[snip]

Given that you're in a State that mandates emission inspections...

Step 1: use your scanner to _clear_ the error code.
If you're very lucky, it won't show back up.

Alternatively, if it shows up again every 500 miles,
just live with it [a].

If it comes right back after 30 nominal miles (that
is, once the system decides to do the rechecks), then
you've got to figure out what's wrong

In my case, with a different car and a slighrly different
OBD code, it turned out (we discovered after _lots_ of
misdirection) that the EGR was pouring plenty of garbage
into the exhaust, coating the catalytic converter, and
messing things up.

Once we replaced the EGR this went from getting the
error light/message 20 miles after reset to.. the
aforemention very roughly every 500 miles.

Presumption was/is that there's caked on gunk which
is interfering with the converter, but... it's not
enough to set it off right away.

And, alas in my case, no easy way to pull the
converter and clean it. (That's an option
with some other cars).

[a] So what I did was check the OBD readings
fifty miles before my last inspection [b], make
sure it was ok, head to the inspection station,
stop outside, double check the reading, and
bring it in.

[b] the OBD ssytem needs to monitor the car for
thirty or so miles after a reset, so I couldn't
just clear it at the curb.

For good measure, which might or might not have
made a difference but which made me feel better, I

1: filled the last couple of tanks with ethanol_free
gasoline (which was also higher octane)
and
2: poured in Luke Oil cleanser into the tank.

good luck

--
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