VW Polo OBD Errors After Mechanic Visit Need Reset

Had the same problem on my 2016 VW Golf TDI after diagnostic work. The onboard diagnostics system often needs time to complete its readiness monitors after any computer reset or battery disconnect. The system readiness monitors typically require specific driving conditions: 15-20 minutes of steady highway driving, Several starts from cold engine, Normal city driving with stops and starts, Avoiding aggressive acceleration For system readiness on TDI engines, you typically need 3-4 complete drive cycles. The car diagnostics system is just relearning your driving patterns and sensor baselines. This is normal after service work and not a serious issue. To prepare for your emissions test, monitor the fault codes using a basic OBD scanner. Most codes should clear themselves once all readiness monitors complete their cycles. My Golf needed about 150km of mixed driving before all systems showed ready. Important: Dont clear the codes manually again as this resets the readiness monitors and starts the whole process over.

Thanks for the detailed explanation about the readiness monitors. I ultimately got mine sorted but it took quite a few drive cycles over a week. The onboard diagnostics finally completed after about 200km of mixed driving. Did you happen to track how much the initial diagnostic check cost you? My VW dealer charged 120€ just to hook up their computer. Also wondering if youve had any recurring error messages since everything stabilized? My car seems fine now but want to make sure Im not missing any underlying issues before my next emissions test.

Great to hear you got your readiness monitors sorted out. After seeing my mechanic who performed the OBD2 diagnostics scan, there was no charge since they determined it was just the system readiness check being incomplete. A quick scan showed no underlying fault codes. Since completing the necessary drive cycles, all monitoring systems have remained stable with no recurring error messages. For your peace of mind regarding the upcoming emissions test, you can usually find affordable OBD scanners online to verify all systems stay ready. Much better than paying dealer rates just for basic checks. The main thing is not resetting any codes or disconnecting the battery, as this would trigger another reset of the OBD readiness monitors. Your 200km of mixed driving matches what many TDI owners report, it just takes time for all systems to complete their self-checks.

After my frustrating experience with the check engine messages, I finally got everything sorted. Took my Polo to my regular mechanic who ran the initial diagnostics. Unlike the dealer, they only charged 45€ for the complete system check. The exhaust system and all other components checked out fine, it really was just the onboard diagnostics needing time to complete its readiness monitors. I followed a mix of city and highway driving for about a week. After roughly 200km, all the error messages cleared on their own. Ended up buying a basic OBD scanner for 30€ to keep an eye on things. Much cheaper than going back to the shop. No issues since then and the car passed its emissions test without any problems. Definitely learned to be patient with these readiness monitors rather than rushing back for expensive diagnostic checks.