A warm-up cycle is when the engine reaches operating temperature. A DTC (Diagnostic Trouble Code) will stay as pending, which causes the check engine or MIL to stay on until the PCM has been reset manually using a diagnostic tool or the fault has not be detected for 40 successful warm-up cycles. If it was based just on engine starts, all the conditions may not have been met to cause the fault. That is why they set it so the engine has to reach operating temp. If the fault was not detected in 40 successful warm-up cycles, then the DTC will no longer be pending and stored as a historical code. It stores them historically to help techs diagnose intermittent problems.
If you have a factory service manual, this process is described in detail in the emissions section.
"DESCRIPTION - TRIP DEFINITION
The term “Trip†has different meanings depending on what the circumstances are. If the MIL (Malfunction Indicator
Lamp) is OFF, a Trip is defined as when the Oxygen Sensor Monitor and the Catalyst Monitor have been completed
in the same drive cycle.
When any Emission DTC is set, the MIL on the dash is turned ON. When the MIL is ON, it takes 3 good trips to turn
the MIL OFF. In this case, it depends on what type of DTC is set to know what a “Trip†is.
For the Fuel Monitor or Mis-Fire Monitor (continuous monitor), the vehicle must be operated in the “Similar Condition
Window†for a specified amount of time to be considered a Good Trip.
25 - 4 EMISSIONS CONTROL DR/DH
If a Non-Contiuous OBDII Monitor fails twice in a row and turns ON the MIL, re-running that monitor which previously
failed, on the next start-up and passing the monitor, is considered to be a Good Trip. These will include the
following:
* Oxygen Sensor
* Catalyst Monitor
* Purge Flow Monitor
* Leak Detection Pump Monitor (if equipped)
* EGR Monitor (if equipped)
* Oxygen Sensor Heater Monitor
If any other Emission DTC is set (not an OBDII Monitor), a Good Trip is considered to be when the Oxygen Sensor
Monitor and Catalyst Monitor have been completed; or 2 Minutes of engine run time if the Oxygen Sensor Monitor
or Catalyst Monitor have been stopped from running.
It can take up to 2 Failures in a row to turn on the MIL. After the MIL is ON, it takes 3 Good Trips to turn the MIL
OFF. After the MIL is OFF, the PCM will self-erase the DTC after 40 Warm-up cycles. A Warm-up cycle is counted
when the ECT (Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor) has crossed 160°F and has risen by at least 40°F since the
engine has been started."
-Muzzy