Drive Cycles to Clear ECM Monitors? Am I the Only One?
JW
Nissan has hard to clear monitors.
Had a dead knock sensor in our 96 GXE (VQ30DE) so I replaced it then reset
the ECM. Just drove it 78 miles and tested...no DTCs but the following
monitors had not completed: Catalyst Monitor; Evaporative System Monitor;
Oxygen Sensor Monitor. I was under the assumption that all you had to do
was drive it 60 miles for all the monitors to complete but, after talking to
a somewhat helpful mechanic was told that the car had drive cycles that were
things like...drive for so many miles at a certain speed, let it cool, and a
few other things I can't remember. Apparently each car is different and I'm
hoping someone here can point me to what they are so I can get them cleared
so I can complete the state inspection. Thanks for any help. Thanks for any
help.
codifus
I don't know the answer but this related topic may help:
When taking your car for inspection I've been told that if you reset
the ECU, you have to wait 2 weeks in order for the car to be able to
pass inspection by reading the computer. My guess is that's how long
you'll have to wait as well, and I mean wait to check the computer
again while driving the car, not just have it sit there, of course.
Hope this helps
CD
AS
drive cycle. You may find additional information here
http://www.turbo6.net/vqtech/ESM/Nissan/Maxima/
JW
all the setpoints to satisfy the monitors but it's not a guarantee. Nissan
has a TSB that gives "drive traces" that you have to follow exactly that
satisfies the monitors. This problem only applies to 96 & 97 Nissans (as far
as Nissans) and I'm unlucky enough to own one. Here's one link that explains
it better:
http://www.asashop.org/autoinc/nov2003/techtips.htm
"codifus" <cod...@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:0b9cbd9c-5da4-4a02...@e10g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
E Meyer
looks like it got eaten somewhere. If it doesn't come through, email me &
I'll send it to you.
On 12/13/07 9:25 AM, in article M9c8j.3868$Vq....@nlpi061.nbdc.sbc.com,
JW
it...http://www.lyberty.com/car/Maxima_A32_docs/NTB98-018c.pdf
"JW" <jw...@swbell.net> wrote in message
news:M9c8j.3868$Vq....@nlpi061.nbdc.sbc.com...
JW
computer hooked up while doing the drive traces to monitor fuel demand or
something. How would one work around this? I have a decent Innova computer
but, I don't think it can be hooked up while the engine is running, even if
it could give the information the TSB want you to monitor. One more
thing...how can any sensor on a car tell if you added exactly 4 gallons of
gas??? Man, this is getting complicated. Not to mention I waited till the
last day for inspection so the car is not legal to drive...and there's
nothing I can do about it. There was no MIL so I had no idea the car had a
problem. Sure am glad I only own ONE of these models. Thanks everyone for
helping.
"JW" <jw...@swbell.net> wrote in message
news:ebe8j.7463$AR7....@nlpi070.nbdc.sbc.com...
E Meyer
don't need the computer hook up to get it to initialized. Just execute the
sequence and you should be fine. Do it twice if you want to make sure. Any
codes that set without lighting the MIL (like knock sensor) will not fail
you on an annual inspection.
On 12/14/07 10:00 AM, in article
XMx8j.53515$eY.1...@newssvr13.news.prodigy.net, "JW" <jw...@swbell.net>
wrote:
JW
that no more than 2 uncompleted monitors can be present in order to pass
inspection.
"E Meyer" <epme...@msn.com> wrote in message
news:C38806D4.2BE94%epme...@msn.com...
George
> hoping someone here can point me to what they are so I can get them cleared
> so I can complete the state inspection. Thanks for any help. Thanks for any
> help.
Your drive pattern should follow guidelines in the 1996 shop manual
pages EC 47 - EC 50
If you have not yet acquired a manual anywhere, the following may be of
interest to you. I know I found it interesting, especially the generic
drive cycle advice at the end.
In New York you should take the emissions test anyway so you get a valid
sticker, let it test fail, and you get an automatic extension. During
that 10 day extension period you will certainly accomplish the System
Readiness tests and avoid tickets for having an expired inspection. I
hope automatic extensions for a failed test are common everywhere and
hopefully exist where you live.
The following is from the New York City emissions inspection pamphlet
titled "What do You Mean, My Car's Not Ready?" Hopefully the EPA parts
will be applicable anywhere:
"Vehicles perform up to 11 system tests, depending on year, make
and model of the vehicle. These tests are commonly referred to as
readiness monitors.
"HOW MANY MONITORS HAVE TO BE READY?
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines allow up to two
monitors to be in a "not ready" state for model year 1996 through 2000
vehicles and one monitor "not ready" for 2001 and newer model year
vehicles.
"WHAT CAUSES A "NOT-READY" REPORT?
Causes of a "not ready" report:
? Recent vehicle repairs in which diagnostic trouble codes have been
cleared with a OBDII scan tool; or,
? if the battery had been recently disconnected or replaced; or,
? if the vehicle's computer requires a software update; or,
? a pending problem has not yet illuminated the "check engine" light.
"Negotiate with the inspection station to have a technician perform the
drive cycles according to manufacturer specific guidelines for a fee you
will pay. If you take the vehicle from the inspection facility to
perform the drive cycle yourself, the inspection station operator can
charge you an emission re-inspection fee, up to the maximum fee allowed
for an original emission inspection.
