Will headers cause a CEL? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

nine4m6 · 09-06-2011, 06:46 PM

Hey everyone. I'm planning on putting ARH longtubes with highflow cats and a CAI on my car. I want to do a tune also but that will be a while. So anyway, will a CEL be an issue before I do the tune? Thanks.

MARINE1991 · 09-06-2011, 06:56 PM

yes...

IROCanSS · 09-06-2011, 06:59 PM

more then likely... could be 10 minutes, could be 10 days... but it will likely throw. Being in NC, moving into denser air time of year, you may be ok for a while.

Apex Motorsports · 09-06-2011, 07:01 PM

It may be immediate, it may be eventual, but you will get a CEL without a tune.

rjdapilmoto · 09-06-2011, 07:26 PM

Yes, if you don't get a dyno tune after installing long tube headers, your car will throw a CEL. It's not an issue, although it'll keep bugging you until you get that tune. Just Do It!

nine4m6 · 09-07-2011, 06:02 AM

Thanks everyone. Sounds like the tune will be coming more sooner than later. Any recommendations for Dyno shops in NC?

WheelmanSS · 09-07-2011, 08:50 AM

yup. Mine came on after 150 miles.

Juiced1 · 09-07-2011, 08:56 AM

You will eventually get a code but the thing is they can be deleted. A quck trip to Autozone and they will delete it for free or you can buy a cheap scanner for $30 and delete them yourself. Never hurts to have a scanner. If you run off road pipes you will always have a code.

gelboy1015 · 09-07-2011, 11:16 AM

Yep, I took my chances since I heard my system may or may not throw a code. It threw a code 2-3 days later while I sat in traffic. Been driving with the CEL on ever since, at least until I get it tuned in the next coming months.

67motorcat · 09-07-2011, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nine4m6

Thanks everyone. Sounds like the tune will be coming more sooner than later. Any recommendations for Dyno shops in NC?

Not sure where you are in NC,but RPM in Garner is the place to go

Might not get a CEL for quite some time if you install O2 extenders at the rear bungs.I know lots of people who run them with great success.

xXSilencerXx · 09-07-2011, 05:34 PM

Out of curiosity what code does it throw? My 4th gen never threw a code when I put headers on it, just wondering what's different on this car.

JDP Tech · 09-07-2011, 05:49 PM

Usually its a catalytic converter efficiency code, P0420 or P0430.
Sometimes it will throw various O2 sensor codes.

We have one customer who opted to stick with the stock tune, until he gets some more money for a dyno tune, and has yet to have his CEL on. He's been running around since March of this year without any codes... kinda cool, but definitely not typical.

Usually the CEL will turn on within a few hundred miles, but will never turn on immediately unless you remove the rear O2 sensors, or the installer forgot something or screwed something up.

Pollock · 09-07-2011, 06:15 PM

Took about 40 miles for mine to throw a code. I had Jannetty Racing tune it with the SCT tuner. It is also an engine code reader I wanted down the road anyway.

GB EB · 09-07-2011, 06:41 PM

Yes.... had it within 15 minutes of leaving the shop after install.

Brought it back the next day.... after about 15 more minutes to correct the tune it was gone.... for good (so far).

and BTW.... the check engine light will prevent the auto-start feature from working....

09-06-2011, 06:46 PM	#1
nine4m6 Drives: 2011 Camaro 1SS RS Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North Carolina Posts: 92	Will headers cause a CEL? Hey everyone. I'm planning on putting ARH longtubes with highflow cats and a CAI on my car. I want to do a tune also but that will be a while. So anyway, will a CEL be an issue before I do the tune? Thanks.

09-06-2011, 07:26 PM	#5
rjdapilmoto DAP-ONE [COTW - 12/23/13] Drives: 2010 - 2SS/RS IOM Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 2,907 View My Garage	Yes, if you don't get a dyno tune after installing long tube headers, your car will throw a CEL. It's not an issue, although it'll keep bugging you until you get that tune. Just Do It! __________________ Featured in "Wild About Cars" - October 2012 DAP-ONE's Build Journal

09-07-2011, 08:50 AM	#7
WheelmanSS Logic is dead Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 1,804	yup. Mine came on after 150 miles. __________________ 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS (LS3) 573 RWHP 498 RWTQ - Vortech V3 Supercharger - Kooks Stepped Headers, Magnaflow 16580 - Suspension by Pfadt, Hotchkis. 2007 Trailblazer SS- Sold 2001 Trans Am WS6 431 RWHP 408 RWTQ - Sold 1994 Camaro Z28 - Sold

