I'm not sure if this will help or not, but I have a 2003 Accord and, as some other answers have mentioned, the "Maintenance Required" light comes on every few thousand miles for routine maintainance. To reset the light, with the car off, press and hold the Odometer Reset button. Turn the key to ON (you don't have to start the engine) and hold the button in for 20 sec. Then turn the car off and release the button. Not sure if this will work for a 1997, but it works on my 2003.