Resolved Drive Cycle for Monitors 1997 Eclipse Spyder GST

[Raider_831]

Hello, I have a stock 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GST. I’m in California I need to smog the car soon. Can someone please help or know the specific drive cycle instructions for the monitors to turn on? I currently have 5 monitors as incomplete. The car has been driven 2 days about 300 miles. I bought the car last year but had to replace the battery which erased the monitors so it’s my first time smogging this car. Thanks in advance

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

 

[Mahreeoh17]

Usually a normal drive cycle is around 50-100 miles, so the monitors should've reset already. Was the car smogged when you bought it?

 

[Mello]

The EPA has a federal exemption for all 95 to 97 turbo Eclipse. Search this site for the EPA docs, they're posted somewhere (I uploaded them). Long story short, the EPA instruct all emission testing to ignore the readiness monitors & required all testing stations to update the testing equipment to ignore the monitor results & continue the rest of the vehicle testing. The problem is at key off the ECU clears the readiness codes & they never complete. Mitsubishi fixed this on the black box ECU's.

 

[Raider_831]

The EPA has a federal exemption for all 95 to 97 turbo Eclipse. Search this site for the EPA docs, they're posted somewhere (I uploaded them). Long story short, the EPA instruct all emission testing to ignore the readiness monitors & required all testing stations to update the testing equipment to ignore the monitor results & continue the rest of the vehicle testing. The problem is at key off the ECU clears the readiness codes & they never complete. Mitsubishi fixed this on the black box ECU's.

I did see another post mention that. I just wasn’t sure how accurate that info was. I always thought the monitors had to be on. I’ll try to look for the info or just go ask the smog station guy to verify it, it would be awesome to have the link so I can show the proof if needed if the smog guy doesn’t know what I’m talking about. I’ve failed smog before in another car it’s the last thing I want to deal with again. Thanks for the info highly appreciated

 

[Mello]

Read through this thread it may provide some help & info in regards to the readiness monitors. https://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/cant-pass-emissions.500018/#post-153566332

 

[Raider_831]

Sweet I downloaded those EPA documents that’s a great start. I’m going to see if I can find an active link to those documents. I’m going to drive the car a couple more days and hope the monitors magically come on or would you say it’s basically impossible on the the 97 GST? Either way I got to smog it by the 20th of Dec. Thanks again!!!

Usually a normal drive cycle is around 50-100 miles, so the monitors should've reset already. Was the car smogged when you bought it?

Yes the car was smogged last year prior to the purchase. I wasn’t there to see it get smogged though. I thought I’d have to smog it until next year but no it came in for this year. The whole car is stock with low miles too like 55k.

 

[Mello]

Only need to read the doc with the latest date. It's the final report. I wouldn't waste anymore time or gas. If the monitors are the only issue the test station should pass you. If they fail you because of only the monitors, report them to the state authorities, they'll have some explaining to do at minimum (& you'll be allowed a refund for the cost or retest).

 

[Raider_831]

Only need to read the doc with the latest date. It's the final report. I wouldn't waste anymore time or gas. If the monitors are the only issue the test station should pass you. If they fail you because of only the monitors, report them to the state authorities, they'll have some explaining to do at minimum (& you'll be allowed a refund for the cost or retest).

Sounds like a plan. I’m going to test it on Saturday on my day off work. I’ll check back in on this post to keep it updated for future people with the same issue.

Yes monitors are the only issue no check engine light. Car drives fine. I only owned the car 1 year but had to replace the battery not to long ago so that wiped whatever info it had.

 

[chrysler kid]

To get the 95-97 ECU to show all ready you have to drive it for about an hour, then make sure the inspection place doesn't turn the car off to do the inspection. The 95-97 ECU doesn't have saved settings so when you turn the car off the ECU basically memory wipes (except stored CEL codes)

 

[Raider_831]

To get the 95-97 ECU to show all ready you have to drive it for about an hour, then make sure the inspection place doesn't turn the car off to do the inspection. The 95-97 ECU doesn't have saved settings so when you turn the car off the ECU basically memory wipes (except stored CEL codes)

I tried going to the smog place yesterday after work but the guy wasn’t there. I was going to ask him about the EPA exemption and if it’s possible/followed in California. I’ve driven the car at this point 300-400 miles within 3 days. I check with the scanner while car is idle and still doesn’t show the monitors as complete. No check engine or pending check engine lights.

 

[Raider_831]

So just for some closure on this post and thanks for the people that helped me. I was able to pass California Smog even though my (5 Monitors) never set/were incomplete. This is the link that was clear cut. I know the EPA also had a similar post but since I’m in California that BAR CA link is what helped me.

On-Board Diagnostic Test Reference

A summary of pass/fail standards for the On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) test portion of a Smog Check inspection and instructions for inspecting vehicles with known OBD test difficulties.

www.bar.ca.gov

If this post helps anyone let us know. My car is 1997 Spyder GST all stock.