4Driver4

The A6 finally managed to pass CT emissions....on its third trip through.

I took it to work yesterday while my brave wife struggled with three pedals in the A4 for the day (oh, the humanity). Even though the CEL was off, I fired up VAG-COM on the way to emissions to check for codes. I found one intermittent code for a bank 2, oxs 2, and I cleared it as I drove (hey, at least I wasn't on my cel phone). Of course, I forgot that clearing the code would also clear all the readiness codes.

When they tested the car, only one or two of the seven readiness codes had passed. The test was aborted and I was advised to put 50-60 miles on the car and bring it back. I ran the car here and there and returned to emissions 65 miles later: four readiness codes passed, three not ready. Aborted again.

I took the car out last night with VAG on the passenger seat and watched one more code pass. Just missing evap and secondary air injection, both of which are tested on cold start. I parked the car overnight and took it back to emissions this morning hoping the 5 of 7 would be good enough.

On my return to emissions this morning, I only made it halfway down my street before the last two readiness codes passed. w00t! Now I had all readiness codes and no fault codes...but could I make the 11 miles to emissions without throwing a code (this is an Audi, you know)?

I rolled into emissions with VAG still running and everything looking good. At 8 AM on a rainy Saturday, it was just me and the badly hung over emissions kid (Jamie is his name - we are now on a first name basis). After testing the car twice the previous day, he was less than optimistic, but the car passed "easily".

So moral of the story is to check for fault codes AND check your readiness codes before taking your car for emissions. Fun.

BTW, that's a total of 5 trips to emissions in 3 days for the Coupe, A6 and Nissan pickup. Total costs:
$60 testing fees
$26 fuel
$100 fuel injector for the Nissan (literally failed on the way to emissions, effectively changing the V6 to a V5.)
6 hours of my life

drhaller

The readiness codes would not show "all passed" after I replaced a emissons related fuel vapor valve. In my case, the EVAP leakage readiness test would never show "PASSED".

I found a ridiculous driving schedule (see the end of this post) on the Internet to force the tests to be run. Wasted a few evenings on this.

In the end after more research I found that Volvo screwed up their emissions test software in the ECM and the NHSTA says you can pass emissions with failed readiness codes as long as you have no DTCs.

The emission jocky's computer even had a note that said not to pay attention to readiness codes but just to look at stored DTC's.

This is from NHSTA:

Make: VOLVO
Model: V70
Year: 1998
Service Bulletin Number: 2334
NHTSA Item Number: 620152

Summary Description:
ENHANCED INSPECTION / MAINTENANCE (I/M) PROGRAMS. THIS BULLETIN ADDRESSES CHARACTERISTICS OF THE 1996 VOLVO MODEL 850 AND 1996 - 1997 VOLVO MODEL 960. FOR THESE VEHICLES, INCOMPLETE READINESS CODES WILL NOT INHIBIT THE OBD II SYSTEM FROM MONITORING, DETECTING, AND SUBSEQUENTLY STORING A CORRESPONDING DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE IN SYSTEM MEMORY. IT CAN BE EXPECTED THAT ONE OF THESE VEHICLES EXHIBITING INCOMPLETE READINESS CODES, BUT PRESENTING NO DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS), WILL MEET I/M EMISSION STANDARDS. *TT

This was the impossible driving program (try following this with an automatic transmission!):

Start Engine

Accelerate gently to 1500 - 2000 rpm, manual gear box equipped, gear selection dependent on highway.

Drive for 6 minutes at 1500 - 2000 rpm.

Safely stop the car and idle engine for 70 seconds.

[Fuel Trim adaptive functions are checked by the above steps.]

Accelerate gently to 1600 - 2000 rpm.

Drive for 6 minutes at 1600 - 2000 rpm, manual gear box equipped, gear selection dependent on highway.

Stop the car and idle engine for 70 seconds.

[Secondary Air diagnosis should be carried out at this time (if equipped).]

Accelerate gently to at least 45 mph, drive for 5 minutes at 1800 - 2200 rpm, manual gear box equipped, gear selection dependent on highway.

Stop the car and idle engine for 60 seconds.

[EVAP Leakage diagnosis should be carried out at this time].

Accelerate gently to at least 45 mph, drive for 4 minutes at 1800 - 2200 rpm, manual gear box equipped, gear selection dependent on highway.

Stop the car and idle engine for 60 seconds.

Accelerate gently to 1800 - 2200 rpm.

NOTE : Repeat this last step 3-4 times. To set the cycle flag for idle air adaptation diagnosis the engine needs to come to idle 7 times. Under normal driving conditions you come idle 7 times very easily, but during the forced "TRIP" there are just 3 idle phases

Grapeking

thanks for the post - I never would have thought about the readiness codes. Congrats on passing!

4Driver4

That's nuts. Interesting that they just gave it a pass without forcing Volvo to correct the issue.

John/Jmess5

But thanks for reminding the troops.

All Wheel Driver

you really need to drive for a few days for it to go through all the checks.

4Driver4

Mine took about 100 miles

Aarononymous

Can you do basic settings with VAG-COM? Reset your readiness that way

4Driver4

Not sure if you can get a few like that. Maybe for some, but not all. Some just need time/miles.