1998 Forester - Emissions Testing Drive Cycle

[Cranky]

Hi:
My Forester had a weak battery so I brought it in for the once over.
The shop let the car sit for a week and during that time the battery
went dead. I received a call that they couldn’t do the Pennsylvania
Emissions test because they get a "not ready for testing" code. I
am told that is due to their letting the battery go dead and the
computer resetting! Now I am told I need to run the car until it goes
through the "drive cycle" and the computer reads "ready for
testing."
Does anyone know what the "drive cycle" (I believe that is the
phrase they used) for my 1998 Forester?

Thanks in advance,

Dave aka Cranky

 

[Jim Stewart]

Hi:
My Forester had a weak battery so I brought it in for the once over.
The shop let the car sit for a week and during that time the battery
went dead. I received a call that they couldn’t do the Pennsylvania
Emissions test because they get a "not ready for testing" code. I
am told that is due to their letting the battery go dead and the
computer resetting! Now I am told I need to run the car until it goes
through the "drive cycle" and the computer reads "ready for
testing."
Does anyone know what the "drive cycle" (I believe that is the
phrase they used) for my 1998 Forester?

I have a laptop-based code reader/engine monitor and I've
seen that sort of message from my '99 legacy. I think
it means you have to get the engine up to temperature
and possibly to highway speeds to light off the catalytic
converter so that the computer can check everything.

I'm surprised the clowns didn't just do that, or at least
call you and ask to do it.

 

[George Adams]

From: Jim Stewart

My Forester had a weak battery so I brought it in for the once over.

You brought it in to have them check the battery and charging system and they
let it set for a week???? And you let them????
How long does it take for an oil change? A month??

Run away, screaming, from these clowns and don't ever go there again.


George Adams

"All good fishermen stay young until they die, for fishing is the only dream of
youth that doth not grow stale with age."
---- J.W Muller

 

[Jim Stewart]

You brought it in to have them check the battery and charging system and they
let it set for a week???? And you let them????
How long does it take for an oil change? A month??

Run away, screaming, from these clowns and don't ever go there again.

Attribution error. I was not the OP.

 

[Subbies Two]

x-no-archive: yes

Hi:
My Forester had a weak battery so I brought it in for the once over.
The shop let the car sit for a week and during that time the battery
went dead. I received a call that they couldn’t do the Pennsylvania
Emissions test because they get a "not ready for testing" code. I
am told that is due to their letting the battery go dead and the
computer resetting! Now I am told I need to run the car until it goes
through the "drive cycle" and the computer reads "ready for
testing."
Does anyone know what the "drive cycle" (I believe that is the
phrase they used) for my 1998 Forester?

Thanks in advance,

Dave aka Cranky

If I had a jerk for a mechanic like you have, I would be more than
"Cranky" :!(

Check with your Subaru dealer of the exact drill necessary to
"reeducate" the computer. I just drove my '99 Forester normally for two
days after a battery failure and it was fine.

The car has to be up to normal operating temperature for smog testing.
The car will show as "not ready for testing" if the engine is not at
full operating temperature. I wonder if this jerk even bothered to do
that?

 

[Jim Stewart]

The car has to be up to normal operating temperature for smog testing.
The car will show as "not ready for testing" if the engine is not at
full operating temperature. I wonder if this jerk even bothered to do that?

I think that more has to happen if the codes have been cleared.
When I hooked up my laptop and OBD II probe to my car and cleared
the codes, the computer reported that certain tests hadn't completed
even though I let the engine get up to temperature. I think that you
actually have to take it out on the road for all the tests to
run to completion.

Now this does not lessen the jerkage of the mechanic involved,
just a little more information.

 

[Frank Logullo]

Hi:
My Forester had a weak battery so I brought it in for the once over.
The shop let the car sit for a week and during that time the battery
went dead. I received a call that they couldn't do the Pennsylvania
Emissions test because they get a "not ready for testing" code. I
am told that is due to their letting the battery go dead and the
computer resetting! Now I am told I need to run the car until it goes
through the "drive cycle" and the computer reads "ready for
testing."
Does anyone know what the "drive cycle" (I believe that is the
phrase they used) for my 1998 Forester?

I've always felt sorry for my neighbors in PA that must have the most odious
inspection system in the US.
This nonsense used to be every 6 months but are now annual:
http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/inspections/safety.shtml
Here in DE, on my new Forester last year, I could buy a 5 year registration.
After that, it is a drive through every 2 years.
Pulling wheels and checking brake wear in PA is ridiculous. Residents
should continue to object.
Frank

 

[Mike Bender]

Hi:
My Forester had a weak battery so I brought it in for the once over.
The shop let the car sit for a week and during that time the battery
went dead. I received a call that they couldn’t do the Pennsylvania
Emissions test because they get a "not ready for testing" code. I
am told that is due to their letting the battery go dead and the
computer resetting! Now I am told I need to run the car until it goes
through the "drive cycle" and the computer reads "ready for
testing."
Does anyone know what the "drive cycle" (I believe that is the
phrase they used) for my 1998 Forester?

