How long/much to drive to get OBD working on 2005 Prius for inspection?

I believe the Gen 2 evap monitor works like Gen 3 ... runs by itself while you're not driving the car, about five hours after you've turned it off. So if you take the car back the next morning it ought to say the evap monitor ran.

I'm not sure exactly what conditions trigger the O2 sensor monitor to run. You can find them in the repair manual (more info) in the sections that describe the O2 sensor-related trouble codes.

 

I don't know personally, but other people have suggested that a mix of driving (highway/surface streets) for about 50 miles should be enough.

But if you want to know for sure then the repair manual as suggested by Chap in post #2 will give you the best answer.

And yes, the battery going flat will wipe out the monitor data, so you want to ensure you have a good automatic multi-stage 12 V battery charger to connect to the battery if you will not be driving the car for a minimum of 20 minutes 3x a week.

You will need to charge the battery to full and then the regular driving will maintain it. If you don't need to drive that regularly (or more) then use a battery charger.

 

welcome!

it's great to inherit a vehicle, but do you have any money for repairs?

 

Prii are odd ducks in the car world. Low miles and not being driven regularly are not good things for these car's? And issue one for one that is not driven on a regular basis is the 12 volt battery. That issue alone can send you down a rabbit hole of "strange seemingly un related issues, until you finally break down and swap the old one out! Ask me how I know.

So step one have the battery "load tested," just about any automotive store will test it for free. I have a battery load tester myself, but I was to pig headed to use it, because my DOV said the battery was good? Live and learn, if your not gonna drive it regularly, get a battery maintainer to keep the 12 volt battery fully charged,

The Evap system, something may indeed be wrong? But it could also be something as simple as the seal on the gas cap? In the old day's they use to pressure test the gas cap's. I don't know if they do that still? Just get a new gas cap and keep the old one as a spare.

The O2 sensor may or may not be bad? Our 2005 is on it's thirds O2, sensor. The first one was replaced under warranty, along with the cat at 113000, some miles? So that seem odd? We inherited ours with 150,000 miles after it to, had sat unused for some time. The O2 did go out again some months later so there is that, And when it did all hell broke loose? Red Triangle of death Blab, blab, blab. Off to the dealer it goes and 2 weeks and 420 buck's and 211000 later it's been fine.

Ticked me off, I could have changed it myself for a lot less. But hey the car was new to me and it kind of freaked me out as an old school car guy.

But you got to get it emissions inspected and you have no idea what is going on with it? Step one get a OBD device, and got one of these uh yesterday and it works, fine with the DR. Prius APP (Goggle Play Store.)

Panlong Bluetooth OBD2 OBDII Car Diagnostic Scanner Check Engine Light for Android - Compatible with Torque Pro

 

Hmm it does bold when I paste like that and I don't know how to make it go back, to normal? So part two as it were. With that tool and the app you won't need the smog guy to see if the codes are clear, you can do it yourself.

And the O2 may or may not be bad? But simple enough put 5 gallons or so of 91 or 93 octane in it, and get it out on the hwy, and drive it for at least an hour or so, to get the cat
and O2 hot. Then drive home do a scan and see what you get.

And if it reads Ok, that's what you need to when you go to get it tested. The cat and the O2 need to be hot.

 

To get it checked for smog at the minimum the motor needs to be up to temp! The cat and the 02 need to be hot, up to temp. So a quick blast down the freeway at the muonium before a smog check is a good advise. `