Your KIA Sportage must perform a Drive Cycle in order to self-test it's emission components. While the engine was being rebuilt, your KIA's battery was disconnected, erasing important emission monitors (also known as readiness flags). In order to set the required Monitors you must drive your KIA for 2-3 weeks in order to trigger the drive cycle.
If you've already driven your KIA for 2-3 weeks (or roughly 300-400 miles) and the emission monitors have still not completed it is possible an important Drive-Cycle parameter required to initiate the your KIA's OBD II Drive-Cycle Test must not have yet been met. The federally required OBDII drive cycle begins with a cold start (coolant temperature below 122 degrees F) and battery voltage above 11.5 v. Should either system sensor be defective the Drive Cycle will not run.
These are just two parameters required of all OBD II vehicles. Your 2006 KIA Sportage may have several more specific to the manufacturer. We've attached a generic drive cycle you may want to follow below.
Take extra caution while performing drive cycles on public roadways. Drive cycles can be difficult to follow under normal driving conditions. Insure you begin the Drive Cycle in the morning when your Sportage is cool.
Begin by:
- Start the engine. Idle the engine in drive for two and a half minutes with the A/C and rear defroster on.
- Turn the A/C and rear defrost off, and accelerate to 55 mph at half throttle.
- Hold at a steady speed of 55 mph for three minutes.
- Decelerate (coast down) to 20 mph without braking or depressing the clutch.
- Accelerate back to 55 to 60 mph at ¾ throttle.
- Hold at a steady speed of 55 to 60 mph for five minutes.
- Decelerate (coast down) to a stop without braking.
If all other emissions systems are functioning properly, completing the drive cycle above will set the "readiness flags" required to pass the smog check. It will not hurt to perform the drive cycle 2 or 3 times before the smog inspection.
