We understand your Kia Sportage HRT is having difficulty getting its emission monitors ready for the smog check; requiring you drive the vehicle through a drive cycle. Let's briefly explain what emission monitors are. Emission monitors are internal self-tests which the power control module (PCM) performs in order to ensure a vehicle's emission systems, such as the EGR, EVAP, oxygen sensor, O2 heater, and catalyst (catalytic converter) are functioning properly. If any one monitor is incomplete (excluding the EVAP monitor; at the time of this post), your Kia Sportage HRT will not be able pass the smog test. The EVAP monitor is the only monitor allowed to remain incomplete and the vehicle still pass the smog check because of the difficulty of getting this particular monitor to complete. In order to get the monitors ready for the smog check you'll need to drive your car through a Kia Sportage HRT drive cycle.
Usually 200-300 miles of driving, and over the course of a few days and in both city and highway traffic conditions, is enough to get the drive cycle complete. Due to individual vehicle owner driving patterns however, sometimes the criteria required to get a particular monitor to initiate and/or become ready is not met. In such instances, it is required that a specific drive cycle pattern which is designed for the Kia Sportage HRT be followed.
How to Complete a Kia Sportage HRT Drive Cycle
Notice: Take extra caution when performing the drive cycle on public roadways. This particular drive cycle is very complex and requires many stops, starts and slow downs. It is best performed on a dynamometer. Perform the drive cycle at your own risk. If you feel you may be unable to perform the drive cycle below safely, please seek assistance from a reputable smog check repair station or Kia dealership. A smog repair certified center will be able to perform the drive cycle on a dynamometer, eliminating the need to drive your car on streets and freeways.
Preconditions: (Make sure you have between 1/4 and 3/4 fuel in the gas tank. The EVAP test will not run while your Kia Sportage HRT has a full tank of gas or the gas tank is near empty). Ensure there are no pending or active trouble codes and that the check engine light is not on. Begin the drive cycle from a cold-start; having allowed your vehicle to sit overnight. Note, the secondary air injection monitor will require a cold-start in order to initiate.
A. Start the engine and idle for 5 minutes in Park (P) or Neutral.
B. Drive the vehicle at 50 mph for 8 minutes. Ensure to increase speed to 50 mph within 15 seconds.
C. Stop the vehicle and allow the engine to idle for 15 minutes in Park (P) or neutral. Ensure to decrease speed from 50 mph to idle within 15 seconds.
D. Drive the vehicle at 55 mph for 1 minute. Ensure to increase speed to 55 mph within 15 seconds.
E. Stop the vehicle and allow the engine to idle for 1 minutes in Drive (D). Ensure to decrease speed from 50 mph to idle within 15 seconds.
F. Repeat steps D and E 1 time.
G. Drive the vehicle at 40 mph for 1 minute. Ensure to increase speed to 55 mph within 15 seconds.
H. Increase speed to 55 mph and hold steady for 5 seconds.
I. Decrease speed to 40 mph and hold ready for 1 minute.
J. Repeat steps H and I 5 times.
K. During the last time your perform step I, rather than decreasing speed to 40 mph, come to a complete stop.
L. Allow vehicle to idle for 1 minute in Drive (D).
M. Drive cycle complete.
Assuming your Kia's emission systems are functioning properly, completing the drive cycle above should allow the required emission monitors (readiness flags) to become READY / COMPLETE for the smog inspection, if not, turn the ignition switch OFF, then repeat the drive cycle. If you have access to an OBDII scan tool (generic scan tool ok) you can check the readiness status of the various monitors before returning to the smog check station. If you do not have a scan tool or prefer not to purchase one, consider asking a local auto parts store to run a quick status check. They usually offer this service for free in anticipation that you'll purchase any required replacement parts from them. Note this free service may or may not be allowed in your State.
