what is the correct drive cycle to reset readiness monitor

When you plug in a scan tool it looks at which monitors have been passed and which have not been passed. Some systems are checked every time the key is turned /car driven, other system require a particular drive cycle to be completed (evaporative emission, catalytic converter efficiency ect...) Do you know which monitor has not been passed. I have had to get some monitors to pass with the car jacked up on jack stands where I was unable to get it to pass drive cycle criteria on the road.

Resetting readiness monitors on this vehicle is very difficult. I used to perform these reset's all the time, but I always did it with a scan tool connected, which helped, but some were still very difficult. There is a service bulletin that describes the sequence fairly well, try to get that. Like Pat asked, "Do you know which monitors are not passing?"

Generic OBD II "Drive Cycle" Most OBD II ("On-Board Diagnostics II") diagnostic monitors will run at some time during normal operation of the vehicle. However, to satisy all of the different Trip enable criteria and run all of the OBD II diagnostic monitors, the vehicle must be driven under a variety of conditions. The following drive cycle will (theoretically) allow all monitors to run on (??) vehicle. (Note: Drive cycle specifics vary by vehicle!) 1.Ensure that the fuel tank is between 1/4 and 3/4 full. 2.Start cold (below 86°F /30°C) and warm up until engine coolant temperature is at least 160° F (typically requires at least one minute; up to 3 minutes). 3.Accelerate to 40-55 MPH at 25% throttle and maintain speed for five minutes. 4.Decelerate without using the brake (coast down) to 20 MPH or less, then stop the vehicle. Allow the engine to idle for 10 seconds, turn the key off, and wait one minute. 5.Restart and accelerate to 40-55 MPH at 25% throttle and maintain speed for two minutes. 6.Decelerate with using the brake [or the clutch!] by coasting down to 20 MPH or less, then stop the vehicle. Allow the engine to idle for 10 seconds, turn the key off, and wait one minute. The diagnostic routine shown above will be discontinued whenever: • Engine speed exceeds 3000 RPM • Large fluctuations in throttle angle • Road speed exceeds 60 MPH The driving criteria shown can be completed within the FTP required ~11 miles in a controlled environment such as a dyno test or test track. A “customer driving cycle” may vary according to traffic patterns, route selection and distance traveled, which may not allow the “diagnostic trip” to be fully ompleted each time the vehicle is operated.

Those model year Volvos are known for this issue and SMOG techs ( at least in California) have an addendum in their book. On one customer's vehicle we had to use $275 worth of gas in order to get it ready for SMOG. $300 to drive it for you would be something I wish I could sublet out! We even did the correct stated drive cycle many times on the road, on the lift and dyno....

This may be a bit late to answer your question, but for others with this inquary the 1997 volvos will never set monitors.The smog machine will do the test anyway according to the BAR manual appendix J.