Mdrury

Having installed a new battery last week-end and attempting to get the vehicle smogged today, I feel like the King of the Mental Midgets.
Of course! I hear you all cry. You didn't get the ECU "readiness" codes reset first!
After getting the bad news, the first thing I do at home is search the threads on this Forum. Bingo! Many have been there before, the solution has been tried and tested. Duh!

You can bet that I'll be up early tomorrow to try the recommendations (thanks ecobb993) from a cold start.

If anyone is remotely interested by now, I'll let you all know how it went.

Meanwhile, if any of you have learnt any new wrinkles to the self help process please post a reply

I'm almost laughing with relief now, but you can bet I wasn't when my P-dealer quoted me 3-4 hours at $100+ per hour for their tech to fix it.

Repeat after me: "the Rennlist membership fee is money well spent"

Lorenfb

Here's some info on Readiness Codes I've written:

Basic OBDII Readiness Codes

*** Non-Continuous Tests
**** - Three Way Catalytic Converter (TWC) Effeciency
**** - Fuel Tank Ventilation (EVAP)
**** - Secondary Air Injection (SAI)
**** - Oxygen Sensors
**** - Oxygen Sensor Heating
*** Continuous Tests
**** - Fuel System (TRIM)
**** - ECM Faults (DTC)
**** - Cylinder Misfire

*** 1. Monitored & Set During Three Cycles; Warm-up, Driving, & Trip
********** Warm-up Cycle - SAI, EVAP, (from cold start to operating temperature, 2 min. minimum)
********** Driving Cycle - O2 Sensors/Heating, TWC, TRIM, (2 min. idle, 5 min. drive, 2 min. idle)
********** Trip Cycle - Diagnosis of All ECM Systems, (2nd Driving Cycle after shut-down, 20 min. max.).
*** 2. Completed Prior to an Emissions Test.
*** 3. Accessed via the OBDII Connector (DLC).
*** 4. Reset by a DTC clear or a battery disconnection.
*** 5. Some non-continuous tests can be run ("short test") via special scanners.

It can be very difficult to complete all the codes on some 993s, as I've discovered
lately in working with a number of shops and Porsche dealers. The complete emission
system must be in perfect condition with all elements functioning. Some test stations
will accept two incompleted codes. Some CARB offices will provide waivers for some
early '96 993s.

Before presenting the car for testing, you need to have the OBDII
system scanned to determine the readiness states to avoid wasting
time and annoying the test station (can result in subsequent additional
emissions scrutiny).

Mdrury

Thanks Loren, I'll endeavour to integrate your inputs into the procedure.

So, anyone on/near the Central Coast got an OBDII "hammer" I could borrow please?

Father of 3

Good luck. I tried twice and failed. If you are successful, I'd be interested to learn the secret to success.

mborkow

1. cold start
2. idle ten minutes
3. 10 miles at 2500 rpm
4. 10 miles at 2000 rpm
5. 10 miles at 1500 rpm
6. come to a stop and idle with clutch in (the horror) for 3 minutes

during this process you can never go over 3000 rpm or 60 mph
i did this twice and then went and passed smog 1 month after getting a new battery installed

Lorenfb

"So, anyone on/near the Central Coast got an OBDII "hammer" I could borrow please?"

You really don't need the Porsche tester to check the readiness codes.
Any OBDII scanner will generally provide this info. These scanners have
become very inexpensive and probably will become a "must have" for any
DIY's tool kit in the future. Most are aware that OBDII has become a standard
for ALL '96 and later cars here in the U.S. and probably by now in the ROW.

So, rather than being "at the mercy" of a dealer/independent, most "concerned"
car owners, especially DIYs, will have access to an OBDII scanner.

"i did this twice and then went and passed smog 1 month after getting a new battery installed"

The two "runs" is key to completing all the readiness tests.

kary993

I finally got the Porsche dealer to let me borrow their portable computer (a large tablet computer) and have a tech drive with me to get it to reset the codes. It took far onger than each items says it should so if you do not have something to tell you each has reset you will not know....it is a PITA!!!

Check the archives here as there is a lot of good info posted by myself and others about this.

ecobb993

Mdrury,

Give this a looksee:
http://srlx.com/p-car/obdii_readiness.pdf

Even though this is a BMW routine, it's worked for me without fail on the 993.

Mdrury

Thanks for the undoubtedly sound advice from all of you who responded.
I concluded that it would make sense to acquire my own OBDII code reader. Quickly narrowed the choices down to two of the simplest devices for a DIY-er and checked them both out at my local Kragen: AUTOXRAY EZ Scan 1000 and Equus Innova 3100.
Hope this is a good omen; BOTH devices were offered with a store mail-in rebate.
Fast forward to my first (of two) driving cycles. The "fun" part is finding a place with no traffic to drive sub-3000 revs and sub-30MPH for 5-10 minutes continuously!
Totally counter-intuitive for a P-car owner

Second cold start cycle tomorrow.

kary993

I had the Equus 3100 as wel but needed the Porsche computer to really know when some of the codes reset....good luck!!

ecobb993

I've been using the OBDII Scan Tool software on a laptop with interface connector for more in-depth analysis, but have just purchased this little inexpensive tool to throw into the glovebox for a quick read (and 2ndary air error reset) on the road:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=46030

Haven't had an opportunity (no errors) yet to try it out. But can't see a reason it won't do the job. If it doesn't work; not much of a $loss.

FOLLOWUP: Just had my first opportunity to try it and found this tool does not work on German cars. I've returned it and have purchased an Actron PocketScan (for twice the price, but still not bad at $80) and used it to clear the silly DTE P0410. If it reads something other than the 2ndary air error, I'll use the laptop tool to confirm.

Hope this helps!

mborkow

i have a generic obdii scanner and it said all the readiness tests were complete. before i had it smogged i brought it to my mechanic to hook up to the porsche tablet computer and it indicated that there were readiness tests that were NOT complete (the tests which the generic reader did not support i think), however, even though there were tests according to it that were not comnplete it did show that i had 2 "trips" and that is, apparently, enoough to pass smog here in CA. really the whole thing is ludicrous; if you want to know if my car is kicking out smog then just measure the emissions! btw, 0 parts per million were measured; that is what i can efficient!

Mdrury

Well, the Equus 3100 I have supports eleven monitors, of which eight show up on this vehicle (does that match what everyone else sees?). I won't bore you with the details here, it's all on the Equus website at www.codereader.com

Mdrury

OK, I'm getting the hang of this process now. Just a little slower than I'd hoped. Test station operator tells me that I don't have to get all of the readiness codes complete, just five. That includes the three continous monitors, so one more to go. A little more patience and perseverance should do it. Thanks to all for the advice.

ecobb993

My experience in running the above referenced BMW readiness reset routine (once) is that it resets all the readiness switches (measured by the OBDII Scan Tool software).

Others agree?