Honda · Acura
HONDA & ACURA
DRIVE CYCLE GUIDE
A practical walkthrough of Honda and Acura readiness checks, fuel-level and cold-soak conditions, highway operation, city driving, and key-off time.
Drive cycle at a glance
Fuel level
Approximately ¾ full
Cold soak
6 hours · 40–95°F
Engine speed
2,000 rpm · about 3 min
Highway
50–60 mph · 20 min
Coast
90 sec or 3 × 30 sec
City driving
At least 10 min
Key-off
30–40 minutes
HONDA & ACURA READINESS
Honda publishes unusually clear owner-manual readiness procedures, but the steps still vary by model and powertrain. Many gasoline models use the sequence below.
Check the readiness indicator
With the engine off, switch the power mode to ON. On many Honda and Acura vehicles, the malfunction indicator lamp comes on briefly. If it then goes out, readiness codes are set. If it blinks five times, they are not set.
Common gasoline procedure
- Bring the fuel level to approximately ¾ full.
- Leave the engine off for at least six hours. Ambient temperature should generally be between 40°F and 95°F.
- Start without touching the accelerator and idle for about 20 seconds.
- With the transmission in Park or Neutral as applicable, hold about 2,000 rpm for roughly three minutes.
- Release the accelerator and idle another 20 seconds.
- On a lightly traveled highway, maintain 50–60 mph for at least 20 minutes. Do not use cruise control.
- When traffic allows, coast for 90 seconds without pressing the accelerator. If continuous coasting is not possible, use three periods of at least 30 seconds.
- Drive in city or suburban traffic for at least 10 minutes and include several safe coast-down periods.
- Park and leave the engine off for 30–40 minutes, depending on the model.
Hybrid and newer-model differences
Hybrid procedures may omit the stationary 2,000-rpm step, and some newer models add a short preliminary drive before the six-hour soak. Always check the exact Honda or Acura owner manual for the vehicle.
If it still says Not Ready
Do not disconnect the battery or clear codes again. Check for pending faults, confirm fuel level and soak temperature, and identify the specific incomplete monitor. Honda notes that readiness can require several days of varied driving.
Official references
STILL NOT READY?
Bring the year, make, model, engine, fuel type, and a list of the incomplete monitors. The Smog Dawg can help you understand what the vehicle is reporting and what should happen next.