Two days ago, I changed my engine oil, replaced my transmission fluid, and cleaned my battery terminals. Then I reset the service light. This morning I took the car in for inspection, and surprisingly it failed for OBD Readiness Monitor.

Catalyst Monitor: Not ready
02 Sensor Monitor: Not ready

Can somebody please explain what those mean? Is there something wrong with my car?

 

you need to drive the car until the monitors are ready , im not sure on how many miles. when you disconnected the batteries it reset the monitors. if theses monitors are not ready it won't pass inspection. the reason it wont pass is say there is a problem with the o2 sensor and someone decides to not fix it and just clear the code the problem still exists but it would show that everything is ok because there is no code. the code may not come back for a while and that is kinda what these monitors are doing is making sure the problem does not return. I hope this makes sense.

 

^^ Exactly...drive it for 20-30 miles and get it retested- it'll likely pass since the monitors were 'not ready'.

 

My 2009 RDX owner manual (OM) specifies a way (for the owner) to determine if the vehicle is ready for an emissions test. This method will tell you, the owner, when starting the RDX, if all monitors have been set to READY. You might check your TL OM to find if there is a similar method to determine if your TL is ready for an emissions test.

My 2009 RDX owner manual has a specific page/ write-up on how to get the emmissions monitors to *SET-READY*. Its a drive-cycle description. Same for my 15 year old Chevy Owner Manual. There are also many links online with specific drive-cycle instructions for "forcing" the typical car emissions monitor to SET-READY. I would post a couple of links, but the ones I have saved, are for GM cars. They would probably work for your TL, but then, you can just Google for yourself, if you don't have an OM for your TL.

However, here is a link to suggestions for when you have trouble getting the standard drive-cycle/ readiness test to complete, for your car.

http://repairpal.com/Drive-Cycle-Issues

 

Drive it around and wait until the sensors "readjust". My EGR valve was stuck open, threw a CEL code. I fixed it, went to work and cleared the code

You might not have the machine so just give it a few days.