Setting your Hyundai Sonata's OBD II monitors might be a bit of a challenge. The drive cycle is difficult to complete by even some experienced auto repair technicians. It requires many starts, stops, acceleration and deceleration. We highly recommend a smog check repair station or Hyundai dealership perform the drive cycle, and on a dynamometer. Hyundai has designed their drive cycle a bit too complex for the average vehicle owner to perform. Normally over the course of a week or two and after having driven a few hundred miles, the monitors should complete automatically. Due to individual driving habits however, often performing the drive cycle designed specifically for the Hyundai Sonata is needed.
If you choose to perform the drive cycle, do so at your own risk. We must mention again, the drive cycle requires many starts and stops and will be difficult and unsafe to perform on public roadways.
How To Perform the Hyundai Sonata Drive Cycle (Step-by-Step Instructions to Set OBD-II Monitors)
Please read these instructions carefully. Have a driving plan in mind and know the procedure inside-out. If you have to look at the steps while you are driving, you might miss one and have to restart; and at best, be causing an unsafe condition for yourself and those on the road with you.
Ensure to begin the drive cycle only when engine coolant temperature is between 0F and 104F. The temperature gauge should be below normal operating temperature. It is best to start the drive cycle when the engine is cold (cold start). Also make sure the fuel tank is only between 1/4 to 3/4 full. The EVAP monitor will not run if the fuel tank is either full or near empty. All acceleration and deceleration must be made within 15 seconds, and throttle (gas pedal) application should be smooth at all times.
A. Start engine and allow to idle for 5 minutes, in park or neutral.
B. Accelerate to 50 mph within 15 seconds and hold that speed for 8 minutes.
C. Decelerate to a complete stop within 15 seconds and allow to idle for 15 minutes, in park or neutral.
D. Accelerate to 55 mph within 15 seconds and hold that speed for 1 minute, then decelerate back to a stop and allow engine to idle, while in Drive, for 1 minute. Repeat step D two (2) times.
E. After completing step D twice, and while engine is at idle and transmission in Drive, accelerate to 40 mph and hold that speed for 1 minute, then accelerate to 50 mph and hold that speed for 5 seconds. You must conduct this pattern of driving (1 minute at 40 mph, then accelerate to and 50 mph and hold for 5 seconds, 6 times). Upon the sixth acceleration to 50 mph, and holding for 5 seconds, you will decelerate to 0 mph and keep the vehicle in Drive and idle for one minute.
F. Drive Cycle Complete.
Perform steps A through E as many times as needed in order to make READY all required emission monitors. You may use an OBD II scan tool which can be purchased at most local automotive parts stores to check the progress of the emission monitors.
