OBDII "Not Ready" @ Catalyst and Oxygen Sensor - Smog Test (I'm in Calif)

[mamlgca]

I'm in California and have a 2000 BMW Z3 which has been meticulously maintained and has a 168k miles on it. I'm the 3rd owner. Since March, I have not driven it and prior to that the battery had been disconnected and reconnected for service. In prep to sell it I had it smogged and it didn’t pass because of OBDII monitor returned a “Not Ready” result for the Oxygen Sensor and Catalyst. After driving it around (probably about 200ish miles) I took it back for free retest and the Oxygen Sensor passed but the Catalyst is still "not ready" and the “Service Engine Soon” light now came on. I’ve done the research and it looks like a FTP drive cycle should be completed which might resolve the issues. I’ve already driven it around another 100ish miles since and the 2nd test still returns “not ready” for the catalyst and engine light is still one. Is there something I can do to clear the codes and get it passed so I can sell it? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

[328 Power 04]

Well if the service engine soon light came on, you should read the codes (preferrably with a scanner that reads BMW codes, not P codes).

[bluptgm3]

Ya, read the codes. A Peake reader would be best (second to a GT1.) Original O2 sensors? If not they can corrode over time (sitting) and give 'false' readings. Also they are a 100K service item (unless there are long periods of 'rest').
Takes a few drive cycles to set the ready codes, but a CE light should not be on. Sounds like you already have unresolved 'errors'.


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[rf900rkw]

Sorry guys, but I disagree. The MIL is an OBDii device. The emissions monitors are OBDii. The entire emissions test stack is OBDii. Read the OBDii codes. YOu can get the BMW FC codes, also, if you want, but they are secondary to what's going on.

If the MIL is on, you have a fault. Something did not pass a test, and the monitors will not run. You need to read the code and rectify that before continuing. Worse, clearing the code will reset all monitors back to zero, "not ready"

And just as an aside because it was mentioned. It's not 1995 anymore. Back then the clunky kludge of the Peake code reader was the only option available to the public. Twenty years on Peake has not updated their tool; instead putting their efforts into misleading marketing claiming FC codes are superior (they aren't). Today there are many many options, with the Peake being the worst of them. Look to INPA, or Carly in you're phone based.

[328 Power 04]

True, however the P codes that come up (for BMW and VW at least) are programmed translations from the BMW codes that popped up already. INPA (actually Tool32) codes always offer the full picture. Yes, OBD2 is emissions, so P codes should be enough, but I always found it a bit vague.
But ya, Peake, ... not even sure why it's still selling.

[rf900rkw]

Mostly they are 1:1 mapping, true. In some cases a single P code will map to several FC, In other cases a single FC will map to multiple P codes. And there are a very few that don't cross. Generally, if I am chasing a running problem, I go FC. If I am after a illuminated MIL, I go Pcode.

[mamlgca]

Thanks for feedback. Yesterday I took the gas cap off, got gas and put it back on tightly and the SES light went off. I'm going to continue driving it and see if the rest of the FTP tests complete and hopefully the Catalyst portion of the OBDII will pass.

[hydrocrust]

I had similar problem some months back, was a vacuum leak in two hoses. Once fixed, cycled and cleared smog. Mine is 2002 3.0, lower miles, but hoses go with age sometimes.

[LannVouivre]

If the MIL is illuminated, you are basically throwing darts at a target while blindfolded if you don't pull the codes. The gas cap is an OK guess, but I really recommend seeing what problems it's detecting to save yourself some trouble. All of the codes that trigger the engine/powertrain MIL can be accessed and viewed via the OBDII port with basically any OBDII scanner. OBDII is also used on basically all cars, so the scanner will not be a waste.

If you remain "not ready" with the MIL on, don't waste time asking what the problem may be when you won't provide the codes. A plethora of things can cause the MIL to come on, and the car can help tell you what the problem is if you just ask it!

[mamlgca]

I was able to get codes. Oreilly ran them for me for free. Any idea what these are for specifically? They did the obd2 scan.
they are:
227 : Lambda controller deviation bank 1 (hex) E3
228: Lambda controller deviation bank 2 (hex) E4
146: VCC pot 1 (hex) 92

[rf900rkw]

LMAO. They ran an OBDii scan and handed back BMW FC codes? Unreal


227 = P0170/71/72 Short term B1 fuel trim deviation greater than 20%,

228 = P0173/74/75 Same for bank 2.

Note that pin-point accurtate FC codes don't bother to say whether it's rich or lean. The OBDii ones can.


146 = P1624 Coolant temp below thermostat regulating target.

IE the engine is running too cold, and the monitors will never complete. REplace the thermostat, look for a vacuum leak.

[mamlgca]

Thanks for advice and help. I finally bought Bosch odb2 scanner and ran scan myself.

Got codes:

p1188 and p1189 DTC. " no DTC definition found. See service manual. Confirmed."


Thx, Ann

LMAO. They ran an OBDii scan and handed back BMW FC codes? Unreal


227 = P0170/71/72 Short term B1 fuel trim deviation greater than 20%,

228 = P0173/74/75 Same for bank 2.

Note that pin-point accurtate FC codes don't bother to say whether it's rich or lean. The OBDii ones can.


146 = P1624 Coolant temp below thermostat regulating target.

IE the engine is running too cold, and the monitors will never complete. REplace the thermostat, look for a vacuum leak.

[328 Power 04]

You most likely have a vacuum leak, causing unmetered air to come in and make the car run lean, past the allowed level of adaptation.
Most common location (but not limited to) is the intake tract rubber boots between the mass air flow and throttle. If those are old, they will have cracks for sure. Put a new original one on if you want it to last.

[rf900rkw]

P1188 and P1189 are the same as P0170 and P0173, except there are for the long term trims rather than the short term. This points even stronger to a vacuum leak. The rubber boot between the air filter and the throttle is a prime suspect, as Abel suggested above. I would still toss a thermostat in the mix.

[jclausen]

If there are any pending faults then the monitor process will stop. I have a e39 528 we had to reprogram the dme now the only one not set is cat monitor, to set cat monitor try, rpms below 3,000 rpms, speed between 40-60mph, 20 mins of uninterrupted driving , not applying brakes, intermittent moments of coasting, no big changes in speed. If the thermostat was not working correctly and the engine was running cooler the the cat monitor may not set

[z3forlife]

do you have details of service estimate. What does $600 get you ?