Explorer fails inspection after catalytic converters changed

[dpbtalipan]

Hello guys in this forum i have a ford 2015 explorer i changed my atalytic converters myself coz the mechanic told me i have a bad cat. But after i change it there is no code anymore but it did not pass inspection they said its incomplete show in the obd tester. The guy who inspected it told me to drive more miles on it so i did went to bethlehem PA and back to BX and more than 150miles but still shows incomplete in the OBD tester now the inspector told me to research how to fix it. Please i need advice. Thank you

 

[TXScott]

Most any ODB scanner can clear codes. Once a code is cleared, the vehicle has to have several engine cycles as well as miles driven before it is "ready" to pass a state safety inspection. This is to prevent people from clearing engine/emission problems just before they take their vehicle to an inspection so they can't cheat, it gives the system a chance to re-discover any issues. You can also buy an ODB scanner that connects to your phone via Bluetooth fairly cheaply like $20(a wise investment), altho many ppl here will recommend the FORScan OSB scanner specifically, so you can see when it's ready instead of going back and forth to the inspection station as well has have it handy in case the check engine light ever appears or even to poke around what's going on with your car.

Anyway, here is a handy link to a state-published guide to get your ODB system to ready status:

https://dmv.vermont.gov/sites/dmv/files/documents/AVIP%20Rack%20Card.pdf

 

[mguy13sport]

If you plan on doing it yourself on these new cars then as mentioned you definitely need a code scanner.

OBDLink MX and ForScan pair together nicely and you will have full access to the vehicles Canbus network (Ford/lincoln)

 

[dpbtalipan]

Most any ODB scanner can clear codes. Once a code is cleared, the vehicle has to have several engine cycles as well as miles driven before it is "ready" to pass a state safety inspection. This is to prevent people from clearing engine/emission problems just before they take their vehicle to an inspection so they can't cheat, it gives the system a chance to re-discover any issues. You can also buy an ODB scanner that connects to your phone via Bluetooth fairly cheaply like $20(a wise investment), altho many ppl here will recommend the FORScan OSB scanner specifically, so you can see when it's ready instead of going back and forth to the inspection station as well has have it handy in case the check engine light ever appears or even to poke around what's going on with your car.

Anyway, here is a handy link to a state-published guide to get your ODB system to ready status:

https://dmv.vermont.gov/sites/dmv/files/documents/AVIP%20Rack%20Card.pdf

Thanks for the info.

 

[peterk9]

Thanks for the info.

Welcome to the Forum.
The title was changed to more accurately reflect the problem.

Peter

 

[410Fortune]

Drive some more miles and some
More drive cycles

 

[zendog]

Hello guys in this forum i have a ford 2015 explorer i changed my atalytic converters myself coz the mechanic told me i have a bad cat. But after i change it there is no code anymore but it did not pass inspection they said its incomplete show in the obd tester. The guy who inspected it told me to drive more miles on it so i did went to bethlehem PA and back to BX and more than 150miles but still shows incomplete in the OBD tester now the inspector told me to research how to fix it. Please i need advice. Thank you

How many lights are on? Only one driving light is allowed in ca, some states allow two. Keep doing more driving, highway and lots of stop and go traffic too. Ck utube there’s a good video on there about that. Hope this helps.

 

[peterk9]

How many lights are on? Only one driving light is allowed in ca, some states allow two. Keep doing more driving, highway and lots of stop and go traffic too. Ck utube there’s a good video on there about that. Hope this helps.

"Only one driving light is allowed in ca." Are you talking about headlights? If so, I don't see any reference to issues with that in his post.

Peter

 

[ProjectSHO89]

I think he's referring to incomplete OBDII monitors. Some cheap code readers represent those by discrete LEDs or lights.

For a vehicle of this era, EPA regulations, as adopted by the states, allow a single incomplete monitor and it cannot be one of the ones deemed to be critical to emissions compliance (which includes the catalyst monitor). EVAP is the usual one that's very hard to execute and complete.

Any other incomplete monitors will cause the inspection to be rejected as the vehicle is considered to be "not ready" for OBDII emissions testing.

 

[zendog]

"Only one driving light is allowed in ca." Are you talking about headlights? If so, I don't see any reference to issues with that in his post.

Peter

No, I’m referring to the lights on the meter that you plug in under dash that gives you the codes. There are four lights on top top of the code reader, which if there are no problems all for will be green. However, whenever you clear the codes after a repair, either by hitting the reset button or if one doesn’t have a code reader, by disconnecting the battery. The four green lights will be red now. These are driving code lights. There is certain pattern of driving that must be done in order to turn the lights green, and when they are green then get your car can be smoged and it will pass, unless there are other mechanical issues. Like I stated before in ca only one can not be green to pass your smog Ck. In other states it is I believe it‘s two. I hope this clarifies what I way trying to share with you before.

ps: you can find the instructions in pdf form for your car online.

 

[ProjectSHO89]

No, I’m referring to the lights on the meter that you plug in under dash that gives you the codes. There are four lights on top top of the code reader, which if there are no problems all for will be green. However, whenever you clear the codes after a repair, either by hitting the reset button or if one doesn’t have a code reader, by disconnecting the battery. The four green lights will be red now. These are driving code lights. There is certain pattern of driving that must be done in order to turn the lights green, and when they are green then get your car can be smoged and it will pass, unless there are other mechanical issues. Like I stated before in ca only one can not be green to pass your smog Ck. In other states it is I believe it‘s two. I hope this clarifies what I way trying to share with you before.

ps: you can find the instructions in pdf form for your car online.

You're talking about a SPECIFIC simple "code reader" that you happen to own that gives OBDII readiness monitor status via discrete lights. Your description is specific to your particular device, others will be different. This display is not specific to a vehicle, YOUR display will work the same in any OBDII vehicle you plug it into.

For a vehicle of this era, only a single "not ready" or "incomplete" is permitted by EPA regulations and the catalyst monitor is one of those that cannot be incomplete. EVAP is the one that gets a pass since it's often difficult to get to execute.

In any event, none of this detour is useful for the OP who cannot get the catalyst monitor to execute successfully. He can either run the catalyst-specific portion of the Ford OBDII drive cycle to see if he can get it to run or he can just drive it normally and see if it runs and either passes or fails.