CA Smog - CATs not ready

[sapote]

Bumping this. I am having issues getting my catalyst monitor to ready. I'm allowed one to be incomplete (IL; even Catalyst can be INC if it didn't previously fail and is retesting for a catalyst fault code), but I still would like it to ready. I just drove to and from a track event twice this weekend (45 minutes each way, mostly highway). I didn't follow any particular drive cycle; is this drive cycle methodology absolutely necessary, or can/will it ready itself on its own without the drive cycle if all is healthy? I don't recall this issue on my E36, though it's been a long time, and my G20 has no problems readying with basic driving.

It depends on the driving speed and rpm, and for daily driving the monitors can be ready without us paying attention on them, but it might take some times as it's random hit and miss. But we can get it set sooner by focus on the driving cycles, something like keeping between 40 to 60 mph and rpm around 2000.

[simon_c]

Bumping this. I am having issues getting my catalyst monitor to ready. I'm allowed one to be incomplete (IL; even Catalyst can be INC if it didn't previously fail and is retesting for a catalyst fault code), but I still would like it to ready. I just drove to and from a track event twice this weekend (45 minutes each way, mostly highway). I didn't follow any particular drive cycle; is this drive cycle methodology absolutely necessary, or can/will it ready itself on its own without the drive cycle if all is healthy? I don't recall this issue on my E36, though it's been a long time, and my G20 has no problems readying with basic driving.

Please try this:


1. Start car and head to the freeway (do not go past 3K rpm)
2. Set cruise control to 59 MPH for 15 min or about 10 miles or so. Do this at night time when roads are empty. Do not break cruise control/stop for the duration of the run. Do not exceed 3K rpm.
3. Pull over and check status of smog readiness
4. Repeat step 2 if needed.

The standard drive readiness cycle is pretty much impossible to do. This has worked for me every time and setting cruise control is the key to getting the cats ready for smog.

[I M Legend]

These steps are proven to work. Confirmed by myself and others.


1. First thing in the morning I started the car with AC and fan off. Drove straight to freeway doing my best to keep RPM under 3K and staying under 50mph. Unfortunately it's a few miles until I reach the freeway so I did have a few stop lights and it took about 5 full minutes maybe more before I reached the entrance.

2. Accelerate slowly on to freeway and set cruise control to 55mph in 6th gear. RPMs never went above 3K and settled around 2.25K during the drive. I drove for about 15 miles then exited the freeway and pulled over and checked the status. NOT READY!

3. I turned the engine off, removed the key, opened the door to simulate me leaving, closed the door and waited about a minute before starting the engine again.

4. I immediately jumped back on the freeway. Again not going above 3K RPM on my way to the freeway. This time it was less than a minute and I just had one light.

5. Drove home again using cruise control set at 55mph. Get home, check status. Cats Ready!

[martin.oconnor]

I've never switched the AC or fans off when doing this procedure (and I've done it successfully several times).

Where did this modification come from?