Service Drive Cycle
SERVICE DRIVE CYCLEWhile each of the OBD II monitors is often completed during the course of normal driving, there is a way to be sure they run in a single driving session. This is called the Service Drive Cycle, and is of value to technicians diagnosing OBD II concerns.
Plan a test route that will allow you to accomplish the tasks listed. Obey posted speeds and all traffic laws.
1. Allow vehicle to cold soak until coolant temperature is less than 60°C (140°F).
2. START engine.
3. Idle for approximately 8 minutes. Diagnostics for misfire, sensors and actuators will run and produce an outcome. An additional test requiring the engine to run for a total of 15 minutes is present. Idling is the most efficient way to achieve this.
4. Shift into Drive. Accelerate up an incline at wide open throttle to maintain a high engine load for approximately 10 seconds. This allows Neutral/Drive switch and Vehicle Speed diagnostics to take place.
5. Drive on and off the throttle so that a total of 40 gear changes take place. (Shifts from Park to Drive or Drive to Neutral don't count toward this total).
6. Accelerate to 35 - 45 mph and maintain this speed at a steady load for approximately 3 minutes. This allows fuel trim adaptations and catalyst monitoring to take place.
7. Slow to idle and place the transmission in Park.
8. Bring the engine to 1500 - 2000 RPM for approximately 1 minute.
9. Idle for 2 minutes, then turn ignition to OFF.