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What is a "Drive Cycle" How many starts/stops, and miles?

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Old Mar 3, 2010 | 12:43 PM
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What is a "Drive Cycle" How many starts/stops, and miles?

I reset my 170-173 codes yesterday after cleaning my Mass Air Flow Sensor (MAF). I know I need to drive it a certain number of miles, with a certain number of engine starts before I can take the car for an emissions inspection.

I believe the car must be driven 100 miles (+/-). Is this true, and are there a certain number of engine starts required before the code memory clears?

(My state emmission inspection will not pass if there are any codes in memory, even if the problem has been corrected.)
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Old Mar 3, 2010 | 01:53 PM
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THE C350
i always heard 100 miles that is what my dealer said as well as an official MD emissions place (i had to take my dads slk55 amg to one lol i did not complain) never heard anything about starts. I would say drive the car for two days normally (If you drive as much as me 25-50 miles a day lol btw work is less than 3 from my home) GL
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Old Mar 3, 2010 | 05:53 PM
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man that sucks I thought the e-test here in ontario canada was bad

you may have to get the dealer to reset/remove the codes Or just go for a nice long drive like 50 miles or so and run some errands with lots of re-starts
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Old Mar 3, 2010 | 06:50 PM
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I have already run the car for 100 miles. If I need to start the car cold two or three more times, I can do that. I just need to know the number of times, please.
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Old Oct 12, 2013 | 04:16 PM
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Any positive answer? I'm still driving, 1200 miles now.
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Old Oct 16, 2013 | 11:23 AM
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I did this and it worked

To perform an OBDII Driving cycle do the following:
•Cold Start. In order to be classified as a cold start the engine coolant temperature must be below 50°C (122°F) and within 6°C (11°F) of the ambient air temperature at startup. Do not leave the key on prior to the cold start or the heated oxygen sensor diagnostic may not run.

2.Idle. The engine must be run for two and a half minutes with the air conditioner on and rear defroster on. The more electrical load you can apply the better. This will test the O2 heater, Passive Air, Purge "No Flow", Misfire and if closed loop is achieved, Fuel Trim.

3.Accelerate. Turn off the air conditioner and all the other loads and apply half throttle until 88km/hr (55mph) is reached. During this time the Misfire, Fuel Trim, and Purge Flow diagnostics will be performed.

4.Hold Steady Speed. Hold a steady speed of 88km/hr (55mph) for 3 minutes. During this time the O2 response, air Intrusive, EGR, Purge, Misfire, and Fuel Trim diagnostics will be performed.

5.Decelerate. Let off the accelerator pedal. Do not shift, touch the brake or clutch. It is important to let the vehicle coast along gradually slowing down to 32km/hr (20 mph). During this time the EGR, Purge and Fuel Trim diagnostics will be performed.

6.Accelerate. Accelerate at 3/4 throttle until 88-96 km/hr (55-60mph). This will perform the same diagnostics as in step 3.

7.Hold Steady Speed. Hold a steady speed of 88km/hr (55mph) for five minutes. During this time, in addition to the diagnostics performed in step 4, the catalyst monitor diagnostics will be performed. If the catalyst is marginal or the battery has been disconnected, it may take 5 complete driving cycles to determine the state of the catalyst.

8.Decelerate. This will perform the same diagnostics as in step 5. Again, don't press the clutch or brakes or shift gears.
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Old Apr 13, 2014 | 05:34 PM
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Wavey, you still around? Whats this about "closed loop".
What could prevent catalyst from going ready? It's just been replaced!
And I've driven a lot since I did and cleared the errors.
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Old Apr 15, 2014 | 02:47 PM
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HEY! What about me, and my problem? Ha! B-Bump!
Bueller....Bueller....
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