Drive Cycle?! Are you freaking kidding me?!

**KeithGTP03** · 08-19-2011

I have been trying to get my car inspected for almost a year now, but I cant because I have 2 monitors showing "not ready" (EGR and CATALYST). I can only have 1 showing "not ready" to have it inspected. EGR will never show ready because....well, its not there. Ran across an inspector that told me if I toss him 50 bucks...he'll lie and inspect it as a 2000 model. (apparently 2000's can have 2 monitors show "not ready") But I would rather not do this illegally. So I ran across this gem:

To perform an OBDII Driving cycle do the following:

1. Cold Start. In order to be classified as a cold start the engine coolant temperature must be below 50°C (122°F) and within 6°C (11°F) of the ambient air temperature at startup. Do not leave the key on prior to the cold start or the heated oxygen sensor diagnostic may not run.
2. Idle. The engine must be run for two and a half minutes with the air conditioner on and rear defroster on. The more electrical load you can apply the better. This will test the O2 heater, Passive Air, Purge "No Flow", Misfire and if closed loop is achieved, Fuel Trim.
3. Accelerate. Turn off the air conditioner and all the other loads and apply half throttle until 88km/hr (55mph) is reached. During this time the Misfire, Fuel Trim, and Purge Flow diagnostics will be performed.
4. Hold Steady Speed. Hold a steady speed of 88km/hr (55mph) for 3 minutes. During this time the O2 response, air Intrusive, EGR, Purge, Misfire, and Fuel Trim diagnostics will be performed.
5. Decelerate. Let off the accelerator pedal. Do not shift, touch the brake or clutch. It is important to let the vehicle coast along gradually slowing down to 32km/hr (20 mph). During this time the EGR, Purge and Fuel Trim diagnostics will be performed.
6. Accelerate. Accelerate at 3/4 throttle until 88-96 km/hr (55-60mph). This will perform the same diagnostics as in step 3.
7. Hold Steady Speed. Hold a steady speed of 88km/hr (55mph) for five minutes. During this time, in addition to the diagnostics performed in step 4, the catalyst monitor diagnostics will be performed. If the catalyst is marginal or the battery has been disconnected, it may take 5 complete driving cycles to determine the state of the catalyst.
8. Decelerate. This will perform the same diagnostics as in step 5. Again, don't press the clutch or brakes or shift gears.

Thats fuggin stupid. Im gonna have to find an abandoned track to be able to pull that off. I barely have time to even drive the car let alone do that crap 5 times. Its just frustrating cuz there is absolutely nothing wrong with the car.

/rant

**JarenSTi** · 08-21-2011

that sucks! good thing iowa doesnt have those damn things.

**BillBoost37** · 08-22-2011

here ya go
When we work on our cars and unplug the PCM etc it is common to have the various emission tests of the car reset. This can be a problem when you were doing work to pass the emissions test. Here are the guidelines for running all the tests.
This is to set the readiness codes to pass, or to help flush out pesky problems.

1. Perform a cold start. ECT must be below 122Â° also within 11Â° of the ambient air temperature upon startup. (Note: Do not leave the key in the on position before the start up. This may cause the oxygen sensor heater diagnostic not to run.)
2. Idle the engine in drive for 2 1/2 minutes with the air conditioner and rear defroster on. You want a lot of electrical load. The more the better. This will run diagnostic tests for O2 heater, Purge "No Flow", Misfire, Passive Air, Fuel Trim and if closed loop is achieved.
3. Accelerate to 55mph at half throttle (1/2). All electrical loads should be minimized. This will run diagnostic tests for Fuel Trim, Misfire, Purge Flow.
4. Steady state cruise at 55mph for 3 minutes. This will run diagnostic tests for O2 response, EGR, Misfire, Air Intrusive, Purge and Fuel Trim.
5. Decelerate from 55mph with foot off the throttle. Do not shift the vehicle manually or touch the brake. Let the vehicle gradually slow itself down to approximately 20mph. This will run diagnostics for Purge, EGR and Fuel Trim.
6. Accelerate to 55-60mph at three quarters (3/4) throttle. This will run diagnostics for Fuel Trim, Misfire, Purge Flow.
7. Steady state cruise at 55-60mph for 5 minutes. This will run diagnostic tests for O2 response, EGR, Misfire, Air Intrusive, Purge and Fuel Trim and catalyst monitor. If you have just reconnected the battery or the cat is only doing part of its job, it may take up to 5 complete cycles for the system to determine the state of the cat.
8. Decelerate with foot off the throttle. This will perform the same diagnostics as in step 5. Do not shift the vehicle manually or touch the brake. Let the vehicle gradually slow itself down to approximately 20mph. This will run diagnostics for Purge, EGR and Fuel Trim.

