OBD Monitors

[SVX92-97]

Took my 97 to Emissions today, and test could not be completed because I had two or more readiness monitors unavailable. My problem is I had two codes, PO500 speed sensor and PO505 idle control. I replaced the idle control valve last week with a used one I bought on ebay, and cleaned the entire throttle body which very dirty. I have not had the idle control valve code come on since I last cleared it nearly 100 miles ago, but the speed sensor code came on thursday night on my way home from work. I cleared it and drove 30 miles with it off, got home shut car off. Yesterday took a short trip of five miles and came back home and shut car off. Then this morning I took it to emissions a six mile one way trip. So I have only put about 50 miles and two drive cyles on since last clearing the CEL for the speed sensor. Emissions told me to drive it over the weekend and come back on Monday. Problem is if I drive much more, I risk having the CEL coming back on again, and then Im starting all over again. My question is, is there a tool I could use to plug into the OBDII system to reset the OBD Monitors to a ready status to get it thru emissions before the CEL comes back on. My registration expired on the 5th and I cant renew unless it emissions compliant. Thanks

[Conn SVX]

Do u want me to try and contact some of my friends that do emission testing and ask if there is a way to cheat the system .

[1986nate]

There is no way of cheating it. It can tell if the ECU has run through all 7 checks or not and it needs to run through all of them to enable it to pass.

[SVX92-97]

A friend of mine told me with a laptop and some software his son was able to make all the monitors ready so it can be tested right away, and not have to wait for all the drive cycles to get it ready. Does anyone know what the drive cyle is for our cars to make all the OBD monitors ready for testing. They couldnt test my car because there were two monitors not ready, the O2 sensor and the cataylst.

[Subaru Alliance]

If I am not mistaken the o2 sensor will stay in closed loop mode until it is sufficiently warmed up, and I think the cat also has to be hot for it for it to start doin it's thing as well. You would think 6 miles would be enough for everything to be warmed up tho, I could be wrong but it's a thought. maybe it wasn't warmed up enough?

[Green1995SVX]

You can't force reediness with a generic OBD scan tool.

[SVX92-97]

I also though six miles would have been long enough. I guess I will try again tomorrow and do about 20 miles and head straight for the emissions station. Hopefully the CEL will stay off. I know I need to replace the speed sensor, was waiting for Nate to send me one, but he is doing his Willie Nelson impersonation "ON THE ROAD AGAIN"

[thumper_svx]

Sounds familiar;

http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/showthread.php?t=56681

The upshot of all this was I had to actually call the EPA to have an exemption entered into their system for the 1996 Subaru SVX as a model. Apparently mine was the only one that has been recently tested in the state of Missouri.

Although I don't know for sure, the 1997 may well have the same issue... I was pretty much under the impression that the 1997's were identical to the 1996's with the exception of the tires and grille.

Anyway, once I had the exemption entered I took my car back to the shop and it sailed right through.

Another way to beat this is to work with the shop so that you can drive the car for at least 20 minutes, and then have them hook up to the scanner while the car is running (do NOT shut it off), and then it'll pass because all the sensors are "ready".

[Conn SVX]

There was a rule (not sure if still in effect) if you can show receipt totaling a certain $ amount you can get a waiver. They can't expect you to spend $500.00 on a 17 year old car to pass. Like I said was the rule I have to check .
Just call one of my Emission buddies that does the test. the amount you must spend to get the exception $850.00
The other thing he said was after you clear the code you must drive about 120 miles with no code to pass.
He has been doing it for years and he works on Subarus all the time . No he is not willing to try to fudge it.
His suggestion take it to a dealer and get it fixed.

[SVX92-97]

No thanks, 1. I cant afford a dealer, and 2. even if I could, I would NOT want to bring my svx to subaru dealer who thinks you should replace your rear wheel bearings every year I guess I will drive it around somemore and try again. Thanks Conn!

[thumper_svx]

Um... did you read my post?

[1986nate]

Originally Posted by thumper_svx

Um... did you read my post?

97 ECU's are unique and not the same as 96's. As are the TCU's
The wiring is slightly different. While all the same wires are used, the actual connectors are different. The ECU firmware is different. 97's are truly their own breed in a few regards.

[SVX92-97]

Nate, I pmd you. Need that speed sensor asap.

[92snowmachine]

you should "readiness monitor drive cycle" it's a pretty specific range of driving that if you don't complete all of it not all of your monitors will run. sometimes i have to drive cars for an hour to get the monitors to run because of traffic etc... interfering with the drive cycle. may save you time when trying to get them to run.

here is one from ford, but im sure you can find the subaru one they are all pretty similar.
http://www.obdii.com/drivecycleford.html