Thanks in advance,

Dave aka Cranky

I had a similar situation occur when my 2003 Forester showed a CEL 2 days
before it was due in for inspection (dealer replaced the #2 plug and wire
under warranty). Anyway, I got the same story from my Subaru dealer ("We
can't inspect it because the codes aren't set.") After giving the service
department an earful and stopping in the sales department to tell them
that after purchasing 2 vehicles there I wouldn't be back (ever!) I took
it to a local mechanic for inspection. Luckily I had been forced to make
a road trip of about 100 miles after I left the Subaru dealer and by that
time the codes were fine for inspection. My mechanic told me that there
is a set procedure (so many minutes at 25-35 MPH without touching the
brakes, so many at 35-45, so many at 45-55 etc). In fact he mentioned
that he has in the past taken customers' cars out on a loop he's defined
to set the codes after they've been cleared and it takes about 30
minutes. My suggestion would be to take your Forester out onto the
interstate and drive it at varying speeds for 30 to 45 minutes and that
should do it.

On a side note, from what I've read here and my own personal experiences,
Subaru service departments are staffed by the biggest bunch of jerks on
the planet. I've already decided that unless I have an issue that is
without a doubt covered by warranty, I'll never set foot in a Subaru
service department. And don't get me started on them charging $40 to
spend 5 minutes with an OBD code reader for an emissions inspection! At
least I didn't have to worry about the morons trying to put it on a
2-wheel dyno!

- Snuffy -

 

[Hallraker]

I've always felt sorry for my neighbors in PA that must have the most
odious

inspection system in the US.
This nonsense used to be every 6 months but are now annual:
http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/inspections/safety.shtml
Here in DE, on my new Forester last year, I could buy a 5 year registration.
After that, it is a drive through every 2 years.
Pulling wheels and checking brake wear in PA is ridiculous. Residents
should continue to object.

I don't really understand the point of those inspections, I guess it's to
keep the ultra-beaters off the road and also to protect the environment and
what not. Here in Michigan they tried to get those silly inspections going,
but somehow or another it never got off the ground. I think drivers
revolted or something. At any rate, I can drive a 1970's Cadillac running
on one cylinder around town if I want to. 8) (And you'd be surprised how
often I see things like that!)

-Matt

 

[Jim Stewart]

I don't really understand the point of those inspections, I guess it's to
keep the ultra-beaters off the road and also to protect the environment and
what not.

Follow the money. We call them auto repair shop
full-employment laws.

 

[Subbies Two]

x-no-archive: yes

I think that more has to happen if the codes have been cleared.
When I hooked up my laptop and OBD II probe to my car and cleared
the codes, the computer reported that certain tests hadn't completed
even though I let the engine get up to temperature. I think that you
actually have to take it out on the road for all the tests to
run to completion.

Yes, you are correct. I should have stated that having the car at
operating temperature was ONE of the prerequisites to get the car back
in smog test ready mode. The car also needs to be driven. In some year
Subbies , the car has to be driven and let cool down through several
cycles before the "reset" is complete.

Now this does not lessen the jerkage of the mechanic involved,
just a little more information.

Mechanic??? :~)

 

[Danny Russell]

I don't really understand the point of those inspections, I guess it's to
keep the ultra-beaters off the road and also to protect the environment and
what not. Here in Michigan they tried to get those silly inspections going,
but somehow or another it never got off the ground. I think drivers
revolted or something. At any rate, I can drive a 1970's Cadillac running
on one cylinder around town if I want to. 8) (And you'd be surprised how
often I see things like that!)

Matt, I too was wondering what was to become of the re-instated smog-checks returning to Michigan (I
live in Macomb County), so I did some searches on the subject yesterday. Essentially a study is
currently underway to determine which areas in the state are the dirtiest, then that info will be
used to form a plan of action. The results of the "study" are due by '07, and the "plan" is to be
instituted by '08.

Ultimately it's another spoke in the wheel of the Federal takeover of the States. The District of
Criminals is dangling money under the noses of bankrupt states in exchange for control. California
is the most visible example but all the states are giving up their chartered sovereignty in exchange
for loot. It's a gradual, insidious process.

The Federal state. Enemy of the state. State secrets, etc. It sucks. -Danny

 

[Hallraker]

Matt, I too was wondering what was to become of the re-instated

smog-checks returning to Michigan (I

live in Macomb County), so I did some searches on the subject yesterday. Essentially a study is
currently underway to determine which areas in the state are the dirtiest, then that info will be
used to form a plan of action. The results of the "study" are due by '07, and the "plan" is to be
instituted by '08.

Ultimately it's another spoke in the wheel of the Federal takeover of the States. The District of
Criminals is dangling money under the noses of bankrupt states in exchange for control. California
is the most visible example but all the states are giving up their

chartered sovereignty in exchange

for loot. It's a gradual, insidious process.

The Federal state. Enemy of the state. State secrets, etc. It cks. -Danny

Interesting. I live in Kent County myself. I lost the highlight I had on
this thread when I did a spur of the moment rebuild of the computer, so
didn't read it until just now. Anyway, it's good to know that we're ok at
least for now. I think that Michigan should remain free of such testing,
the last great haven of automotive freedom. 0

-Matt

 

[Danny Russell]

Interesting. I live in Kent County myself. I lost the highlight I had on
this thread when I did a spur of the moment rebuild of the computer, so
didn't read it until just now. Anyway, it's good to know that we're ok at
least for now. I think that Michigan should remain free of such testing,
the last great haven of automotive freedom. 0

I sorta sound like I'm bitchin' but it's my own fault as much as anyone's. I'm standing here
allowing the Federal crooks to extort money from my paycheck so they can further the demise of my
freedoms. I'm funding my own enslavement. -Danny