I've had the car since birth. and Yeah, I was blissfully unaware of what a drive cycle was until this problem. There's a lot of discussion about it online, and it can be an issue for any make of vehicle after the battery has been changed, but my smog tech says Infinitis are well known for being the most difficult to get "ready". Here's some quotes directly from my QX56 manual:
READY FOR INSPECTION MAINTENANCE (I/M) TEST:
Due to legal requirements in some states, your vehicle may be required to be in what is called the "ready condition" for an Inspection/Maintenance test of the emission control system.
The vehicle is set to the "ready condition" when it is driven through certain driving patterns. Usually, the ready condition can be obtained by ordinary usage of the vehicle.
If a powertrain system component is repaired or the battery is disconnected, the vehicle may be reset to a "not ready" condition. Before taking the test. (then it goes on to show how to identify whether it is ready or not - can be done at home). Mine showed as "not ready" only with the O2 sensor (learned that last part from a smog tech). Okay, again direct from the manual, here's the instruction on how to accomplish the driving patterns to get the vehicle to a ready state after a battery change (I'd be fine with the normal driving part, except my car is about to become unregistered by the end of March (changed battery in November).
1. Start the engine when the engine coolant temperature gauge needle point to C. Allow the engine to idle until the gauge needle achieves normal operating temperature.
2. Accelerate the vehicle to 55 mpg, then quickly release the accelerator pedal completely and keep it released for at least 10 seconds (without braking).
3. Quickly depress the accelerator pedal for a moment, then drive the vehicle at a speed of 53-60 MPH for at least 9 minutes.
4. Stop the vehicle (leave engine running).
5. Accelerate the vehicle to 35 MPH and maintain the speed for 20 seconds.
6. Repeat steps 4 through 5 at least 10 times!!!
7. Accelerate the vehicle to 55 MPH and maintian the speed for at least 3 minutes.
8. Stop the vehicle. Place the transmission in P or N position. Turn the engine off.
9. Repeat steps 1 through 7 at least one more time!!!
If steps 1 through 7 are interrupted, repeat the preceding step. Do not stop the engine until step 7 is completed.
As you can see, I needed to attempt to complete these driving patterns by driving late at night to avoid traffic - and hopefully to avoid a policeman thinking I was drunk to drive like this. I've gone through the full pattern at least 3 times so far - unfortunately, the system can only tell me that it's still in the "not ready" state, not which driving pattern hasn't been completed.
I can't be sure that the O2 doesn't need to be replaced. It's worth trying that if that wouldn't get me to the ready state, but I'm worried I'd then have to start all over. Am I the only one here who knows what I'm talking about?
Thanks much again.
