Comprehensive Component Monitor, OBD2, and the CA smog Check

[new/used golf 2006]

I tried to post this as a follow-up to an older thread, but I don't think it worked.

My car is a 2006 Golf TDI.

Its check engine light came on.

A friend with a scanner read the code: p0128.

I looked this up and learned that this is usually the coolant temperature sensor.

I changed the CTS.

I had my friend with the scanner clear the check engine code.

I went to get smogged. It passed emissions, but the thing said that the car's computer wasn't allowing it pass.

I drove it for a week (about 100 miles).

I took it back and had them retest it today. They checked the OBD2 and said the comprehensive component monitor was still not ready.

Any advice?

 

[bmali98]

Get a code reader that monitors readiness status and don't go for the e-test until it's ready. Don't clear anything or you will have to start over. I don't know what system isn't ready but you may be able to adjust your driving for all the conditions to be right for the system check to perform. In Ontario you can pass with 1 test not ran but I dunno about Cali.

 

[need4speed]

Readiness Monitors are the devil.

When you re-set your codes, it also UN-sets your readiness monitors.
The readiness monitors then must go through a certain "procedure" in order to reset.

When there are no codes, and monitors are reset, then the EPA knows the car is not only operating correctly, but that it's been driven through a "cycle" that shows that all the emissions-equipment are operating properly.

I can't comment on the 2006 Jetta readiness monitors, but I know that with my daughter's Toyota, the readiness "procedures" included several drive-cycles: start motor, warm-up (coolant to operating temperature), drive at a certain speed for x miles, stop and shut off motor, then cold-soak (coolant temp must drop down to within a few degrees of intake temp: this is usually accomplished by letting the car sit overnight), then start motor and drive again. There were about 5 of these readiness monitors, and the most stubborn one to reset on a 2000 Toyota was the EVAP emissions monitor; which California EPA USED to allow to be un-set, but the law changed in 2009 or so, and now ALL monitors have to be set.

The EVAP monitor reset, on that car, required that the gas tank be about half full, and after the cold-soak, the gas tank cap had to be released, (simulating a gas-tank refill) - this procedure was to test that the gas-cap could hold a vacuum, to prevent gasoline from evaporating (causing ozone). This is why people get dinged for a new gas-cap every so often.

If you're in a hurry after a repair and code reset, the readiness monitors can be a real pain to get set back. Most smog places will tell you "just take the car out and drive it for a little bit and then bring it back" (which sucks, if your smog is overdue, and you only have a temporary 1-day permit from the DMV). The process is designed to take a minimum of a few days to reset all of the monitors, but if you know EXACTLY which ones need to be reset, and if you know the EXACT procedure to reset them, then you can do it - and your time-limiting factor is the engine cold-soak cycle. On my third try with my daughter's Toyota, I was able to get them all re set in the space of about 4 hours, but it was a real pain. There's no shortcuts.


There *should* be documentation somewhere about what readiness monitors your car has, and exactly what the re set procedures are.

 

[dirtride]

Another thing to do, and what I plan on doing in the future is simply move out of Kalifornia!

Too much KARB BS!!!!