Missfire monitor wont set but no codes present or stored.

[12vĆummins]

Recently acquired a 2000 5 speed tdi beetle, and it had a MIL for a maf sensor after replacing the sensor I cleared the codes and have driven over 500 miles and preformed at least 5 drives following the guidelines for setting monitors. All monitors set except missfire. There is no evidence of a missfire or any engine issues. I live in California and just want this thing to pass smog so I can get rid of the smog equipment.

 

[turbodieseldyke]

So you can put it back 2 years later and get rid of it again?

 

[MrCypherr]

Cali does it every 2 years or is it a one time thing?

 

[oilhammer]

I didn't think the earlier ALHs even had the misfire monitor present to set.

 

[turbodieseldyke]

Every 2 years it will get scanned and visually inspected.

 

[12vĆummins]

I didn't think the earlier ALHs even had the misfire monitor present to set.

There are 4 monitors according to my scanner 3 are green and missfire is flashing red

 

[12vĆummins]

So you can put it back 2 years later and get rid of it again?

Correct

 

[12vĆummins]

I didn't think the earlier ALHs even had the misfire monitor present to set.

Just failed smog for incomplete misfire monitor

 

[oilhammer]

Yep. I think my 2000 ALH would, too.

 

[P2B]

Just failed smog for incomplete misfire monitor

The Ontario Drive Clean report for our 2000 ALH says misfire monitor: not applicable. The report for our 2002 ALH says misfire monitor: ready.

The smog computer is broken, not your car.

 

[12vĆummins]

So my obd scanner says missfire incomplete, and the smog shop is wrong? How do I get it to pass smog?

 

[oilhammer]

As I stated earlier, I'm pretty sure early (1998-2001) ALHs' ECUs do not have the misfire detection logic in them, so no misfire readiness can ever happen. Your cheapo generic scan tool doesn't speak proper Volkswagen, so it doesn't know that. I cannot help you on the Califailia testing deal, but I would imagine you're not the only one to have a 2000 ALH registered there so I'd ask.

I think your car just has three monitors: fuel system, comprehensive components, and EGR. That's it. That's all it has.

 

[12vĆummins]

I do believe your right according to vag com there are only 3 monitors and all are passed, however according to a snap on scan tool, and the smog shop there is a 4th incomplete monitor. I went to get it smogged and it passed everything except for having an incomplete misfire monitor, then i called the state referee and they said I had to go to the dealership. I'm not too keen on doing that as I believe they are gonna charge me a lot of money for a car that isn't worth that much. What should my next step be? How can I get it smogged if the shops don't have vag com or a scanner thay tells them there is no missfire detection.

 

[oilhammer]

Take it to the dealer I guess. I don't know how your process is there, we don't have that sort of issue. 2000s pass our OBD test just fine. *shrug*

 

[P2B]

I do believe your right according to vag com there are only 3 monitors and all are passed, however according to a snap on scan tool, and the smog shop there is a 4th incomplete monitor.

If you run VCDS in Generic OBDII mode l expect it will report the misfire monitor as "not installed", but not sure if that will convince the referee.

Unfortunately the Bentley manual just says the 8 readiness bits should be x000xxxx where x means not installed and 0 means ready. The first x is misfire, but the Bentley does not explicitly say that.

 

[12vĆummins]

If you run VCDS in Generic OBDII mode l expect it will report the misfire monitor as "not installed", but not sure if that will convince the referee.

Unfortunately the Bentley manual just says the 8 readiness bits should be x000xxxx where x means not installed and 0 means ready. The first x is misfire, but the Bentley does not explicitly say that.

Yea I saw that on vcds and so I called the ref, but they said there wasn't anything they could do about it amd to take it to the dealer, so I'm probably gonna have to end up getting charged a whole bunch of money from the dealer for a quick easy job.

 

[P2B]

I'm probably gonna have to end up getting charged a whole bunch of money from the dealer for a quick easy job.

The only thing the dealer could possibly do is provide a document stating the car doesn't have a misfire monitor, possibly supported by a printout or screenshot from the official diagnostic scanner.

I would try to confirm that with the dealer, and ask the referee if they would accept such a document, before opening my wallet.

It might be worth asking VWOA for documentation too.

 

[12vĆummins]

Alright so I should just explain my situation to the dealer and ask if they can write a document, then make sure the referee will accept that?

 

[P2B]

Alright so I should just explain my situation to the dealer and ask if they can write a document, then make sure the referee will accept that?

That would be my approach, given it's not possible to "fix" the car - it's operating as designed.

 

[oilhammer]

I'm still finding it highly unlikely that the authorities are just finding this out after 24 years. You can't possibly be the only one to have registered an earlier VE TDI in that state.

 

[P2B]

I'm still finding it highly unlikely that the authorities are just finding this out after 24 years. You can't possibly be the only one to have registered an earlier VE TDI in that state.

I agree, but it's entirely possible a relatively recent smog computer software update caused the issue.

 

[smblktdi]

I've been clearing codes and doing the drive cycle readiness rigmarole every two years in California for smog check, since 2012 or whenever it was, when California decided to require a smog check of my 2001 Golf TDI for the first time. Some years were easier than others to get readiness on my VCDS (never updated) but always got it after a few hours running the idle, WOT, and etc. Not this year. It has been 3 days now and I haven't been able to get misfire readiness. I need it to pass smog and have always been able to get it (the last of three should be 0 not 1 in the second block). (XXXXXXXX X001XXXX XXXXXXXX 0XXXXXXX) So far, I'm totally at a loss. I'm not getting any DTC but something has obviously changed. Knowing VW, I'm suspecting that since I just passed 300,000 miles, VW has programmed the engine computer to not be "ready" when passing that milestone. How would that be for planned obsolescence?

