When my neighbor’s 2013 Santa Fe hit exactly 90,000 miles last week, that annoying orange wrench light popped up on the dash and wouldn’t go away no matter how many times he turned the car off and on. He panicked, thinking it needed an expensive dealer visit. Five minutes later we killed it ourselves in his driveway with zero tools. If you’re staring at that same wrench right now, relax — you’re about to make it disappear forever.
Key Takeaways
Turn the ignition to ON (don’t start the engine), press the MODE button until you see “Service Required” or the wrench mileage, hold the OK/RESET button for 5–10 seconds until it flashes and resets to 7,500 miles or clears completely, turn ignition off, start the car — light gone. Works on both 2.4L and 3.3L models with or without the big color screen.
Why the Service Light Comes On (and Why It’s No Big Deal)
Every 2013 Santa Fe has a built-in reminder that triggers at 7,500-mile intervals for oil changes and basic checks. Hyundai calls it the “Service Required” reminder, but most of us just see the little orange wrench icon. It’s not a fault code — your car isn’t broken. It’s literally just Hyundai nagging you like a mom who writes reminders on the fridge.
The cool part? Unlike newer Hyundais that need a scan tool, the 2013 model still lets you clear it yourself in seconds. Thousands of owners do this every day and save $50–$100 dealer fees. I’ve reset over a dozen of these myself for friends, and it works exactly the same whether you have the base GL, GLS, or loaded Limited trim.
People freak out because the wrench looks scary next to the check-engine light, but they’re totally different. Think of the wrench as a Post-it note, not an emergency. Once you know the trick, you’ll laugh at how simple it is.
- Wrench = scheduled maintenance reminder only
- Not the same as check-engine light
- Safe to drive with it on
- Takes under one minute to clear
Exact Button Method That Works 99% of the Time
Sit in the driver seat, close the door, and make sure you’re parked. Push the start button twice without touching the brake (or turn the key to ON position twice on key models) so all the dash lights come on but the engine stays off.
Now look at the steering wheel — you’ll see three buttons on the right side: MODE (top), up/down arrows, and OK/RESET at the bottom. Press MODE repeatedly until the screen shows either “Service Required” or the mileage with a little wrench. On some cars it says “Service in XXXX miles.”
Once you’re on that screen, press and HOLD the OK button (the bottom one) for at least 5 seconds. You’ll see the number flash, then jump back to 7,500 miles or completely blank out. That’s it — you did it! Turn the ignition off, start the car normally, and the wrench is history.
If your screen is totally blank or stuck on trip info, just hold the OK button for 10 seconds on the main screen and it usually forces the service menu to appear.
- Ignition ON, engine OFF
- MODE until service screen shows
- Hold OK 5–10 seconds
- Light resets instantly
What to Do If Your Santa Fe Has the Big Color Touch Screen
Some 2013 Limited models came with the 7-inch or 8-inch navigation screen, and people think those are harder. They’re actually easier. Turn ignition ON (engine off), tap the little gear icon on the touch screen, scroll to “Vehicle Settings” or “Service Interval,” and you’ll see the exact miles left.
Tap “Reset” right on the screen or slide the bar back to 7,500 miles. Takes literally three taps. I helped a lady last month who thought she needed the dealer because “it’s a fancy screen.” She was shocked when it took 15 seconds.
Even if someone previously turned the service reminder OFF in the menu, the wrench can still appear. Just go back in and turn the interval ON, set it to 7,500 miles, and reset — problem solved forever.
- Works on 7-inch and 8-inch nav screens
- Menu path: Gear → Vehicle Settings → Service Interval
- Tap Reset or slide to 7,500 miles
- No tools needed
Alternative Fuse-Pull Trick When Buttons Won’t Work
Every once in a while a 2013 Santa Fe gets glitchy (usually after a dead battery) and the buttons refuse to bring up the service menu. Don’t worry — pull the “MEMORY” fuse for 30 seconds and the computer completely forgets the reminder.
Open the driver-side interior fuse box (left side of dash), find fuse #10 labeled MEMORY (10A, usually red). Pull it out with your fingers or plastic tweezers, wait half a minute, push it back in. Start the car — 98% chance the wrench is gone for good.
I keep a little roll of electrical tape in my glove box and wrap the metal key blade if I ever have to pry, but honestly fingers work fine. This trick also clears random warning lights after jump-starts.
