maintenace required flashes 5 times at start up and then goes away. What could cause this?

it is telling you it needs maintence,take to your local dealer

It just needs an oil change. The light starts flashing around 3000-4000 miles after the last oil change, and goes solid by 5000. Change the oil yourself, then when done reset it by:
1. put key in ignition
2. push the odometer button until he odometer reading shows (not trip a or trip b)
3. hold the odometer button while turning the key to on
4. wait for odometer to reset to 000000 (it'll count down like: -----   ----   ---  --  - )