"GENERIC DRIVE CYCLE
The purpose of the OBDII drive cycle is to run your vehicle's onboard
diagnostics. This, in turn, allows monitors to operate and detect
potential malfunctions of your vehicle's emission system. The correct
drive cycle for your vehicle can vary greatly, depending on the vehicle
model and the monitors that need to be reset. When a specific drive
cycle is not known, or drive cycle information is not available from an
owner's manual, the generic cycle described below may assist with
resetting your vehicle's monitors. However, this generic cycle may not
work for all vehicles.
1. The OBDII drive cycle begins with a cold start (coolant temperature
below 122 degrees F and the coolant and air temperature sensors within
11 degrees of each other).
2. The ignition key must not be left on prior to the cold start -
otherwise the heated oxygen sensor diagnostic may not run.
3. As soon as the engine starts, idle the engine in drive for two and
one-half minutes, with the air conditioning (A/C) and rear defrost
turned on, if equipped.
4. Turn the A/C and rear defrost off, and accelerate to 55 mph under
moderate, constant acceleration. Hold at a steady speed of 55 mph for
three minutes.
5. Decelerate (coast down) to 20 mph without braking (or depressing the
clutch for manual transmissions).
6. Accelerate again back to 55 to 60 mph.
7. Hold at a steady speed of 55 to 60 mph for five minutes. Decelerate
(coast down) to a stop without braking."
--
Oil is always 15 years from running out, the oceans are always 10 years away
from rising 10 feet, and the internet always has only 3 years left before it
runs out of capacity. Color me skeptical.
JW
could get up to 55mph 2 1/2 minutes after start up. I wonder if the
engineers were pissed when they came up with this stuff? Thanks for the
info.
"George" <not....@email.invalid> wrote in message
news:not.real-075638...@news.verizon.net...
E Meyer
sniffer in the tail pipe and do the inspection the way they do it for pre-96
cars. I wonder if they'll do it?
On 12/15/07 8:28 AM, in article
vwR8j.70539$RX.4...@newssvr11.news.prodigy.net, "JW" <jw...@swbell.net>
wrote:
JW
were the Nissan engineers thinking when they designed this?
"E Meyer" <epme...@msn.com> wrote in message
news:C389CA46.2BF17%epme...@msn.com...
Codifus
> It seems like the simplest solution would be to get them to stick the
> sniffer in the tail pipe and do the inspection the way they do it for pre-96
> cars. I wonder if they'll do it?
I know this is a bit late but that sniffer is connected to a $100K
machines which auto garages hated putting up the money for and getting
pitiful return on investment. They much much prefer NOT using the sniffer.
CD
E Meyer
On 12/27/07 12:51 PM, in article 4773f419$0$13889$607e...@cv.net, "Codifus"
<cod...@optonline.net> wrote:
Around here, if they are licensed to do the inspections, they have to have
it, so why not use it?
codifus
> On 12/27/07 12:51 PM, in article 4773f419$0$13889$607ed...@cv.net, "Codifus"
>
> <codi...@optonline.net> wrote:
> > E Meyer wrote:
> >> It seems like the simplest solution would be to get them to stick the
> >> sniffer in the tail pipe and do the inspection the way they do it for pre-96
> >> cars. I wonder if they'll do it?
>
> > I know this is a bit late but that sniffer is connected to a $100K
> > machines which auto garages hated putting up the money for and getting
> > pitiful return on investment. They much much prefer NOT using the sniffer.
>
> > CD
>
> Around here, if they are licensed to do the inspections, they have to have
> it, so why not use it?
Because the new standard is much much cheaper, quicker, cleaner, you
name it. All you need is a PC, software, and an OBDII reader. Scan and
done. No reading the exhaust when the O2 sensor in the car has been
doing it for you anyway. No expensive dyno equipment either. The old
system was ridiculous. I don't even own a garage but I felt sorry for
the garage owners having to deal with that for inspections.
CD
E Meyer
On 1/2/08 2:16 PM, in article
321f8f2f-c022-4838...@h11g2000prf.googlegroups.com, "codifus"
<cod...@optonline.net> wrote:
The dyno equipment is still there and still required. It hasn't gone away.
All inspection stations around here that do emissions testing still have to
have the sniffer/treadmill setup because all pre-OBDII cars still require
annual testing (at least in this county, and AFIK, all the counties
surrounding major metro areas.)
The OP couldn't get his car inspected (in this same state, as was later
revealed) using the OBDII way because all the sensors did not show "ready".
My comment was simply that, since the testing station already has the
sniffer equipment, why not ask them to do it the old way.
I have both pre and post-OBDII cars. It takes just as long to get them
inspected using the OBD-II connector as it does with the exhaust sniffer.
In fact they park the OBDII cars on the treadmill when they plug it in. The
paperwork is the actual time waster.
I think this will all change soon. The state has just come up with a
program to offer owners of cars older than 10 years $3500 to put them
through the crusher if they buy a car 2 years old or newer.
common_
In Arizona if the check engine light is on its an automatic failure -
only vehicles pre OBD get the sniffer test (because post ODB cars run
so clean it can not be sniffed).
educationmortgage
I have a 96 Nissan Maxima and was locked out from emissions because my drive
cycle had not been completed on my vehicle. I drove the generic drive cycle
and also drove the car 55 mph for a minute - let go of the accelerator and
coasted for 15 secs. and repeated the acceleration and coasting three times. I
had driven the car for two whole days for approx. 89 miles when I got the
emissions testing again. They told me that they would not do the old style
testing if there was a problem with the OBDII reading. I passed. The drive
cycle worked. Hope all of you are help as much as I was from this information.
--
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