98'CEL-NY State Inspection-drive cycle ?

Hello. I am trying to pass the NY State Inspection with my 1998 Windstar (3.8L). The CEL in on, and that automatically fails the car. I have a scanner, and understand the problems with the vehicle. My scanner also allows me to erase the codes. However, when I do this, the shop scanner shows the OBD II as "Not Ready". From talking to various people, I understand that there is a drive cycle that the car needs to go through before the OBD II is ready, but them I need to get it inspected before the problems trip the CEL again. I think it would really help me if I new the "drive cycle" for the Windstar. Or I would appreciate any other suggestions anyone may have.

A drive cycle is one that excercises the built in monitors on the vehicle. Normally it requires the vehicle to be started from cold and the temperature needs to increase by 40 degrees (C of F???). The drive cycle needs to include some highway driving too. Some of the monitors need specific exposure to actually run. The EVAP system for one. My 99 owner's manual describes the drive cycles. I imagine the 98 does as well.

Unfortunately in your case, once the "proper" OBD11 drive cylce that enables all of the monitors is excercised the CEL will most likely come back on. The whole point of the "monitor not ready" indication is to prevent people from doing exactley what you are trying to do.

What are the codes that you are experiencing

The drive cycle is to get on a open road like a hwy or interstate run the van for about 30- 40 minutes over 40 mph without using the brake.This reset the drive cycle and allows the van to pass hopefully.Depending on what the code is some codes can be reset and want appear to a few hundred miles later some will appear faster than others. What codes are you getting...??Oh DRW1000 explains it great.. But sometimes after this Hwy run if the light does not come back on it should pass I did this trick when my 171-174 codes came up. Before I purchessed my code scaner and erasser.. I did clear my evap code on my malibu and it passed as well last month..So if you clear the code and drive out the drive cycle it should pass..If they do a sniff test you may run into a problem..Not sure on that one..