there is a light that keeps coming on from time to time. and if i hold the button for 5 seconds it comes on. the button is right next to the passanger seat next to the hand brake. what is this?

 

Thats the Tire Pressure Monitor system. It's telling you that one or more of your tires are low

 

ok. thats what i was leaning towards but wanted to make sure. thanks alot.

 

so what does the button next to the seat do then?

 

Manuals are fun to read... aren't they?

 

the manual for my car says **** about anything in that car except what kind of oil to use. its useless

 

Copied direct from my manual :
Flat Tire Monitor +
The warning lamp indicates a flat
tire or a system malfunction. In the
event of a flat tire, an acoustic signal also
sounds.
Reduce speed immediately and stop the
vehicle.
It is possible that the acoustic signal was
not heard. In this case, in order to determine
if there is a flat tire or a system malfunction:
1. Switch off the ignition, ignition key position
0
2. Switch the ignition back on, ignition key
position 2, or start the engine.
If an acoustic signal sounds, you have a flat
tire. Otherwise, the system has a malfunction
or has failed.
For instructions on how to proceed further,
refer to Flat Tire Monitor starting on page 71

From page 71:
FLAT TIRE MONITOR
The concept
As you drive, the Flat Tire Monitor keeps
track of the tire inflation pressure in all four
tires. The system alerts you when there is a
substantial pressure loss in one of the tires
relative to another.
The tire inflation pressures are monitored
based on the speeds of the four wheels in
relation to one another. A flat tire is
detected as the result of differences in certain
speed ratios, and a warning is generated.
System requirements
So that the system can 'familiarize' itself
with the correct inflation pressure, please
do the following:
1. Check the tire inflation pressure in all
tires
2. Compare them with the inflation pressure
table, refer to page 98, and adjust
the pressures if necessary
3. Initialize the system.

System limitations
The Flat Tire Monitor cannot alert you
to severe and sudden tire damage
caused by external factors, nor does it
detect the gradual and minor loss of pressure
in all four tires.<
On the other hand, the following situations
could lead to a delayed detection of pressure
loss or to the system not functioning:
>Driving on snow-covered or slippery
roads
>Performance-oriented driving: slip at the
drive wheels, high rates of lateral acceleration
>When driving with snow chains, false
warnings and undetected pressure loss
may occur
>When driving with a space-saver spare
tire, the Flat Tire Monitor cannot function.
Initializing the system
The system must be reinitialized
immediately after changing a tire
and wheel, or after correcting the pressure
in any tire. This requires a bit of driving.<
1. Before a journey, start the engine, but do
not start driving
2. Press the button long enough for the
indicator lamp in the display elements
to light up for a few seconds
3. Drive off.
It takes a few minutes before the Flat Tire
Monitor can detect a flat tire and issue an
alert

 

Usually when the oil pressure light comes on you need to get the oil change. What I would do is check the oil dipstick to see how much oil is in the engine. If its low the add about a quart of oil to it and get an oil change. If the oil is not low then take it to the dealer and have them check to see if there is an oil leak.

 

hmmm
well nothing much can be said about a button unless you specify exact model and build of your car

or else why dont you try uploading a picture of your car of that spot so that we can visually see it for ourselves
and you too