My car failed state inspection with O2 sensor and catalyst not ready. No check engine light on.
I have performed 5 or 6 drive cycles but still cannot get them reset. I added a bottle of cataclean just 2 days ago and followed its instructions still not ready. I was told to simply keep driving more miles with the car to more than 1,000 miles, which I don’t think would work plus I desperately need a quick solution, or bring the car to the dealer and have the ECM updated.
Is there any other route I should go to get the car pass the state inspection?
A Corolla owning friend of mine had this same problem earlier in the year, told by the emissions testing folks to just “drive some more” and come back. She drove from LA to Las Vegas and back, same problem. She helps the elderly with showering, medications, etc and needed her car to do her job. She had no choice but take her car to a dealership and have them clear the readiness monitors for her using their specialty scan tool… Sorry to say, but that may be your only solution. Bring your wallet to the dealership, likely to be quite expensive. Definitely was for her.
After the readiness monitor is reset and you go for another test, drive on the highway for at least 30 minutes. Maryland recommends that for your best opportunity to pass. The MD smog test requirements are the same as Cali and whatever they recommend can only help you pass no matter where you live in the US.
There are software updates for this vehicle’s PCM, I didn’t see one that would address an emissions monitor problem. Do you have a reference number?
Emission inspectors usually aren’t allowed the “prepare” a vehicle for inspection, it is up to the vehicle owner to prepare the vehicle for the test. With steady driving the monitors should pass within ten miles. If the cooling system is not reaching proper temperature, the monitors won’t run. If driving conditions are too fast or with too much stop-and-go, the monitors won’t complete.
“Reset” is bad, “Pass” is good.
Disconnecting the battery will reset all monitors, that won’t help, the monitors need to be completed with “Pass” results. A diagnostic scan tool won’t run the monitors for you, it will show when each monitor is complete so you will know when the process is complete.
Why continue driving? That will only generate more pollution. After the monitors have passed, that date remains in the PCM until it is erased or over-written with a failure. If all monitors have passed, you can pull up to the testing station with a cold engine, plug in the diagnostic cable and read the monitors.
The OP is not a mechanic, how much emission testing experience can they have? I perform this after emission or check engine repairs at least once a month.