On the neon, I would be checking the DLC connector under the dash and make
sure that the power and ground leads are active. Also check the bus pins as
well on the connector (voltmeter - DVOM - will work for this). Can't say
for sure on the PCM as the vehicle will run with the PCM having "issues".
Normally, they will illuminate the Check Engine light though.
On the Ford, disconnect the negative terminal on the battery, turn the key
to the START position and hold for 15-20 seconds. Release the key and
reconnect the battery - hard system reset.
On the OBD system readiness...you need to drive the vehicle to allow the PCM
to relearn (OBD monitors need time and miles to turn on after a reset).
- Bernd
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-dakota-truck@bent.twistedbits.net
[mailto:owner-dakota-truck@bent.twistedbits.net] On Behalf Of
david.clement@verizon.net
Sent: Monday, December 13, 2004 7:48 AM
To: dakota-truck-moderator@bent.twistedbits.net
Subject: DML: OT Dakota but DC related OBD Question for Bernd
Bernd, hope you can point me in the right direction. Here in Mass if your
vehicle is due for emissions testing (every other year) as part of the
annual inspection the first thing they do now is plug into the OBD port (if
OBD II vehicle, this is something new in the last year) and check for codes
(even if the check engine light is not on )before even trying to run the
emissions test (roller driving cycle test). If they find codes or are not
able to communicate they send you away with a reject sticker and you have 60
days to correct the issue.
My next door neighbor has a 96 Neon that runs well and has never given her a
problem (no check engine light either). She brought it in for inspection and
they told her they could not access the computer with the scan tool citing
"the computer is not ready" so they rejected the car and sent her packing.
She brought the car to the repair shop she frequents and they could not
figure it out and sent her to the local Dodge dealer where they told her she
needed a flash upgrade to the computer. When she returned to pick up the car
she was told they could not flash it and that she needed a new computer to
fix it. She hasn't had this work done yet. I have not plugged my OBD II
scanner in yet to verify any of this but;
My brother has a 97 Ranger that the check engine light was on so he brough
it over and it had misfire and O2 sensor codes stored. Since he had never
tuned, replaced a wire or O2 on the car we did. I cleared the codes and he
drove it for a day or two with no issues and brought it in for inspection.
He got rejected for "the computer is not ready" and was sent packing but was
asked if any codes had been cleared from the computer which he said yes to.
He was told to drive the car for a couple of weeks and bring it back. He was
told that they check for this now to veryify that people are not just
clearing codes before bringing it in for inspection.
He came over yesterday and I plugged into the OBD II port and there are no
"emissions or diagnostic trouble" codes stored but when I flip over to the
system test screen on my laptop I get a P1000 code for the engine controller
"OBD Systems Readiness Test Not Complete" which I can not clear and seems to
be related to what my neighbor is seeing with her Neon.
My questions;
Do you have any idea why they can't access the Neon computer?
Is this truely require a new computer to fix?
Any words of wisdom regarding this issue with this "the computer is not
ready"
statement for the inspection station?
Thanks,
Dave Clement
99 SLT+ CC 4x4
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