Last week my buddy rolled up with his 2014 Cruze blinking that annoying “Change Oil Soon” message even though we’d just swapped the oil that morning. He was ready to drive to the dealer and pay $50 for nothing. I grabbed his keys, hopped in, and had it cleared in literally half a minute. That little trick saves time, money, and keeps the car happy, so here’s exactly how you can do it too.
Here’s the whole process in one quick run-through so you can see it all at once: turn the key to ON without starting the engine, slowly press the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor three times within five seconds, watch the oil life flash and reset to 100%, turn the key off, start the car and check that the message is gone and the oil life reads 100% on the DIC.
Get the Car Ready First
You’ll want to do this reset right after an oil change while everything is still fresh, but it works anytime. Park on level ground, make sure the doors are closed, and grab your key. No tools needed—just you and the driver seat. Most people try this with the engine running and wonder why it fails, so remember the engine has to stay off the whole time.
Next, slide the key into the ignition. For 2014 Cruzes with the regular key (not push-button start), turn it to the ON/RUN position. You’ll see all the dash lights come on, but don’t crank the engine. If you accidentally start it, no big deal—just shut it off and try again. Keeping it simple like this avoids any confusion later.
Now take a quick peek at the Driver Information Center (DIC) in the middle of the instrument cluster. Use the MENU button on the turn signal stalk until you see “Remaining Oil Life” on the screen. It probably says something low like 8% or 15%. That number is what we’re about to blast back to 100%. Knowing exactly where it is makes the next parts way smoother.
- Park safely and close doors
- Key in ignition, no tools needed
- Engine stays completely off
- Find oil life percentage on DIC first
Turn the Key to ON Position
This part trips up a ton of people because they start the car out of habit. Twist the key forward until the dash lights up and the radio works, but stop before the engine actually turns over. You’re basically in accessory mode plus one click. The fuel pump will prime for a second—that’s normal.
If your Cruze has the keyless system with the clutch pedal, just press the brake and push the start button once without pressing the clutch all the way. Same result: everything powers up except the motor. Either way works perfectly on the 2014 model. I always count “one-Mississippi” after the lights come on just to be sure everything is awake.
Look down at the cluster again. All the warning lights should be glowing, including the oil can symbol if it was on before. This tells you the car is listening and ready for the pedal trick. If nothing lights up, wiggle the key a little—sometimes the ignition switch gets finicky after a few years.
- Key to ON/RUN, dash lights on, engine OFF
- Keyless models: one press of start button, no clutch
- Give it a second for systems to wake up
- Confirm warning lights are illuminated
Press the Gas Pedal Three Times
Here’s the magic part everyone loves once they see it work. With the key still in ON, slowly push the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor—count to three on the way down so it’s nice and deliberate. Lift your foot completely off, then do it again… and one more time. You have to finish all three presses within five seconds total.
Most folks rush it and mash the pedal like they’re passing someone on the highway. Slow and steady wins here. I usually say “one… two… three…” out loud so I stay in rhythm. If you go too fast, the computer ignores you and nothing happens. Been there.
After the third press, just sit still for a couple seconds. Don’t touch anything yet. The car is thinking. Some Cruzes give a quick chime, others stay silent, but the important part happens on the screen next. Patience right here saves you from doing it five times.
- Press pedal slowly to floor three times
- Finish all three within five seconds
- Count out loud if it helps
- Wait a moment after the third press
Watch the Oil Life Flash and Reset
Now look at the DIC. The oil life percentage should flash a few times, then jump straight to 100%. You might see “OIL LIFE 100%” or just the number change—it varies by car. That flash is the computer saying “got it, resetting now.” Pretty cool the first time you see it.
If nothing flashes and it still shows the old low number, turn the key off, wait ten seconds, and repeat the whole thing. Nine times out of ten, someone either started the engine by mistake or pressed the pedal too fast. Second try almost always nails it.
Once you see 100%, you’re basically done. The “Change Oil Soon” message disappears forever until the next 7,500 miles or whatever interval you set. Feels good knowing you just outsmarted the dealer for free.
