You will be required to drive between 100-200 miles and over the course of a week, called a Drive Cycle, in order to complete the emission monitors and be Know well in advance when you need to have a smog test. If they do not see any error codes go off when running a test, then this means there is no problem with how much pollution comes from the tailpipe of a particular car model during its regular use. These can include: We will go over all of these next so that you can have a better understanding of what your particular car might require to get rid of the check engine light. It has sensors before and after the Cat, and if the cat is working, the sensor readings confirm this to the ECM. In California, the standards apply to all gas-powered vehicles manufactured after 1975. In general, you will need to drive between 50-100 miles after you clear your cars computer. You can also test your car before the inspection to make sure it will pass without any issue. Sign up for wikiHow's weekly email newsletter. I have a check engine light on befor and I On the other hand, OBD-II scanners are more suitable for cars manufactured after 1996 and transmit error codes differently from OBD-I scanners. For more specific information, consult your owners manual or a qualified mechanic. They include the. If you tried all the passing tips above and still failed, your car might need some significant attention to run clean. This passing tip, as well as tips number 5 and 7 do not necessarily apply to your vehicle if it's 2000 model year or newer; this is not to say your vehicle's tires shouldn't be properly inflated, of course. If you dont fix it, you wont be able to register your car. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 168,150 times. Also, it is important to note that you may be subject to legal penalties if you are caught resetting your cars computer to pass an emissions test. Youll need to pass a smog check to renew your cars registration, which youll need to carry valid insurance, and both of those are (almost) always important aspects of keeping your car street-legal. And two, its important to understand what exactly will be reset when you do this. The check engine light is an infamous signal that car owners have come to dislike. The engine must be run for two and a half minutes with the air conditioner on and rear defroster on. This understanding is especially difficult for those who are not familiar with the components of their car. If that code does not clear up driving a 100 miles or more, you have a small EVAP leak, and a smoke test would need to be performed to find it. If it You may fail a smog check if you have a dirty air filter. Lots of short drives (lots of starts, little actual driving) can drain the battery, in theory at least. again ( a reduced rate though) and In other words, your car will essentially be starting from scratch. JavaScript is disabled. Car owners might wonder how many miles to go after resetting the check engine light. WebSmog Check Exemptions for Pennsylvania Drivers. When I returned to AutoZone to buy the cap, I requested an OEM cap and explained why. any chance did you filled the tank before this error occured? 80-100 miles since battery