Headers and a CEL

[Z/28Dan]

I just bought a set of Pfadt headers and I'd like to put them on WITHOUT doing anything else right now. Currently, my only under hood mod is a CAI. Eventually I'll go with the JRE 75RWHP kit, but I'd like to get through this year with remaining warranty to see if the super charger starts acting up. I'm at 7800 miles and plan to put around 5-6,000 miles on it this year.

So, knowing the headers will cause a CEL, has anyone come up with a solution? I saw this on another thread and wanted to see if anyone here has actually tried this:

http://www.bigdaddiesgarage.com/mini-cat-cel-fix.html

There will be varying opinons on what I SHOULD do, but if you could help me with this one question about the CEL, I'd greatly appreciate it.

[AMCBimmer]

You have to tune. Even with my tune I am still have CEL codes for Cats. I take mine in with the tune on and never have an issue.

[Nor Cal ZL1]

ZL1 Dan, I have the simulators sitting on my desk. I have sent my Pfadt headers into AFE so they can check thier tooling and start production back up. I have not tested the mini cats yet. If you want to give them a try PM me your info and I will send them to you for testing.

Since you are planning on the Jannetty kit you could also start the kit with just the tuner and clear the CEL whenever it shows up.

When the car is tuned the rear o2 sensor is disabed and the o2 CEL will not come up.

[ZO6 Bryan]

Actually the codes you will get first are p015B and P015D. Which are for slow response of the FRONT O2s. So the mini cats aren't going to help.

[1KillerSS]

Ok, this is an alternative solution, Adjustable O2 Simulators.

http://www.magnumtuning.com/en/detai...evrolet/camaro

I used magnumtuning products when I worked in a speed shop, killing a CEL on a Kia. It worked. But your still adding hardware to the car that the dealer can see.

I havent had any luck with the spacers. Nor have I tried this new product Magnum has for the Camaro.

[Stephen12ZL1]

Just get a tune with a knowledgeable tuner and they can fix all of these codes in a few minutes. No big deal at all.

[ST1LE]

Originally Posted by ZL1Dan

I just bought a set of Pfadt headers and I'd like to put them on WITHOUT doing anything else right now. Currently, my only under hood mod is a CAI. Eventually I'll go with the JRE 75RWHP kit, but I'd like to get through this year with remaining warranty to see if the super charger starts acting up. I'm at 7800 miles and plan to put around 5-6,000 miles on it this year.

So, knowing the headers will cause a CEL, has anyone come up with a solution? I saw this on another thread and wanted to see if anyone here has actually tried this:

http://www.bigdaddiesgarage.com/mini-cat-cel-fix.html

There will be varying opinons on what I SHOULD do, but if you could help me with this one question about the CEL, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Then do not Mod. There are no magic solutions, if you want your warranty then wait to do any mods.

That or you can run with a CEL and turn it off with your own DB2 reader etc. They will keep coming up, but you can check them and turn them off each time.

[Z/28Dan]

Originally Posted by ST1LE

Then do not Mod. There are no magic solutions, if you want your warranty then wait to do any mods.

That or you can run with a CEL and turn it off with your own DB2 reader etc. They will keep coming up, but you can check them and turn them off each time.

I appreciate your response(s) and I'm not really looking for a magic solution. Just a way to install headers on a ZL1 without tuning. If it wasn't for this stupid "potential of a" supercharger problem, I would have gone off the deep end with mods already.

[Nor Cal ZL1]

Originally Posted by ZO6 Bryan

Actually the codes you will get first are p015B and P015D. Which are for slow response of the FRONT O2s. So the mini cats aren't going to help.

Interesting Bryan. Do coated headers help with the response?

[Nor Cal ZL1]

Originally Posted by ZL1Dan

I appreciate your response(s) and I'm not really looking for a magic solution. Just a way to install headers on a ZL1 without tuning. If it wasn't for this stupid "potential of a" supercharger problem, I would have gone off the deep end with mods already.

Same here Dan. 14,000 miles on the car and the isolator is quiet.

[Stephen12ZL1]

Originally Posted by Nor Cal ZL1

Interesting Bryan. Do coated headers help with the response?

no...coating makes no difference

[EvilZL1]

Save yourself the stress... riding without a tune you will burn twice the amount of gas since you're AFR will be way off. Get a dyne tune and get the most for your money with the headers. People always want headers but don't want the cons that come with it. Either care about your warranty or not. Some dealers are cool like mine and like what you've done and some are going to be asses about it

[ZO6 Bryan]

Originally Posted by EvilZL1

Save yourself the stress... riding without a tune you will burn twice the amount of gas since you're AFR will be way off. Get a dyne tune and get the most for your money with the headers. People always want headers but don't want the cons that come with it. Either care about your warranty or not. Some dealers are cool like mine and like what you've done and some are going to be asses about it

Untrue! The fuel trims will always bring you back to 14.7AFR. You may be a little off at WOT. Actually when I did my headers the fuel trims didn't change significantly at all.

Put the headers on and drive it. A SES/CEL light will come on in a week or two. Clear the code and keep on driving if the light doesn't bother you. The car will run just fine. Ignore the light on the dash if that is what you wish. But if you want no codes coming up you'll have to tune it. No way around it.

[EvilZL1]

Originally Posted by ZO6 Bryan

Untrue! The fuel trims will always bring you back to 14.7AFR. You may be a little off at WOT. Actually when I did my headers the fuel trims didn't change significantly at all.

Put the headers on and drive it. A SES/CEL light will come on in a week or two. Clear the code and keep on driving if the light doesn't bother you. The car will run just fine. Ignore the light on the dash if that is what you wish. But if you want no codes coming up you'll have to tune it. No way around it.

I burned a ton of gas when putting the headers on without a tune. It only took 5 mins for my CEL light to come on as well.