Will headers automatically trip a "Check engine" light? - Page 2 - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

376LS3 · 04-07-2013, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nsane

Nutro,
I take the approach of seeing mods as a fun thing to talk about. Then I tell myself that stock is pretty cool 20 years later when people see the beauty of a stock car... untouched. I am like you. I want that rumble, but the fears of "what's next" creeps into my mind. A buddy of mine used to be a mechanic and is now an engineer. I always run my ideas by him. His response is consistent, "just drive it."

If you do put on headers, I will agree with the previous posts that recommend a tune. A lean/rich running engine will cause more pain down the road.

Good luck with the job search!

I dont see a rich/lean condition presenting itself at idle and cruise. The reason the CEL light comes on is the fuel trims are "out of range." I think these computers can compensate up to 25%. Anything passed that, a lean/rich condition can happen, but dont see that with headers and an intake. If you dont want to tune, Id at least put a wideband on the car to make sure youre not going lean at WOT. The computer does not compensate fuel at WOT, so if its not tuned, your MAF readings will be skewed which will directly correlate your WOT air fuel ratios. My opinion Dan, if you dont want to tune, dont screw with the car bro. Plus every part you have put on the car youve taken off after 400 miles! lol! Save the money, youre not going to get anything out of mods without a tune.

vfrider · 04-07-2013, 06:16 PM

I believe the CEL from headers is a cat efficiency code. The long tubes put the cats (if you run hi-flows) further away from the exhaust ports. They take longer to heat up and reach operating temperature. If that doesn't happen soon enough for the computer, the CEL comes on. I live in one of the hotter parts of the country, and like I said, it took the coldest night of our winter to trigger the code. On a summer's noon-day at 118 degrees, they're already close enough to temp that the code won't trigger. What are average year round temps in Austin? If 90 degrees is a cool September morning for you, I'd say go for it.

rdblan2 · 04-07-2013, 06:29 PM

My vote is if you're worried about your warranty, stay stock.

Somebody here has a signature that says "Don't race what you can't afford to set on fire and push off a cliff" or something like that.

Think before you mod.

2SS45th · 04-07-2013, 06:39 PM

Go with the Kooks Green Cats, they are supposed to not set off check engine lights. That'd be the best of both worlds.

vfrider · 04-07-2013, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdblan2

Somebody here has a signature that says "Don't race what you can't afford to set on fire and push off a cliff" or something like that.

Yeah, never expect to ride home what you're taking to the track lol.

litle88 · 04-07-2013, 07:42 PM

^^^ I love it! Lol^^^
Truth be told

MattyDaddy · 04-08-2013, 03:50 PM

so, i'm running the SLP cold air kit (love it), cherry bomb cat back exhaust and most recently installed the JBA with cats downpipes. never got codes until i installed the downpipes. recently my pops took the camaro to the dealer, who insisted he was going to report the car to chevy that the car was modified and void my warranty. I was soo pissed because i checked before doing the downpipes that as long as you don't modify the Headers, warranty wouldn't be voided. At any rate, I don't have dyno numbers, but on a cool night here in AZ on my 5th run of the night, i ran a 13.3 in the Quarter. No traction issues.

IMO, hang on to the warranty as long as possible. Big fixes on that car could cost you big time.

ImperialSScamaro · 04-08-2013, 04:55 PM

Can driving it with a p1133 code hurt a LS3?
The reason I'm asking is because I got air raid cai. ARH headers with high flow cats and a custom tune and it still threw code P1133. They are gonna check it tomm but I don't want to hurt my LS3.

MarylandSpeed · 04-08-2013, 05:02 PM

Kooks green cats do not throw codes. Their extra cost is almost as much as tune however...

AMCBimmer · 08-06-2013, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarylandSpeed

Kooks green cats do not throw codes. Their extra cost is almost as much as tune however...

Not true. I purchased them from you and it set the cel after 2 driving cycles. I called Kooks and they said tough.

litle88 · 08-06-2013, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AMCBimmer

Not true. I purchased them from you and it set the cel after 2 driving cycles. I called Kooks and they said tough.

For your BMW?

AMCBimmer · 08-06-2013, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by litle88

For your BMW?

Nope for my ZL1

litle88 · 08-06-2013, 07:49 PM

So you put cats on a ZL1!?

There's your problem!

