Check Engine with headers? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Kodexo · 03-09-2016, 08:35 PM

I got my headers installed about 2 months ago, give or take 1 month, and I just got a CEL today. I'm due for an oil change soon and I'm at 30,000 miles so fluids are also ready for a change, but I never had my car tuned for the long dicks. Is that probably the cause for the CEL? I don't have my tune and fluid changes until the 30th so I'm a little worried about driving it.
Anyone know the probability of high flow headers causing the CEL?

harner · 03-09-2016, 08:44 PM

Never had the car tuned for the WHAT?! Haha. Yes, you have a check engine light due to the LT's. Get it scanned to make sure. You'll be totally fine, just dont rev to the moon. Drive normally until you know it's safe.

Do a search, you'll see a ton of posts about it. Where ya going for a tune?

camguynj · 03-09-2016, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kodexo

I got my headers installed about 2 months ago, give or take 1 month, and I just got a CEL today. I'm due for an oil change soon and I'm at 30,000 miles so fluids are also ready for a change, but I never had my car tuned for the long dicks. Is that probably the cause for the CEL? I don't have my tune and fluid changes until the 30th so I'm a little worried about driving it.
Anyone know the probability of high flow headers causing the CEL?

Probability 100% How many miles have you driven it since the LTs were installed?

Kodexo · 03-09-2016, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camguynj

Probability 100% How many miles have you driven it since the LTs were installed?

I'd say around 1,000.

Kodexo · 03-09-2016, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harner

Never had the car tuned for the WHAT?! Haha. Yes, you have a check engine light due to the LT's. Get it scanned to make sure. You'll be totally fine, just dont rev to the moon. Drive normally until you know it's safe.

Do a search, you'll see a ton of posts about it. Where ya going for a tune?

R/T tuning near philly. Drive normally? I normally hit around 5k RPM in 1st, gotta get off the line quickly! Maybe I should drive a little slower than "normal"

camguynj · 03-09-2016, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kodexo

I'd say around 1,000.

hmmm ...would have thought you'd seen a CEL long before now as the rear O2 sensors are relocated further back picking up all the much more exhaust. Whose hdrs & cats do you have?

Kodexo · 03-09-2016, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camguynj

hmmm ...would have thought you'd seen a CEL long before now as the rear O2 sensors are relocated further back picking up all the much more exhaust. Whose hdrs & cats do you have?

Texas speed 1 7/8th borla atak catback

camguynj · 03-09-2016, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kodexo

Texas speed 1 7/8th borla atak catback

Wow, even more remarkable that with 1&7/8ths you didn't get a CEL sooner. If car seems to be running OK then CEL ( assuming you only have 1) is probably coming from rear O2 and is no biggy to drive with. It only means the cat isn't as efficient as the stock cat which it can't be because it's a high flow cat.

Kodexo · 03-09-2016, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camguynj

Wow, even more remarkable that with 1&7/8ths you didn't get a CEL sooner. If car seems to be running OK then CEL ( assuming you only have 1) is probably coming from rear O2 and is no biggy to drive with. It only means the cat isn't as efficient as the stock cat which it can't be because it's a high flow cat.

I checked to see if the car is running OK by driving it like a maniac for the evening, it's running just fine. I also checked the oil level so it can't be that. I'll just take it easy until my tune! Thank you for helping my minor freak out.

JerTM · 03-09-2016, 09:23 PM

Take it to your favorite part store and have DTCs read, it's the only way to know for sure what the CEL is.

harner · 03-09-2016, 09:32 PM

I wouldn't beat on the car until it's tuned. You don't know if it's leaning out or anything. Better safe than sorry.

ghosted · 03-09-2016, 09:34 PM

Without tuning the rear (downstream) o2 sensor out, you're eventually gonna get a CEL due to the fact that there are no catalytic convertors to clean up the exhaust gases.

jshaf · 03-09-2016, 09:55 PM

when I installed mine I threw a canned tune on it for Long tubes thinking it would prevent a CEL, still got it on the way home from my brother in laws house, just get it tuned or do email throu JRE or Dyno Steve at RDP. Steve is a breeze to work with, fast and patient!!

ravensjeff · 03-10-2016, 11:57 AM

99% CEL is due to LT headers w/o a tune; especially the way you say you are driving. I would still definitely take it to your local auto parts store to get them to tell you what it is for. That other 1% could bite you in the ass.

