Facing issues with your 1996 Subaru Impreza Obd2 system and struggling to get your readiness monitors to set? You’re not alone. For owners of older vehicles like the 1996 Subaru Impreza, getting all OBD2 monitors ready for a vehicle inspection can sometimes feel like a daunting task. This was certainly the case for me when I recently encountered this problem while trying to get my trusty Impreza through its annual inspection.
Like many states, New York has regulations regarding OBD2 readiness monitors for vehicle inspections. For pre-2000 cars, such as my 1996 Subaru Impreza, the state allows for up to two incomplete monitors. However, my vehicle was showing three monitors as ‘not ready’, automatically failing the inspection. To make matters more complicated, I learned about a waiver in NY, but only if you’ve spent a significant amount on emissions-related repairs – a hurdle I was hoping to avoid.
Frustrated, I started calling various Subaru dealerships, hoping for a quick fix or some helpful advice. Unfortunately, most dealerships offered generic suggestions like “keep driving it” or insisted I bring the car in for a paid diagnostic check. Just when I was about to lose hope, I contacted Koeppel Subaru in Queens. Finally, I spoke with a service advisor who seemed knowledgeable and provided a specific solution.
The advisor explained that simply driving the car might not be enough to reset the monitors. She detailed a specific drive pattern required to prompt the OBD2 system to complete its self-tests. This pattern involved:
- Accelerating to 50 MPH.
- Maintaining 50 MPH for at least 3 minutes without braking.
- Decelerating to 30 MPH.
- Accelerating again to 50 MPH.
- Maintaining 50 MPH for at least another 3 minutes without braking.
She emphasized the importance of completing the entire pattern without braking; otherwise, the process would need to be restarted. I inquired about checking the OBD status immediately after the drive pattern, but she assured me that once the monitors are ready, they remain ready, even after turning off the engine. This was a relief, as it meant I could perform the drive cycle in less congested traffic and get it checked later. However, conflicting information online suggested monitors might clear upon key-off, leading to some uncertainty.
To be safe, I decided to perform the drive pattern during the day and head straight to my mechanic. After about 15 minutes of regular city driving to reach a suitable highway, I initiated the drive pattern as instructed. I accelerated to 50 MPH, held it for 3 minutes, decelerated to 30 MPH, and then accelerated back to 50 MPH, this time driving for a longer duration of 8 minutes to be sure. I then decelerated again to 30 MPH and drove at 50 MPH for another 2 minutes before traffic conditions forced me to brake.
Following this drive cycle, I drove directly to my mechanic, keeping the engine running as a precaution. He connected the OBD2 scanner to my 1996 Subaru Impreza, and to my relief, all monitors were showing as ‘ready’!
While it’s not definitively clear whether the specific drive pattern or simply driving for an extended period before the test was the key factor, the outcome was successful. Therefore, if you are experiencing similar OBD2 readiness monitor issues with your 1996 Subaru Impreza, particularly for inspection purposes, I recommend trying this drive routine. It might just be the solution to get your monitors ready and your car back on the road legally.
Hopefully, this experience can help other 1996 Subaru Impreza owners navigate the sometimes-frustrating world of OBD2 systems and vehicle inspections.
