Experiencing issues with your 2014 Honda Civic passing a smog test due to “not ready” monitors? This can be frustrating, but often, completing an OBD2 drive cycle can resolve this issue. The OBD2 system in your Honda Civic needs to run self-tests, and sometimes these monitors aren’t ready, preventing you from passing emissions. Understanding and performing the correct drive cycle can help ensure these monitors are set, allowing your vehicle to pass the smog test.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to perform an OBD2 drive cycle, adapted from standard OBD-II procedures, which should be applicable to your 2014 Honda Civic:
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Cold Start: Begin with a cold start. This means the engine coolant temperature should be below 122 degrees Fahrenheit (50 degrees Celsius), and the air and coolant temperature sensors should be within 11 degrees Fahrenheit (6 degrees Celsius) of each other. Crucially, ensure the ignition key is not turned on before this cold start, as it might prevent the heated oxygen sensor diagnostic from running correctly.
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Initial Idle: Once the engine is started, let it idle in drive for two and a half minutes. During this phase, turn on the Air Conditioning (A/C) and rear defrost. This step allows the OBD2 system to check the oxygen sensor heater circuits, air pump, and EVAP purge system.
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Warm Idle and Acceleration: Turn off the A/C and rear defrost. Then, accelerate your Honda Civic to 55 mph (88 km/h) at half throttle. This stage allows the OBD2 system to check for ignition misfires, fuel trim, and canister purge.
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Steady Speed Cruise: Maintain a steady speed of 55 mph (88 km/h) for three minutes. During this constant speed, the OBD2 system monitors the EGR, air pump, O2 sensors, and canister purge system.
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Deceleration: Without braking or depressing the clutch, decelerate (coast down) to 20 mph (32 km/h). This allows the OBD2 system to check the EGR and purge functions during deceleration.
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Second Acceleration: Accelerate again to 55 to 60 mph (88-96 km/h) at half throttle. The OBD2 system will re-check for misfire, fuel trim, and purge functions.
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Extended Cruise: Hold a steady speed between 55 to 60 mph (88-96 km/h) for five minutes. In this longer steady state, the OBD2 system monitors catalytic converter efficiency, misfire, EGR, fuel trim, oxygen sensors, and purge functions more thoroughly.
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Final Deceleration: Finally, decelerate (coast down) to a complete stop without using the brakes. This last step allows the OBD2 system to perform a final check of the EGR and canister purge system.
By following these steps, you give your 2014 Honda Civic the best chance to complete its OBD2 drive cycle and set all the necessary readiness monitors. After completing the cycle, you can use an OBD2 scanner to check if the monitors are ready before heading for your smog test. Remember to consult your Honda Civic owner’s manual for any specific recommendations or variations for your model year.
