VW Atlas Diesel: System Readiness Check Failure Fix

Having faced almost the same issue with my 2015 VW Touareg diesel, I can share some insights. The onboard diagnostics also showed incomplete readiness monitors, even after attempting drive cycles. My experience level with car repairs is moderate, I do basic maintenance but leave complex issues to professionals. In my case, the problem was related to the emissions test monitors not completing their self-checks properly. The workshop connected their professional OBD scanner and found that several readiness monitors needed to be reset. They cleared the codes and guided me through a specific drive cycle procedure, which finally allowed all monitors to complete. Since I had just had a diagnostic session the week before, they performed this fix free of charge. The key was following their precise drive cycle instructions, specific speeds, time intervals, and engine conditions had to be met. To provide more specific advice for your Atlas: Which specific error message are you seeing? Have you recently disconnected the battery? Are you using a basic or professional OBD scanner? How long did you run the drive cycle? Does the check engine light stay on constantly? These details would help determine if your situation matches what I experienced.

Thanks for sharing your experience. After checking my service records, I noticed this started shortly after the last maintenance at 110796km. The OBD readiness issue persists despite multiple drive cycles. The exhaust system was actually serviced during that visit, which makes me wonder if the computer reset wasn't done properly afterward. My check engine light flashes intermittently, especially during cold starts. Using a basic scanner shows multiple incomplete monitors. Would be helpful to know if a professional diagnostic tool revealed anything specific in your case.

Thanks for providing those additional details. Your situation sounds even more similar to what I experienced with my Touareg after exhaust system work. In my case, the professional scan tool revealed that the exhaust gas recirculation system monitors were stuck in ready testing mode. The intermittent check engine light during cold starts was also present in my situation, this typically indicates the system is attempting to complete its readiness tests but failing. The workshop found that after the exhaust work, some adaptive values needed to be properly reset using their VW-specific diagnostic equipment. A basic OBD scanner simply cant perform these specialized resets. The repair cost was 180€ for diagnostic time and reprogramming. After the professional reset, they had me perform a specific drive cycle: 15 minutes steady highway driving, Followed by city driving with multiple stops, Ending with idle time until all cooling fans stopped This finally allowed the system readiness monitors to complete properly. The whole process took about 45 minutes. Given your maintenance timing and similar symptoms, I would recommend having the dealer verify all control modules were properly reset after the exhaust work. This will likely resolve your onboard diagnostics issues faster than continuing with basic drive cycles.

The information you shared about your Touareg experience is really helpful. Your situation does seem very similar to mine, especially regarding the timing after exhaust work and the cold start symptoms. Based on what you described, Im going to schedule an appointment with a workshop that has professional VW diagnostic equipment. The basic scanner Im using clearly isnt enough to properly reset the system readiness monitors. Continuing with basic drive cycles seems pointless if the computer reset wasnt done correctly after the exhaust service. The specific drive cycle procedure you outlined makes sense, Ill ask if they can provide similar detailed instructions after they perform the necessary reprogramming. At 180€ for diagnostic time and reset work, that seems reasonable to ensure the onboard diagnostics are functioning properly before my upcoming vehicle inspection. Thanks for the detailed explanation of your repair experience. This gives me a much clearer picture of what to expect when I take it to the shop.