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Dodge Neon ECC Won't Reset Because of O2 Sensor Problem

I'm trying to get my car smog test ready. Last time it passed fine. I had a check engine light that came on and my friend hooked his scanner up to it. He reset it about 3 times. It has not come back on yet. He said there was a problem with a vacuum leak that he didn't want to trace down, but said it has to be fixed before the next smog check. So I took it in to a shop to see if it was ready for smog after the ECC was reset, but it's having a problem with the o2 sensor. So the shop said I have two oxygen sensors on this car and one of them is failing. He can't smog it until the ECC finishes doing its thing. What can I do? Shop wants too much money to fix it.
Answer:

The shop is probably referring to your Neon's emission monitors not showing as ready status. More than likely the oxygen sensor monitor is not ready for the inspection. This means your vehicle's engine control computer (ECC) has not yet passed the oxygen sensor test. Emission monitors are internal self-tests which the ECC performs in order to ensure all emission systems are functioning properly and that the vehicle is running as efficiently as possible. Although your Dodge may not have an illuminated check engine light, it is possible the oxygen sensor's marginal operation condition is stopping the O2 monitor from becoming ready. The recourse here is to diagnose the oxygen sensor's exact condition and if need be replace the sensor. Only with a properly functioning oxygen sensor(s) will the oxygen sensor monitor complete; and then your vehicle be ready for the smog test. So we can see, although the check engine light is not illuminated it does not mean the vehicle can pass the smog inspection. All the emission monitors (except the EVAP monitor) must be in ready status in order to pass the test. posted by SmogTips Support

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