Nightmare2012 · 08-06-2013, 07:52 PM

cats on a boosted application= no bueno!!!!

04-07-2013, 06:29 PM	#17
rdblan2 Drives: 2SS RS Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: MD Posts: 1,272	My vote is if you're worried about your warranty, stay stock. Somebody here has a signature that says "Don't race what you can't afford to set on fire and push off a cliff" or something like that. Think before you mod. __________________ Livernois 2C cam and tune, LS3 conversion, Roto-Fab intake, Kooks headers, DSS driveshaft and axles, BMR suspension parts, VMax ported throttle body, Whipple blower. (623hp).

04-07-2013, 06:39 PM	#18
2SS45th Drives: 11 Seconds or Faster Join Date: May 2012 Location: Arvada, Colorado Posts: 2,797 View My Garage	Go with the Kooks Green Cats, they are supposed to not set off check engine lights. That'd be the best of both worlds. __________________ I Ain't About That Stock Life.

04-07-2013, 07:42 PM	#20
litle88 V8 Lounge member #2 Drives: 2001 Ws6 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Burbank,IL Posts: 6,373	^^^ I love it! Lol^^^ Truth be told __________________ 2001 ws6, 40k miles, Ls3 416 stroker, short block built by PER the rest by me. LPE Ls3 heads milled to 12-1 comp, FAST 102, NW 102, kooks 2", dual DMH cutouts, Magnaflow C/B, BTR cam + springs. Full UMI suspension.

04-08-2013, 03:50 PM	#21
MattyDaddy Drives: 2012 Red SS/RS Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Chandler AZ Posts: 36	so, i'm running the SLP cold air kit (love it), cherry bomb cat back exhaust and most recently installed the JBA with cats downpipes. never got codes until i installed the downpipes. recently my pops took the camaro to the dealer, who insisted he was going to report the car to chevy that the car was modified and void my warranty. I was soo pissed because i checked before doing the downpipes that as long as you don't modify the Headers, warranty wouldn't be voided. At any rate, I don't have dyno numbers, but on a cool night here in AZ on my 5th run of the night, i ran a 13.3 in the Quarter. No traction issues. IMO, hang on to the warranty as long as possible. Big fixes on that car could cost you big time. __________________ 2011 V6 LS.. Traded in.. 2012 Red SS/RS! Woot!

04-08-2013, 04:55 PM	#22
ImperialSScamaro Im a noob Drives: Black 2016 1SS Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: LA Posts: 199 View My Garage	Can driving it with a p1133 code hurt a LS3? The reason I'm asking is because I got air raid cai. ARH headers with high flow cats and a custom tune and it still threw code P1133. They are gonna check it tomm but I don't want to hurt my LS3. Last edited by ImperialSScamaro; 04-08-2013 at 05:11 PM. Reason: Adding info

04-07-2013, 06:16 PM	#16
vfrider Drives: 2012 2ss/rs mt Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Baja Zona Posts: 81	I believe the CEL from headers is a cat efficiency code. The long tubes put the cats (if you run hi-flows) further away from the exhaust ports. They take longer to heat up and reach operating temperature. If that doesn't happen soon enough for the computer, the CEL comes on. I live in one of the hotter parts of the country, and like I said, it took the coldest night of our winter to trigger the code. On a summer's noon-day at 118 degrees, they're already close enough to temp that the code won't trigger. What are average year round temps in Austin? If 90 degrees is a cool September morning for you, I'd say go for it.

04-08-2013, 05:02 PM	#23
MarylandSpeed Account Suspended Drives: 2012 ZL1 & 2010 2SS/RS Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,378	Kooks green cats do not throw codes. Their extra cost is almost as much as tune however...

08-06-2013, 07:49 PM	#27
litle88 V8 Lounge member #2 Drives: 2001 Ws6 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Burbank,IL Posts: 6,373	So you put cats on a ZL1!? There's your problem! __________________ 2001 ws6, 40k miles, Ls3 416 stroker, short block built by PER the rest by me. LPE Ls3 heads milled to 12-1 comp, FAST 102, NW 102, kooks 2", dual DMH cutouts, Magnaflow C/B, BTR cam + springs. Full UMI suspension.

08-06-2013, 07:52 PM	#28
Nightmare2012 come find out;) Drives: stockish 2012 camaro ss Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: speed county Posts: 2,166 View My Garage	cats on a boosted application= no bueno!!!!