- Oil life should flash then show 100%
- Message disappears immediately
- If no change, turn off and retry
- Takes just a couple seconds when done right
Turn the Key Off and Verify
Turn the key back to OFF and pull it out. Wait five seconds—gives everything time to save the new setting. Now start the car normally. Let it idle for a moment and scroll back to the oil life screen again. It should still read 100% and no oil light on the dash.
Drive around the block if you want extra peace of mind. Everything stays reset even after you shut it off for days. I’ve had customers call me a week later saying it stayed perfect. That’s how solid GM made this system on the Cruze.
One last quick check: hold the turn signal stalk buttons to scroll through the DIC menus and make sure no weird codes popped up. Clean screen means happy car. You officially just saved yourself a trip and some cash.
- Key off for five seconds
- Start engine normally
- Double-check oil life still shows 100%
- Take a quick drive for confidence
When It Still Doesn’t Work
Sometimes a 2014 Cruze is stubborn—usually because the battery was disconnected recently or the cluster got glitchy. If you tried twice and still no reset, leave the key ON for a full minute, then do the three pedal presses again. That extra minute lets the modules fully wake up.
Another easy fix is to disconnect the negative battery cable for five minutes, reconnect, and try the procedure fresh. Resets any temporary gremlins. I keep a 10mm wrench in the glovebox just for this.
Last resort, some auto parts stores will reset it for free with their scan tool while you wait. Takes them ten seconds and still beats the dealer price. But 99% of the time the pedal trick works perfectly once you nail the timing.
- Try leaving key ON for 60 seconds first
- Disconnect battery 5 minutes if needed
- Parts stores often do it free
- Pedal method works almost every time
Final Thoughts
Hope that little 30-second trick becomes your new party trick with Cruze owners. It’s one of those satisfying moments where you fix something yourself and feel like a genius. Do it right after every oil change and you’ll never see that nagging message again. Drive happy knowing your 2014 Cruze is properly taken care of—no dealer required.
| Action | What to Do | Time Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Park & prepare | Engine off, key ready, doors closed | 10 seconds |
| Key to ON position | Dash lights on, do NOT start engine | 5 seconds |
| Press gas pedal 3 times | Slowly fully to floor, within 5 seconds | 5 seconds |
| Watch screen | Oil life flashes then shows 100% | 2-3 seconds |
| Turn key OFF | Wait 5 seconds | 5 seconds |
| Start engine & verify | Check DIC shows 100%, no warning light | 10 seconds |
| (Optional) Battery reset | Disconnect negative 5 min if it fails | 5 minutes |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I reset oil life with the engine running?
No, and that’s the number one reason people get frustrated. The computer completely ignores the pedal presses if the engine is on. Always keep it in ON/RUN position only. I made that mistake the first time too—dash lights yes, motor no.
Do I need any tools or scan tool?
Not at all for a 2014 Cruze. The three-pedal trick is built right in by GM. Newer cars sometimes need a scanner, but your 2014 is old-school simple and free.
Is it safe to drive with the oil light on after a fresh change?
Totally safe if you just changed the oil—the light is only a reminder, not a real problem. Resetting it just keeps the Driver Information Center accurate and stops the annoyance.
Can push-button start Cruzes use the same method?
Yes, just press the start button once without touching the brake (or clutch if manual). Same ON position, same three slow pedal presses, same happy 100% result.
Do I have to reset it exactly at 0% oil life?
Nope, you can reset anytime. Some people like to do it at 10-15% so they get a fresh countdown. Works the same no matter what percentage shows.
Is the oil life monitor accurate?
It’s surprisingly good. Uses driving style, temperature, and mileage. Highway drivers often hit 9,000+ miles, city drivers maybe 5,000. Trust it more than the old 3,000-mile myth.
Can I change the percentage it reminds me at?
You can’t adjust the actual algorithm, but you can reset early or late to kind of trick it. Most folks just reset after every change and let it count fresh.
Do I still need to check the dipstick?
Absolutely—oil life monitor doesn’t know if you have a leak or are burning oil. Quick dipstick peek every couple fill-ups keeps you safe no matter what the computer says.