# Engine vs Service dash lights

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-vs-service-dash-lights/27417>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [March 7, 2009, 6:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-vs-service-dash-lights/27417 "2009-03-07T18:28:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![hozay2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e8c25b/32.png) [@hozay2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hozay2)\
**Post date:** [March 7, 2009, 6:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-vs-service-dash-lights/27417/1 "2009-03-07T18:28:09Z")

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I have a 1998 Volvo V70 T5 with manual transmission; my Service light has been on for a couple of months. After two minutes it goes out. Then last week my Check Engine light came on. I had the car diagnosed only to find out I had a misfire in #3 cylinder. The Check Engine light was reset but not the Service light which is still on! What gives?  
  
 Oh, I should mention that I religiously change all my fluids and all belts ands runs famously. The odometer has under 106,000 miles on it.  
  
  
  
 Thank you , in advance, for your response. . .  
  
 hozay

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**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\
**Post date:** [March 7, 2009, 10:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-vs-service-dash-lights/27417/2 "2009-03-07T22:57:26Z")

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Either whoever performed your last oil change did not reset the Service light, OR the car really is ready for service.

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**Author:** ![MrPhil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecccb3/32.png) [@MrPhil](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MrPhil)\
**Post date:** [March 8, 2009, 12:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-vs-service-dash-lights/27417/3 "2009-03-08T00:58:28Z")

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The Check Engine light means that the computer has determined that something is wrong, and there is a stored code (in this case, a cylinder misfire). Your owner’s manual should tell you why the Service Engine light comes on – is it based on mileage (and possibly time)? As mentioned above, whoever did the last service (not repair) may have neglected to reset the Service light.
