Time to "burn in" computer after reset?

I have a 1999 Jetta GL 2.0L A4. My registration recently came up for renewal and in order to get it registered I needed to get my first smog check. I found out this could not be done because the check engine light was on (It had been on for almost a year). The temparature guage had just broke so I relplaced it and had the computer reset thinking that may have been the problem.

After about 300 miles of driving the check engine light came on again. Okay, I go back to the mechanic and he tells me that his Snap-on computer reader show the car is running to rich. So I replace both the O2 sensors, reset computer again and have now been driving on it for 350 miles without the light coming back on.

Now here's the catch. My mechanic told me to wait at least 200 miles before I go and get the smog check because the computer needs to "relearn" my driving habits or whatever. Well I took the car in at

My question...How long does it take for the computer to re-register completely? I have the smog info as well if that might help.

Thanks,

Phil

I have a 1999 Jetta GL 2.0L A4. My registration recently came up for renewal and in order to get it registered I needed to get my first smog check. I found out this could not be done because the check engine light was on (It had been on for almost a year). The temparature guage had just broke so I relplaced it and had the computer reset thinking that may have been the problem.

After about 300 miles of driving the check engine light came on again. Okay, I go back to the mechanic and he tells me that his Snap-on computer reader show the car is running to rich. So I replace both the O2 sensors, reset computer again and have now been driving on it for 350 miles without the light coming back on.

Now here's the catch. My mechanic told me to wait at least 200 miles before I go and get the smog check because the computer needs to "relearn" my driving habits or whatever. Well I took the car in at

My question...How long does it take for the computer to re-register completely? I have the smog info as well if that might help.

Thanks,

Phil

First of all you need to take it to someone who knows how to fix the problem! As for how long, if the car was fixed correctly then it's all done by about 35miles. "something in the computer hadn't registered yet", this mostly means the smog tester found on the readiness codes not set. Most OBDII VW have about 9 "flags" to be set for the car to pass most smog tests. I can and other dealer techs can set the readiness codes in less then 30 minutes without taking the car out of the shop when using the VW 5051!

can you explain a bit more about this 'readiness codes'? I have never heard of that at all...

I had no idea that one could set the computer in 30 minutes. The guy I took it too didn't mention that. Yes one of the flags hadn't set yet. Either way, it's crucial that I get this thing smogged so that I can get my new tags.

Here's the exact message:

"This vehicle failed the MIL/check engine light due to failure to successfully complete all OBD self tests".

Thank you for the reply and I apologize for the duplicate posts.

Posting you answer over at

puaj. web forums suck.