2001 malibu computer data?

Hello all....I have yet another question for the experts out there....

Here is the scenario, just picked up my new to me 2001 malibu, went to have it echecked (smog test) and they told me there was no data in the computer:banghead:, I have to drive it for a time and come back. Does anyone know APPROX how long that would be....? I have to have it tested for the plates, and I don't want to got back in there and not have enough data. Still no light. There was no light on my first test drive either.

The rest of the story which is before the 'test' was on the test drive about 7 or 8 days before the echeck...I drove it to a friends house and we looked it over, he tested it with a scanner, but there were no codes, and I don't remember him saying, "I cleared the computer", so, I guess the second question is, I guess depending on the scanner type, maybe it did clear all data??

Thanks all...

are we talking data or flags?

Going for an emissions test, they are not concerned with "data", per se.....they are looking to see if any codes are set, and if all the flags have run and completed their tests(o2, evap, egr, etc.).....

Old follow up or temporary end of story: I would agree Tech II, emissions are not concerned with data, but with having no data in the computer (odd;must have been cleared like it said), they could not 'test' to 'see' if there were any codes. Anyway its all horse hockey, meaning in Ohio, they will not even test your car on the plug in if there is a check engine light on. Case in point, I needed to get the test done and when I went the last time they plugged in, check engine light came on, he said he couldn't test my car today, I said at all? He then said how about the roller/tailpipe test, I said ok, and it passed.

It's possible, he couldn't "communicate" with your computer......several things can cause this.....on pin #16, there should be battery voltage....if there is none, the circuit fuse has to be checked.....Pins 4 & 5 are grounds.....if #16 is ok, a test light will light if 16 is paired with 4 or 5....if it doesn't, circuit is open....Pin #2 is the Class II serial data line....this is where the data comes from.....if this is open, grounded, or shorted to voltage, no communication......with a voltmeter attached between 2 and 4 or 5, should see a varying voltage......

One more possibility, is one or more of those pins in the ALDL 16 pin connector could be too wide(some people probe these things with the improper tool) and when the scan tool is attached, there is a bad connection....

First thing to check is battery voltage on #16....