Emissions testing
 

Hi all, I just brought my Protege5 out of storage and was trying to get it through emissions testing before I can buy insurance on it. Unfortunately it didn't pass because I stored the car with the battery disconnected, four of the sensors were not reading correctly and the OBD gave no readings. The guy at the testing facility said I need to drive it a while - to go through the driving cycle - to get the sensors active again but I only have day-to-day insurance right now (which is really expensive).

Do you know how long I need to drive the car for in order for the sensors to start reading again? I've never had this problem with my other cars.

Under normal conditions, the Monitors will reset in a few days (60 - 100 miles). But I've been working to get mine to reset for months. You may want to google "drive cycle" to see if you can find the drive cycle (series of steps) that will reset your sensors in the least amount time. I varies by vehicle. It's things like 1) accelerate to 55 mph at 2/3 throttle, and cruise for 60 seconds, then 2) decellerate to below 15 mph without downshifting or pressing the break.

you need about 100 miles. some say 30 miles, some say 50, but I have had issues in this area up to 70 miles. 100 will definitely do it.

If they don't reset within 100 miles, you probably have a problem
 

To say 100 miles will definitely do it is misleading. The PCM evaluates many inputs from the car's sensors before setting the Monitors. You may, or may not, trigger all of the conditions that are required in 100 miles. But it's probably true that if the Monitors haven't reset by themselves within 100 miles, you have some problem preventing them from resetting, and no amount of driving will reset them. You'll have to discover, and fix, the underlying problem before the Monitors will reset.