Emission system won't reset 98 V70 X/C AWD

[Chai]

Hello Everyone, I am an old lady who knows nothing about cars. I have a '98 V70 X/C AWD. I live in California. I cannot complete registration because my car will not pass the smog test. My mechanic replaced two worn hoses and a leaking evap purge valve. He reset the computer system and told me how far to drive the car to get it to do what it is supposed to do. I drove it. And he rechecked it and it wasn't working. I drove it again... and again. Still not working. Then I drove it more again. Still not working. He has "reset" the computer again and I'm supposed to drive up and down the highway again. He says he has no idea why it's not doing what it's supposed to do. I spent so many hours driving the car and used so much gas, I thought I'd ask if anyone has any ideas about this. I can't go anywhere or even park my car on the street because without the smog test, my vehicle registration is incomplete. Thanks!

[abscate]

Hello Chai. California allows you to have two monitors “ not ready “ to inspect as long as the Check engine light is off. You might need to drive it just long enough to get most of the monitors off , then get it smogged

Let us know your location and maybe we have a member nearby who can help you with monitors

[Chai]

Thanks. I have no idea what you mean by "monitors". The "Check Engine" light is off now. The most recent time my mechanic plugged the hand held device into my car, he said that the readings showed nothing had changed from my lengthy driving. He mentioned that 5 factors (I think he called them "readings') were still "incomplete". I live in the Santa Cruz area. Thanks!






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[abscate]

I’ll try to find a friendly thread on this but here is a brief version.

You are driving down the road one day and your number 5 spark plug cracks and starts a misfire. You hear a chugging and loss of power and your check engine light comes on. Your friendly mechanic reads off a P0305 code, finds the bad plug. Replaces it, and all is well. She “resets” your ECM by sending the clear codes function, and off you go.

Your car has to establish that everything is ok with its monitoring systems by being driven in various modes for 100-300 miles until all of the monitors, or programs in the car computer, are happy. Once this happens, all the monitors will show “ ready” on a tester and your car can be smogged


Two things required for smog test

No CEL light on, instant fail
All monitors ready.

However, in some States or local communities, you are allowed to have one or two monitors “not ready” and still be allowed to pass smog. CA is very rigid about this do your inspector will know the rules in your zip code of residence.

Your car has these monitors

Major component
Engine misfire
Evaporative emissions
Heated oxygen sensor 1,2
Oxygen sensor 1,2
Catalytic converter

The evaporative one is the one that often takes time to go ready. It has to do a complicated series of tests in the tank and plumbing to make sure the tank isn’t leaking

I think we have a friendly MVS member in Santa Cruz , I’ll try connect you

[abscate]

Attached is a picture of Tori’s monitor readout

Available means present on the car
Ready means it has completed its tests and is operational.

You need most , of not all to be green in the readiness column

[bmdubya1198]

Abscate summed it all up pretty well, hopefully enough to give you a general understanding of what your mechanic is referring to. It can sound like a lot to someone who isn't familiar with this stuff!
It can take a lot of driving to get all of those monitors to set sometimes, so be patient and make sure that he doesn't reset the codes each time. That will reset those monitors, and you'll have to start all over again.

If it's truly not getting any of them ready and you've done a lot of driving (couple hundred miles) you might be losing power somehow (battery drain). But I wouldn't worry about that at this point.

[songzunhuang]

Chai, can you post the code you are getting? I know you said it wouldn’t reset, that implies there are codes that are still there. Emissions evap systems leak is usually a P0455. I am in the Santa Cruz area and have a 98 V70 with close to 280k miles. I’ve been doing most of the maintenance myself but will occasionally goto AE Motorsports (over by the Costco). They are Volvo specialists and I go there when there are special tools or when I just don’t have time to fix something that needs to be done.

If you can provide more details, perhaps it’s something I have experienced before. I’ll standby for more info.

[rrres]

Your car has to establish that everything is ok with its monitoring systems by being driven in various modes for 100-300 miles until all of the monitors, or programs in the car computer, are happy. Once this happens, all the monitors will show “ ready” on a tester and your car can be smogged

+1

The smog guy gave me a "drive cycle" diagram showing how the car is suppose to be driven. There's different ones out there but see if your smog shop has some info on a "drive cycle" that they prefer. As Abscate said above, you need to drive it "in various modes": It will be something like accelerating, slowing down without using the brakes, accelerating again, coasting, and etc.

It could be challenging to perform the drive cycle depending on where you live. You'd want to find a road that is safe with not a lot of traffic or stop lights. I had to find a secluded semi-industrial area with not a lot of traffic lights. Then you repeat that cycle as much as possible or until the car is "ready". One thing that I found doesn't work is to just add a lot of miles on the freeway. Driving has to be "in various modes". AC has to be off during the drive cycle, if I remember correctly.

[abscate]

Things to avoid when trying to get monitor readiness.

Ac must be turned off
Full throttle operation. Slow and smooth throttle action
Either very full or very empty fuel tank. 1:2 tank is good
Kept speed under 60 mph

[Chai]

Thanks, everyone. I will get in touch with my mechanic about getting those codes. Thanks!!