How do you reset the 'maintenance required' light on a 1996 Montero?

Turn the key on but don't start it. and pump the gas pedal 3 times quickly this should turn it off.

Dunno about turning the vehicle off and pumping the gas (Someone's joke I guess). But the instrument cluster has a switch (on the back) on the Speedometer end of the cluster. Switch it up. I was replacing my steering wheel and then decided to try this. I did, and my MAINT REQ light is currently off. Unplug your battery, and remove the steering wheel. The steering wheel was the easiest steering wheel I have EVER removed. There are 4, 10mm nuts on the backside of the steering wheel. That removes the Airbag/center of the steering wheel. With the battery disconnected, unplug the 3 plugs that operate the airbag, remove Airbag/center. Now exposed is a 17mm nut in the center of the steering wheel, remove it. Now simply rock the steering wheel back and forth, side to side while pulling it toward the rear of the vehicle. NO STEERING WHEEL PULLER IS REQUIRED. I've done this twice on two separate vehicles and did not need a steering wheel puller. Now you can remove 3 simple phillip head screws on the dash to expose the cluster. Then you will see 3 more phillip head screws holding the cluster, remove them and then the cluster is free except for what is plugged into it. I unplugged everything to remove the cluster entirely. But now that I know where the switch is I think I could just reach to the backside and flick it up. One REAL BIG KEY HERE. DO NOT TURN THE IGNITION KEY ON TO CHECK THE LIGHT WHITHOUT THE AIRBAG HOOKED UP! Because if you do, the SRS light will come on because it is not reading a valid connection with the Airbag. That's where I am now, trying to figure out how to turn out the SRS light. Anyway, I know that whole operation sounds complicated, but it is not. On a scale of 1-5, i'd rate it a 2 (at the most!). It took me just more than one hour. Having done it twice now, I'd bet I could do it in 40 min or less, no joke. I'm guessin you don't have to remove the steering wheel to get to the instrument cluster, but it was pretty easy. Good luck, I hope this has helped and by all means please post some mechanical information to help someone else so we can all share. Thanks, Brownsoxx

Somewhat following the above info: I removed the two Phillips screws in the front of the speedometer panel and the one between the panel and the windshield(you will need a very short screwdriver for this). The screw is underneath a small rectangular plastic tab. Next, pull the cover forward, you will need to disconnect the wires on the left side of the panel, in my case it was the cruise control switch and three other connectors in the back. Swing the panel over so you can look in the back of it. Next, on the left side of the panel you will find a small, black, slide-type switch. Just reset the switch, put everything back the way it was, and you're done. I didn't have to remove the steering wheel. The actual job takes about 15 minutes. I don't think it can be done without removing the panel. Thanks to the original poster--you saved my butt. I needed to get it smogged and it would not have passed with the "maint" light on. The mechanic I took it to didn't know how to reset the stupid light.