At roughly 5900 Mi. the maint. needed flasher came on once while I was on the road and from then on it flashes for a little longer than needed to verify that it is working........like about 10 or 15 seconds. It's my understanding of the owners manual that it will be constant at 7000 Mi. until either me or the dealer reset's it.
1. this a mileage prompt, not an internal diagnostic popping up due to out of spec somewhere, right?
2. owners manual says to reset it, put the key in the lock position and depress the trip odometer reset button and then turn the switch to the crank position till the light stops flashing. There does not seem to be a lock position. And, the column doesn't lock any more...... And I do remember that when I got her it did lock. Is this a real memory or just something that my feeble brain has cooked up?????
T.I.A.
Jim

 

The manual is either wrong or unclear. Do a search on "maintenance required" and you'll get a bunch of links to threads that provide clearer steps for resetting.

 

Hmm. Not sure about the column lock but just put the key all the way back, push the trip button and hold, turn the key to start and it'll go off in a couple of seconds. I'm at 7600 miles and just did it.

 

Re: the steering column lock. The Steering column locks on "notches" along certain points in its perimeter. If it is not locked when you take the key out, this only means you are not on one of these notches. Turn the wheel in one direction or the other and it will find the next notch and lock. If it is under a lot of sprung force, you will need to pull it in the opposite direction if your key is tough to turn next time you go to start the car.

 

Update........
I did finally get it to stop flashing BUT the column definitely lock anymore.
I have grabbed the wheel and turned as hard and as far as I could in either direction. It NEVER catches. Guess I need to make an appoint at the stealership where they can lie to me and say it's not covered under warranty, regular or extended, but if I don't let 'em replace the throbulator (one of the REALLY expensive ones, made of pure unobtainium) both of my warranties will be voided.
thanks