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Inspection Question: OBD Result - FAIL

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by hkd, Dec 20, 2011.

  1. hkd

    hkd New Member

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    I just bought a 2006 Prius (a private transaction) and went to get it inspected in Washington DC. The system kicked out at negative test result: "OBD Result: Monitors Not Ready: Evaporative System, Oxygen Sensor." Reading between the lines of what the Inspector told me, it might not be a big deal to re-set the monitor. The official advice was to go to a mechanic and find out "how to drive the car in order to get the computer to re-set". Everything is easy when you know how. Does anyone here have an idea that would save me an inconvenient trip to a dealer out in the suburbs? Thanks - Hkd
     
    #1 hkd, Dec 20, 2011
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  2. seilerts

    seilerts Battery Curmudgeon

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    You need to complete two OBD trips. Let the car warm up, then drive at 55 mph for 10 minutes. Shut off and repeat.

    But this is a really bad sign, as it implies that the seller reset the check engine light just before you bought it.
     
    #2 seilerts, Dec 20, 2011
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  3. hkd

    hkd New Member

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    Thanks very much. Kindly elaborate: what is the implication of the seller having reset the 'check engine' light?
     
    #3 hkd, Dec 20, 2011
  4. seilerts

    seilerts Battery Curmudgeon

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    Such as, it has an EVAP leak or bad O2 sensor or catalytic converter or it sat too long and the 12V battery went dead.
     
    #4 seilerts, Dec 20, 2011
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  5. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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    Hopefully the seller just did a clear for no specific reason. It, as Seilerts said, may indicate that the seller was hiding a problem with the car.

    If no codes come back after driving for several trips, then any problem would likely be minor and you'll pass the retest.

    JeffD
     
    #5 jdenenberg, Dec 20, 2011
  6. hkd

    hkd New Member

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    In this case I don't think the seller was being intentionally deceptive and, after taking Seilert's advice, the car passed inspection. Thanks very much - Hkd
     
    #6 hkd, Dec 21, 2011
  7. seilerts

    seilerts Battery Curmudgeon

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    Cool. Sounds like it was just a fluke. Maybe they had just replaced the 12V battery too.
     
    #7 seilerts, Dec 21, 2011
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