98 e430: how to poke secondary air monitor into ready state?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 62
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From: NorCal
2011 ML550 2013 GLK350
98 e430: how to poke secondary air monitor into ready state?
I replaced the battery in my 98 e430, which cleared the ready status of the I/M monitors and thus prevented it from passing smog (emissions were fine as always - it amazes me how cleanly a 17 year old engine with 165k miles runs!).
Through normal driving all the monitors but secondary air have changed to ready. I don't drive this car much (why would I with a clk55 cab and sunny weather) so maybe it's just a matter of driving it more often. Cat monitor took a while, but finally cleared over the weekend. I'm hoping to avoid the $50 temp permit fee in order to continue driving it by performing whatever kind of hoop-jump the car and I have to do to get the secondary air monitor to ready state before the end of the month. Anyone know what specifically needs to happen to make this monitor happy? I've ready plenty of various OBD2 drive cycle scenarios and wonder what part (or is it all of it) that applies to the secondary air monitor? I understand that the secondary air system injects air into a cold engine's exhaust manifold to increase the temperature of the exhaust and thus bring the cats' up to operating temperature faster. This strikes me as something that should clear relatively quickly, given every new day's start is a cold one ...
One thing that occurred to me is that I had the old rear cats cut out and new ones welded in last year (one of them was rattling). Is there anything that shop could have done that would have interfered with the monitor (that wouldn't show up as thrown codes)?
Through normal driving all the monitors but secondary air have changed to ready. I don't drive this car much (why would I with a clk55 cab and sunny weather) so maybe it's just a matter of driving it more often. Cat monitor took a while, but finally cleared over the weekend. I'm hoping to avoid the $50 temp permit fee in order to continue driving it by performing whatever kind of hoop-jump the car and I have to do to get the secondary air monitor to ready state before the end of the month. Anyone know what specifically needs to happen to make this monitor happy? I've ready plenty of various OBD2 drive cycle scenarios and wonder what part (or is it all of it) that applies to the secondary air monitor? I understand that the secondary air system injects air into a cold engine's exhaust manifold to increase the temperature of the exhaust and thus bring the cats' up to operating temperature faster. This strikes me as something that should clear relatively quickly, given every new day's start is a cold one ...
One thing that occurred to me is that I had the old rear cats cut out and new ones welded in last year (one of them was rattling). Is there anything that shop could have done that would have interfered with the monitor (that wouldn't show up as thrown codes)?
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
03 ML 500 08 C 350
Get secondary air monitor ready
This is very simple:
Cold start - you can hear sound from air pump for ~45 sec.
Wait until car warmed up to 80 C.
You can hear short air pump sound again - that means test complete.
Now you have monitor ready or error code in the memory
Cold start - you can hear sound from air pump for ~45 sec.
Wait until car warmed up to 80 C.
You can hear short air pump sound again - that means test complete.
Now you have monitor ready or error code in the memory
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 20
Likes: 1
From: Nor Cal
2002 E55 / 2000 Silverado 01 / 1971 BMW 2002
I am having the same problem with my 2002 E55. Battery was disconnected for a day. No p codes or check engine lights. Only one I/M readiness fault showing on my OBD II and that is Secondary Air Injection. I have done quite a few drive cycle recommendations. Can the dealer hook to the diagnostics port under the hood and determine if the problem with the Sec Air Inj system? Need help as California emissions is due soon.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 20
Likes: 1
From: Nor Cal
2002 E55 / 2000 Silverado 01 / 1971 BMW 2002
I have searched the w210 forums here and elsewhere and found many different readiness cycle procedures....which one to use? Yea yea, I know the one that works.
Last edited by 1bad351; Jun 19, 2016 at 12:12 AM.
