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Write up: How to reset the Maintenance Required Light

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Old Sep 16, 2010 | 06:08 PM
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Post Write up: How to reset the Maintenance Required Light

How to reset the "Maintenance Required Light" on a '87-'88 Dodge Dakota

First off lets determine which year dakota has which set-up:

'87-'88 have the "Blue" module below the headlight switch under the dash.

'89-'95 you will need a DRB II scan tool to turn the light off. The dealer should have this and be able to turn it off for you. Or you can buy a scan tool, which isn't cheap...

Now lets know why the light comes on in the 1st place:
(Scanned from my owners manual)
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1) Take off the 2 lower dash panels under the steering wheel. 3 screws for the one directly under the steering wheel. And 2 screws for the one nearest to the drivers door.
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2) Directly below the headlight switch under the dash you'll see a medium size "Blue" module. Now I've read that some of these modules have a 9v battery in them, which go bad after awhile and need to be replaced. In my case my truck DID NOT have a 9v battery in it.. Where the red arrow is pointing. thats where the 9v battery would be if your truck had one. Now if you look at the picture where the white circle is. Thats the button you need to press. Have the truck running, then use a toothpick or something similar and press the button.
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3) Now reattach the panels, and your done, enjoy not having the light on to annoy you!

Now, all this info I gathered is from searching 4 diffirent sites, reading my owners manual, and by resetting the light myself on my '88 Dakota 2wd.



If anyone sees any wrong info. Please correct me. Thanx and enjoy!

~7KINGKAOS7
 
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Old Sep 17, 2010 | 01:56 AM
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Nice write up! I'm sure this will help out tons of people. I will post this in the FAQ in this section.
 
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Old Sep 17, 2010 | 02:09 AM
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Originally Posted by Crazy4x4RT
Nice write up! I'm sure this will help out tons of people. I will post this in the FAQ in this section.

Thanx! Anything 2 help out the community..
 
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Old Sep 17, 2010 | 02:17 AM
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I see you have a vent release lever - what's that for?
 
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Old Sep 17, 2010 | 03:58 AM
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Originally Posted by sammatthews2007
I see you have a vent release lever - what's that for?
To let air from the outside in or out..
 
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Old Sep 17, 2010 | 07:35 AM
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Yeah - was just wondering where that vent is. No big deal.
 
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Old Sep 17, 2010 | 08:27 AM
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Originally Posted by sammatthews2007
Yeah - was just wondering where that vent is. No big deal.
From my manual: "From below the instrument panel on the drivers side."
 
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Old Sep 17, 2010 | 05:18 PM
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awesome i need to do this
 
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Old Sep 17, 2010 | 10:51 PM
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Shew...the good old days
 
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Old Sep 18, 2010 | 06:25 PM
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i dont have that blue box, theirs nothing like that in that general area
 
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