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Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable Check Engine Light (Gas Cap)

16 messages,  Last post on Jun 04, 2009 at 7:34 AM

You are in the Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Taurus, Mercury Sable, Sedan

Messages Page 3 of 3

#15 of 16 EGR, Evap, Cat "Not Ready" on 2001 Taurus by bbork10002

May 29, 2009 (8:46 am)

To make a long story short, I bought an OBDII scanner recently to clear a "check engine" light that occasionally came on. I had no idea that emissions inspection uses the same OBD plug to pass or fail the car. I did not buy it to cheat inspection.
 
My (wife's) Taurus is up for inspection but the airbag light was on. I called my mechanic who said the airbag light being on will not cause my inspection to fail. However, he ran out of stickers.
 
So I called Sears Auto and asked about the airbag light being on. Sears told me yes, my car will fail inspection if the airbag light is on.
 
So I used my OBDII scanner hoping it would clear the airbag light. It did not. However, when I adjusted the seat, the airbag light came off. Weird but that's good.
 
I went in for inspection at another shop (not Sears and not my mechanic). It failed because it showed 5 sensors "not ready" including 2 for "oxygen"-something and 3 for EGR, Evap, and Cat.
 
My mechanic told me to drive it around for at least 30 miles mix of highway and local traffic. I ran it for 60 miles already but only the "oxygen" sensors were cleared, the other 3 -- EGR, Evap and Cat are still "not ready".
 
Question: I don't mind driving the car around some more. But can I use my OBDII scanner to check if the remaining 3 sensors are ready? This way, as soon as the 3 sensors are ready, I can stop driving around.
 
Thanks a lot!

#16 of 16 Re: EGR, Evap, Cat "Not Ready" on 2001 Taurus [bbork10002] by bbork10002

Jun 04, 2009 (7:34 am)

Replying to: bbork10002 (May 29, 2009 8:46 am)
Just to answer my own question, in case someone experiences the same problem:
 
I fixed it. I followed the instructions for evap, catalyst, and egr (my 3 "not ready" sensors) in this webpage:
 
http://www.obdii.com/drivecycleford.html
 
The idea is to drive smoothly -- no turns, no hills -- to avoid fuel sloshing around in the tank for a few miles at 55 mph within the first 30 minutes of a cold start.
 
Then after (or if you are still within) the 30 minutes, drive at various speeds from 25-45 with some full stops.
 
That's it.

Messages Page 3 of 3

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