**dpzelenak** · 08-22-2011

i been going to those for months, but i never followed steps, just drove it around and normal it take me about 600 miles before its done, now im waiting on it to finsh so i can get my car inspected(suppost to me done in may but not this year)

**BillBoost37** · 08-22-2011

Funny thing there is I didn't follow this last year when I had to test my Regal. Instead I "told them" to cooperate.

**KeithGTP03** · 08-22-2011

Originally Posted by BillBoost37

here ya go
When we work on our cars and unplug the PCM etc it is common to have the various emission tests of the car reset. This can be a problem when you were doing work to pass the emissions test. Here are the guidelines for running all the tests.
This is to set the readiness codes to pass, or to help flush out pesky problems.

1. Perform a cold start. ECT must be below 122Â° also within 11Â° of the ambient air temperature upon startup. (Note: Do not leave the key in the on position before the start up. This may cause the oxygen sensor heater diagnostic not to run.)
2. Idle the engine in drive for 2 1/2 minutes with the air conditioner and rear defroster on. You want a lot of electrical load. The more the better. This will run diagnostic tests for O2 heater, Purge "No Flow", Misfire, Passive Air, Fuel Trim and if closed loop is achieved.
3. Accelerate to 55mph at half throttle (1/2). All electrical loads should be minimized. This will run diagnostic tests for Fuel Trim, Misfire, Purge Flow.
4. Steady state cruise at 55mph for 3 minutes. This will run diagnostic tests for O2 response, EGR, Misfire, Air Intrusive, Purge and Fuel Trim.
5. Decelerate from 55mph with foot off the throttle. Do not shift the vehicle manually or touch the brake. Let the vehicle gradually slow itself down to approximately 20mph. This will run diagnostics for Purge, EGR and Fuel Trim.
6. Accelerate to 55-60mph at three quarters (3/4) throttle. This will run diagnostics for Fuel Trim, Misfire, Purge Flow.
7. Steady state cruise at 55-60mph for 5 minutes. This will run diagnostic tests for O2 response, EGR, Misfire, Air Intrusive, Purge and Fuel Trim and catalyst monitor. If you have just reconnected the battery or the cat is only doing part of its job, it may take up to 5 complete cycles for the system to determine the state of the cat.
8. Decelerate with foot off the throttle. This will perform the same diagnostics as in step 5. Do not shift the vehicle manually or touch the brake. Let the vehicle gradually slow itself down to approximately 20mph. This will run diagnostics for Purge, EGR and Fuel Trim.

LOL...thats the same thing I posted. Thats really not feasible around this area. The dealership told me to just drive it, but I always have to have the company vehicle with me. So I never have a chance to drive it.

**wodeln** · 08-30-2011

great!!!the last one!!

**Dtmrm** · 11-01-2011

I agree. This is a near impossibility for me to do anywhere near where I live. Can these steps be done individually, or do that have to be one after the other? If they are individual, I might be able to do it, but short of driving 20 mph on a major highway in the middle of the night, I don't see how this is possible.
Thanks