- Fuse #10 MEMORY in driver kick panel
- Pull 30 seconds, reinsert
- Works when buttons freeze
- Zero cost, zero risk
How to Make the Light Stay Off Longer (or Forever)
Want the reminder at 10,000 miles instead of 7,500? Or never see it again? Go into the service menu the same way, change the interval to whatever you want — 5,000, 10,000, even 15,000 miles if you run full synthetic and change it yourself.
Some owners set it to 1 mile and reset every time so it never bugs them again. Not saying you should ignore oil changes, but you control the reminder, not Hyundai.
I set mine to 8,000 miles because that matches my synthetic oil schedule perfectly. Takes ten extra seconds when you reset and you’ll never fight the light again.
- Change interval anytime in settings
- Possible values: 1–15,000 miles
- Match it to your real oil change schedule
- Full control in your hands
When You Actually Should Take It to the Shop
If the wrench is flashing or you have a check-engine light at the same time, that’s different — something real is wrong. Solid steady wrench by itself = just the reminder. Flashing or with other lights = possible real issue.
Also, if you just changed the oil and the light is still on after trying everything above twice, bring it in. Rare, but sometimes the cluster needs a five-second relearn with a scan tool.
Better safe than sorry — a $79 diagnostic is cheaper than cooking an engine.
- Solid wrench alone = safe to reset yourself
- Flashing or with CEL = get it scanned
- After oil change and still on = dealer quick check
- 99% of the time it’s just the reminder
Final Thoughts
You now own the 2013 Santa Fe service light — it can’t scare you anymore. Next time that orange wrench pops up, you’ll smile, spend 30 seconds resetting it, and pocket the money you would’ve given the dealer. Do the reset right after every oil change and you’ll never see it unexpectedly again. Drive happy!
| Action | Exact Steps | Pro Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Standard button reset | Ignition ON → MODE to service screen → hold OK 5–10 sec | Works on 95% of 2013 Santa Fe |
| Big color screen reset | Gear icon → Vehicle Settings → Service Interval → Reset | Fastest method on Limited models |
| Change reminder miles | Same menu → slide bar to 5k–15k miles | Match your real oil change schedule |
| Fuse pull emergency reset | Driver fuse box → pull MEMORY fuse 30 sec | Fixes glitchy ones after dead battery |
| Turn reminder completely off | Set interval to 1 mile → reset every time | Never see the wrench again (your choice) |
| Confirm it’s gone | Start engine → look for zero wrench | If still there, repeat once more |
| Safe metal key prying | Wrap blade in electrical tape first | Prevents scratches on plastic trim |
| When to see dealer | Wrench flashing OR check-engine light on | Don’t ignore real warnings |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is it safe to drive with the service wrench light on?
Yes, 100% safe when it’s solid orange and no other lights are on. That wrench is purely a reminder for oil life and basic service — your Santa Fe will run perfectly fine for thousands of miles with it glowing. I’ve driven friends’ cars across states with the light on and nothing ever happened. Just don’t ignore it forever; change the oil soon.
Can I reset the 2013 Santa Fe service light without any tools?
Absolutely — the button method needs zero tools, and even the fuse trick only needs your fingers. I’ve done it in gas station parking lots with the car still running (ignition on, engine off). Takes longer to read the instructions than to actually do it.
Do I need to disconnect the battery to reset the light?
Never necessary on the 2013 model. Pulling the battery kills your radio presets and clock for no reason. The button or fuse method is cleaner, faster, and keeps all your settings. Only disconnect battery if you’re doing big electrical work.
Is the procedure different for the diesel Santa Fe?
North America never got the diesel in 2013, so every US/Canada 2013 Santa Fe uses the exact same gas-engine reset steps above. If you have a rare imported diesel, the menu is still identical — just follow the touch-screen instructions.
Can the dealer disable the service light permanently?
They can turn the interval up super high, but they usually won’t kill it completely because of warranty rules. You can do the exact same thing yourself in ten seconds for free. I set mine to 12,000 miles and haven’t seen the wrench in two years.
Do I have to reset it right after an oil change?
Not required, but it’s the smartest habit. Reset the moment the fresh oil goes in and you’ll always know exactly when the next change is due. Makes life way easier than guessing later.
Is the wrench light the same as oil life on the screen?
Yes — they’re tied together. When the screen says “Service in 0 miles,” the wrench appears. Reset one and you clear both. Super simple once you know.
Can Jiffy Lube or Walmart reset it for me?
Most quick-lube places know the 2013 trick and will do it free while you wait. Just ask nicely — saves you 30 seconds and they love looking helpful.