09-07-2011, 05:34 PM	#11
xXSilencerXx Butter Bar! Drives: 2011 SS, 1998 Trans Am Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Patrick AFB, FL Posts: 1,364	Out of curiosity what code does it throw? My 4th gen never threw a code when I put headers on it, just wondering what's different on this car. __________________ 2011 Camaro SS, White/Orange, LSR Short Throw, CAI 1998 Trans Am, Red, H/C/I, 3200 CircleD Stall, full suspension 2004 GSXR 1k, Matt Mladin Edition

09-07-2011, 06:41 PM	#14
GB EB Drives: 2014 Stingray 2LT/Z51 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NAS PENSACOLA, FL Posts: 2,375 View My Garage	Yes.... had it within 15 minutes of leaving the shop after install. Brought it back the next day.... after about 15 more minutes to correct the tune it was gone.... for good (so far). and BTW.... the check engine light will prevent the auto-start feature from working.... __________________ *CAMARO5 CAMARO OF THE WEEK 3/21/11* *1ST PLACE - NAVAL STATION SAN DIEGO CAR SHOW 4/17/11* *PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD - SAN DIEGO FREEDOM FESTIVAL CAR SHOW 7/4/11* *TROPHY RECIPIENT - GREATEST SHOW ON TURF 9/11/11* *1ST PLACE MODERN MUSCLE - CORONADO SPEED FESTIVAL 9/23/11* *AWARD OF EXCELLENCE - GOOD GUYS DEL MAR FALL NATIONALS 11/27/11* *1ST PLACE / '82&UP CAMARO/FIREBIRD- FORT WALTON BEACH FF SHOW 2/16/13* BUILD THREAD: http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=120353

09-06-2011, 06:56 PM	#2
MARINE1991 Drives: COTW 8/29/11 2010 CAMARO Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: HOMELESS Posts: 10,010 View My Garage	yes...

09-06-2011, 06:59 PM	#3
IROCanSS Account Suspended Drives: 89 IROC 350 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Back roads, southern Ohio Posts: 12,504 View My Garage	more then likely... could be 10 minutes, could be 10 days... but it will likely throw. Being in NC, moving into denser air time of year, you may be ok for a while.

09-06-2011, 07:01 PM	#4
Apex Motorsports Drives: 2000 Camaro SS Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Louisville, Ky. Posts: 25,179	It may be immediate, it may be eventual, but you will get a CEL without a tune.

09-07-2011, 06:02 AM	#6
nine4m6 Drives: 2011 Camaro 1SS RS Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North Carolina Posts: 92	Thanks everyone. Sounds like the tune will be coming more sooner than later. Any recommendations for Dyno shops in NC?

09-07-2011, 08:56 AM	#8
Juiced1 Account Suspended Drives: 2012 2SS CAMARO 45th Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: St. Charles, IL Posts: 18,663	You will eventually get a code but the thing is they can be deleted. A quck trip to Autozone and they will delete it for free or you can buy a cheap scanner for $30 and delete them yourself. Never hurts to have a scanner. If you run off road pipes you will always have a code.

09-07-2011, 11:16 AM	#9
gelboy1015 Drives: '10 2SS/RS, MKIII Supras Join Date: May 2010 Location: Houston/Tulsa Posts: 1,009	Yep, I took my chances since I heard my system may or may not throw a code. It threw a code 2-3 days later while I sat in traffic. Been driving with the CEL on ever since, at least until I get it tuned in the next coming months.

09-07-2011, 05:49 PM	#12
JDP Tech Drives: 2010 CGM Camaro 2SS/RS 429 LSX/F1X Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Sandy, UT Posts: 429	Usually its a catalytic converter efficiency code, P0420 or P0430. Sometimes it will throw various O2 sensor codes. We have one customer who opted to stick with the stock tune, until he gets some more money for a dyno tune, and has yet to have his CEL on. He's been running around since March of this year without any codes... kinda cool, but definitely not typical. Usually the CEL will turn on within a few hundred miles, but will never turn on immediately unless you remove the rear O2 sensors, or the installer forgot something or screwed something up.

09-07-2011, 06:15 PM	#13
Pollock LT4 M6 Drives: 2018 ZL1 1LE Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Bloomington, IN Posts: 1,249	Took about 40 miles for mine to throw a code. I had Jannetty Racing tune it with the SCT tuner. It is also an engine code reader I wanted down the road anyway.

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