Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Trip Definition
A "Trip" means vehicle operation (following an engine-off period) of duration and driving mode such that all components and systems are monitored at least once by the diagnostic system. The monitors must successfully pass before the PCM can verify that a previously malfunctioning component is meeting the normal operating conditions of that component. For misfire or fuel system malfunction, the MIL may be extinguished if the fault does not recur when monitored during three subsequent sequential driving cycles in which conditions are similar to those under which the malfunction was first determined.
Anytime the MIL is illuminated, a DTC is stored. The DTC can self erase only after the MIL has been extinguished. Once the MIL is extinguished, the PCM must pass the diagnostic test for the most recent DTC for 40 warm-up cycles (80 warm-up cycles for the Fuel System Monitor and the Misfire Monitor). A warm-up cycle can best be described by the following:
- The engine must be running
- A rise of 4.4° C (40°F) in engine temperature must occur from the time when the engine was started
- Engine coolant temperature must crossover 71° C (160°F)
- A "driving cycle" that consists of engine start up and engine shut off.
Once the above conditions occur, the PCM is considered to have passed a warm-up cycle. Due to the conditions required to extinguish the MIL and erase the DTC, it is most important that after a repair has been made, all DTC's be erased and the repair verified by running 1-good trip.
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.
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