 as the Streega concept, and made available for sale in February 1997 in Japan, and to the US market in 1997 for MY1998. The Forester was one of the first emerging crossover SUVs. It was built in the style of a car, but had a taller stance, higher h-point seating, and an all-wheel drive drivetrain. Subaru advertising employed the slogan “SUV tough, Car Easy”. It used the Impreza platform but with the larger 2.5-liter DOHC EJ25D four-cylinder boxer engine from the Subaru Outback, making 123 kW (165 hp; 167 PS) at 5,600 rpm and 220 N⋅m (162 lb⋅ft) of torque at 4,000 rpm.

In Japan, the Forester replaced the Subaru Impreza Gravel Express, known in the US as the Subaru Outback Sport. However, the Outback Sport remained in production for the U.S. market. The Forester appeared after the introduction of the Nissan Rasheen in Japan with a similar appearance, and the Forester’s Japanese competitors include the Toyota RAV4, Mitsubishi RVR, and the Suzuki Grand Vitara. Due to the Forester’s low center of gravity, it meets the United States federal safety standards for passenger vehicles, and does not require a “risk of rollover” warning label on the driver’s visor. Size and price-wise, it fits between the shared Impreza platform, and the larger Legacy.

The automatic transmissions used on AWD equipped vehicles will normally send 60% of the engine’s torque to the front wheels and 40% to the rear wheels, using a computer-controlled, continuously variable, multi-plate transfer clutch. When the transmission detects a speed difference between the front and rear axle sets, the transmission progressively sends power to the rear wheels. Under slip conditions it can achieve an equal split in front and rear axle speeds.

When accelerating or driving uphill, the vehicle’s weight shifts rearward, reducing front wheel traction, causing the transmission to automatically send torque to the rear wheels to compensate. When braking or driving downhill, the vehicle’s weight shifts towards the front, reducing rear wheel traction. The transmission again compensates by sending torque to the front wheels for better steering control and braking performance. If the automatic is placed in reverse or first gear, the transmission divides the torque 50/50 to both front and rear wheels.The manual transmission cars are set up with a near 50/50 torque split as a base setting, and it varies from there. Essentially, the manual cars are set up with more bias towards the rear than the automatic cars.

The 2014 and 2015 models had a major revamp of interior comfort. The passenger seat is higher, the sound system has been upgraded, the rear bench seats are higher and the console is re-positioned for the person riding in the center. The manual transmission models were also upgraded to a six-speed transmission instead of the previous generation’s five-speed transmission. Engines during these year models do have an issue, this seems to be related predominantly to US manufactured vehicles and Subaru Australia have had no significant issues with excess oil consumption in Australia with the Japanese manufactured vehicles.(Source Subaru Australia and extensive research prior to purchase by Australian customer (KRH)) with oil consumption, along with numerous other automotive manufactures at the time. Subaru had its settlement of a lawsuit approved by a US Court in August 2016.The US complainants experienced over 1.5 quarts of oil consumed between change intervals with low-level dash lights coming on. The settlement provided for such complainants to receive an extended eight year warranty on the engine, allowing for an engine rebuild for that excessive oil consumption. Some speculation on this is the use of different style piston rings on the engine style change and synthetic oil.(source:wiki)