VW Fox Dash Error After Check Engine Light Reset

Had a similar situation with my 2014 VW Polo TDI. After car diagnostics and clearing the check engine light, system readiness monitors need time to complete their self-tests. This is normal and requires driving the vehicle through specific conditions. For diesel engines, completing a drive cycle typically means: Start with a cold engine, Drive steady 10-15 minutes at highway speeds, Include some city driving with stops, Let engine idle for 2-3 minutes Monitor status usually resets within 50-100km of normal driving. This becomes important for passing vehicle inspection and emissions tests since incomplete readiness monitors can cause automatic test failure. My case resolved itself after following this driving pattern. The warning message disappeared once all system tests completed. Would suggest waiting and completing the drive cycle before visiting another mechanic. The current situation sounds like standard procedure rather than a serious issue needing immediate attention. If dashboard warnings persist after completing these driving patterns, then seeking a second opinion would make sense.

Thanks for the detailed explanation about system readiness and drive cycles. This sounds exactly like my situation. After seeing several error messages and visiting multiple shops, it turned out the computer reset just needed time to complete its testing sequence. Wondering about the cost of your initial diagnostic session? In my case, the exhaust system also needed attention which made the total bill higher than expected. Has your OBD readiness stayed stable since fixing it or have you experienced any recurring issues?

As mentioned before, I had this happen with my VW Polo TDI. The onboard diagnostics session to check and clear the system readiness status cost nothing since my regular mechanic included it during routine maintenance. Good to report that once the drive cycle completed, the system has remained stable with no recurring issues. The readiness monitors have stayed consistent for over 6 months now. This confirms it was just the computer needing time to run its self-tests rather than an actual mechanical problem. For the emissions test preparation, having a stable readiness status is crucial. Since the initial reset, all onboard diagnostic checks have passed without problems. My experience shows these computer resets usually sort themselves out with normal driving, especially in diesel engines. Going through multiple shops sounds frustrating, but at least the system readiness check incomplete status was resolved without additional costs. Just remember to complete a proper drive cycle if you ever need to clear codes again.

Thanks everyone for the help. Just wanted to share how this ended for me. After my frustrating experience with the first mechanic, I decided to wait it out based on the advice here. Following some regular driving patterns over about 3 days, the onboard diagnostics completed their cycle and the error message cleared itself. During my initial panic, I had paid 85€ for unnecessary diagnostic work. The exhaust system repair was legitimate though, costing 320€. The car diagnostics readiness monitors are now all green and stable. Passed the emissions test last week without any issues. Really wish the first mechanic had explained about the drive cycle requirements instead of suggesting additional repairs. Lesson learned about system readiness requirements after code clearing. Will definitely give the car time to complete its testing cycle before rushing back to a shop next time.