 

[smblktdi]

Model Year	Fuel Type	Number of Incomplete Monitors Allowed to Pass OBD Test1
1996-1999	Gas2	Any one3
2000 and newer	Gas2	Evaporative system3
1998-2006	Diesel	Zero
2007 and newer	Diesel	Particulate Filter and Non-Methane HydroCarbon (NMHC)4

On-Board Diagnostic Test Reference - Bureau of Automotive Repair (ca.gov)

On-Board Diagnostic Test Reference

A summary of pass/fail standards for the On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) test portion of a Smog Check inspection and instructions for inspecting vehicles with known OBD test difficulties.

www.bar.ca.gov

 

[12vĆummins]

Mine was alsoba

I've been clearing codes and doing the drive cycle readiness rigmarole every two years in California for smog check, since 2012 or whenever it was, when California decided to require a smog check of my 2001 Golf TDI for the first time. Some years were easier than others to get readiness on my VCDS (never updated) but always got it after a few hours running the idle, WOT, and etc. Not this year. It has been 3 days now and I haven't been able to get misfire readiness. I need it to pass smog and have always been able to get it (the last of three should be 0 not 1 in the second block). (XXXXXXXX X001XXXX XXXXXXXX 0XXXXXXX) So far, I'm totally at a loss. I'm not getting any DTC but something has obviously changed. Knowing VW, I'm suspecting that since I just passed 300,000 miles, VW has programmed the engine computer to not be "ready" when passing that milestone. How would that be for planned obsolescence?

Mine was also over 300k at 320,000 miles. It had to drive over 1,000 miles, and it finally set, what helped it set was running it with max ac on the highway for about 20 minutes, and idling with a/c

 

[smblktdi]

Just now received Misfire Readiness so will pass smog tomorrow. After research online, and mulling things over, it seemed likely that my injectors are shot and may be affecting readiness. I found this on YouTube and hooked up and measured injectors on VCDS. My car shows volume of injection per stroke, however, not misfires.

The injection measurements were inconsistent from cylinder to cylinder, indicating service is needed, so to save the engine, my injectors need to be refreshed.
Coincidentally, while taking these measurements, misfire readiness appeared!
So, as it sometimes works out, not getting misfire readiness alerted me to the need for injector attention, a good thing.

 

[Jettaluvr]

Kommiefornia resident here, 2003 Jetta mk IV 1.9 ALH man trans. Works great... alternator died. Changed it and battery, cascade errors... then injector pump leaked, o-ring job, then VCDS sftwr, and retiming, PERFECT, but MISFIRE monitor refuses to clear and have rough idle. Found the frayed wires on back of engine (thanks youtube) Changed the injection setting in vcds, Runs GREAT, misfire monitor!!! worked the drive cycle, (It is an every 2 year exercise) REFUSES to clear.. No misfire readout in vcds for this model, and injector quantity is uneven.. Injectors? at $400 EACH, how much do I love this thing? I am interested in the thought that there is actually no Misfire Monitor on this model.. It has always cleared before.. Greasy Gavin Nuisance and the Do-Gooders want us to get rid of our vehicles for EV's/... ;-(

 

[P2B]

Kommiefornia resident here, 2003 Jetta mk IV 1.9 ALH man trans. Works great... alternator died. Changed it and battery, cascade errors... then injector pump leaked, o-ring job, then VCDS sftwr, and retiming, PERFECT, but MISFIRE monitor refuses to clear and have rough idle. Found the frayed wires on back of engine (thanks youtube) Changed the injection setting in vcds, Runs GREAT, misfire monitor!!! worked the drive cycle, (It is an every 2 year exercise) REFUSES to clear.. No misfire readout in vcds for this model, and injector quantity is uneven.. Injectors? at $400 EACH, how much do I love this thing? I am interested in the thought that there is actually no Misfire Monitor on this model.. It has always cleared before.. Greasy Gavin Nuisance and the Do-Gooders want us to get rid of our vehicles for EV's/... ;-(

A 2003 ALH does have a misfire monitor, unless it's had a 2001 or older ECU swapped in.

You can buy a set of 4 injectors with upgraded nozzles for under $400 shipped from powertdi.pl (@cobreti )

 

[Jettaluvr]

So now I am confronted with injector nozzle size question and square or round plug type... DOH, I guess they mean electrical plug type. I can see that.. OK.. but nozzle size ,, stock I guess.
But will this cure my misfire monitor... ? sigh.. New injectors probably a good idea.. https://www.tdiupgrades.com/product-page/complete-fuel-injector-set-oem-a3-b4-a4

 

[CanadianALH]

So now I am confronted with injector nozzle size question and square or round plug type... DOH, I guess they mean electrical plug type. I can see that.. OK.. but nozzle size ,, stock I guess.
But will this cure my misfire monitor... ? sigh.. New injectors probably a good idea.. https://www.tdiupgrades.com/product-page/complete-fuel-injector-set-oem-a3-b4-a4

I remember reading something about that supplier that it was a little fishy. I would suggest powertdi on eBay. They are quality and ship quickly. I and many others run their injectors and like them. I would suggest .260s and a tune from burpod. Wakes the car right up.