When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Always funny how these threads show up in December when my annual inspection is due. I have everything I need to clean the SAI ports, but I continue to do the annual dance to pass emissions.
Just a follow up on my earlier post of success with the one-by-one drive monitors being set using Jay’s recommendation of OBD reader and drive routine.
I have a 97 and to my knowledge the DME is stock.
Here is a photo of the DME readout from the mechanic:
Thanks for the update, Justin. This is an important piece of the puzzle.
Between your 9/96 build and my 3/97 build, we now have two stock 97's covering most of the MY97 production year that have tried this.
Summarizing:
a) Both are normally-aspirated 97's
b) Both have the stock, OEM ECU/firmware numbers (consistent with published numbers).
c) Both display monitors one at a time.
d) Both respond the same way to the SAI drive cycle (see below).
e) Both successfully masked SAI faults and passed emissions.
Since our vehicles span a good part of the July-Mar MY production cycle, it's highly likely all OEM 97's can successfully mask SAI faults using this procedure.
Next up: '96's. Based on results reported in this thread as well as in private communications, it appears at least some '96's may be able to do this. Need more folks to give it a try and report back. Still no feedback from 98 owners. Hoping to hear others' results.
Recapping the drive cycle that works for 97's: clear your SAI fault codes the night before by resetting your OBDII system. The next day:
1) Cold start the car and drive 25 highway miles doing 60-70mph in 6th gear (SUV style). Leave the scanner connected.
2) Pull over, turn off car, restart ( you can do it quick).
3) Continue driving 60-70mph in 6th gear until the CAT and HTR monitors get set. This should happen in about 20 minutes.
4) Idle a minute or so. EVAP will set.
I believe requirement for steps 1 and 3 is TIME (20 minutes), not distance, so adjust accordingly.
Hello Jay, Appreciate your information !
That said, for my situation ( 1996 933 TT with the 2nd issue , battery disconnected by dealer for 3 spoke wheel install )
Is there a " driving scenario " that I might try to re-set the ( 5 ) system readings and or re-set computer to " ready mode "
that you are aware of ( w/o buying / using my own monitor )
Or should I try your " driving fix " and see if it works for me .
The technique described in this thread has thus far been shown to work only for 97's. OBDII firmware evolved from MY96 to MY98 with each year becoming easier to achieve readiness. Unfortunately, 96's are the hardest. It's possible the "SAI drive" described here can one day be expanded to include 96's and 98's, forever banishing SAI faults to emissions hell, but without a 96 and 98 to test (it does take time), there's just no way to know. In the meantime, there's an OBDII readiness thread here somewhere you might want to check out. Plenty of other folks in your situation.
Hey Jay, I seem to be having trouble getting my codes ready. I've been to testing 3 times now.
I bought the scan tool you use & thought I would try the technique you've described this morning. No luck. But, how exacting do I need to be to the directions? I ended up having to turn my car off a couple times before starting, & I drove closer to 27 miles before being able to pull over. After all of this & more regular driving, I still show no codes ready.
The distance of each of the highway legs isn't critical as long as you get safely past 20 minutes on each of the legs. Neither is the distance you drive after each of the starts and before you begin the 20 minute highway legs. It's pretty forgiving so your results are puzzling. Can you explain what you mean by " I ended up having to turn my car off a couple times before starting....". It works every single time the exact same way for me and others have done it as well. You have a 97, right? I'd be surprised if Targas have different firmware but anything's possible. What's your VIN and build date? It's possible the change from 96 OBD firmware (which won't behave the same way) happened part way through MY 97. -Jay
There weren't any problems starting, I just had to turn the car off at home because I forgot something & then to get gas. I definitely went at least 20 min each time.
12-18-2018, 06:47 PM