03-09-2016, 08:35 PM	#1
Kodexo Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS M6 Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 103	Check Engine with headers? I got my headers installed about 2 months ago, give or take 1 month, and I just got a CEL today. I'm due for an oil change soon and I'm at 30,000 miles so fluids are also ready for a change, but I never had my car tuned for the long dicks. Is that probably the cause for the CEL? I don't have my tune and fluid changes until the 30th so I'm a little worried about driving it. Anyone know the probability of high flow headers causing the CEL?

03-09-2016, 08:44 PM	#2
harner Drives: 2018 ZL1 A10 Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: NEPA Posts: 454	Never had the car tuned for the WHAT?! Haha. Yes, you have a check engine light due to the LT's. Get it scanned to make sure. You'll be totally fine, just dont rev to the moon. Drive normally until you know it's safe. Do a search, you'll see a ton of posts about it. Where ya going for a tune? __________________ SOLD! 9/1/2020 2018 ZL1 A10 Hyper Blue - Rotofab CAI, Gibson catback @SurefireDetail OEM ZLE tails/third brake light, Gen5DIY reverse LEDs, front Amber LEDs, SMG laser LED side markers, SMG smoked reflectors 1994 Trans Am LM7/CPT 4L60E/9" 1987 IROC 2006 Silverado

03-09-2016, 09:32 PM	#11
harner Drives: 2018 ZL1 A10 Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: NEPA Posts: 454	I wouldn't beat on the car until it's tuned. You don't know if it's leaning out or anything. Better safe than sorry. __________________ SOLD! 9/1/2020 2018 ZL1 A10 Hyper Blue - Rotofab CAI, Gibson catback @SurefireDetail OEM ZLE tails/third brake light, Gen5DIY reverse LEDs, front Amber LEDs, SMG laser LED side markers, SMG smoked reflectors 1994 Trans Am LM7/CPT 4L60E/9" 1987 IROC 2006 Silverado

03-09-2016, 09:34 PM	#12
ghosted BCS Auto Drives: 2015 Camaro 1LS Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,299 View My Garage	Without tuning the rear (downstream) o2 sensor out, you're eventually gonna get a CEL due to the fact that there are no catalytic convertors to clean up the exhaust gases. __________________ BCS Auto on Facebook - - - Follow me on Instagram @datv6tho & @officialbcsauto

03-09-2016, 09:55 PM	#13
jshaf Montani Semper Liberi Drives: 2011 Black 2SS/RS w/ IOM stripes Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Masontown, WV Posts: 4,841	when I installed mine I threw a canned tune on it for Long tubes thinking it would prevent a CEL, still got it on the way home from my brother in laws house, just get it tuned or do email throu JRE or Dyno Steve at RDP. Steve is a breeze to work with, fast and patient!! __________________ Stainless Works 1 7/8 Long Tude Headers, Stainless Works High Flow Cats, Stainless Works Retro Chambered Catback, Z/28 Air Intake, RDP Tuned, FR41 Chrome Rims, 1100W stereo, 35% Tint

03-09-2016, 09:23 PM	#10
JerTM Drives: 2011 2SS/RS M6 Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Utah Posts: 1,940	Take it to your favorite part store and have DTCs read, it's the only way to know for sure what the CEL is.

03-10-2016, 11:57 AM	#14
ravensjeff 100% Chevy & Harley Man Drives: 2010 2SS: Blown LSX 376-B15 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Eldersburg,MD Posts: 2,211 View My Garage	99% CEL is due to LT headers w/o a tune; especially the way you say you are driving. I would still definitely take it to your local auto parts store to get them to tell you what it is for. That other 1% could bite you in the ass. __________________ LSX 376-B15, TVS2300 SC, Harland Sharp Rockers w/ Trunion Bearings, ATI Balancer/keyed, AR LT Headers/Borla Catback Exhaust, DSS 1400 HP Axles, DSS aluminum driveshaft, 3.70, Hotchkis Springs/Sway bars, Forgeline SO3P Aluminum Wheels (20x9.5 F/20x11 R)w/ Hidden Titanium Hardware, Nitto NT05 Tires (27540ZR20 F/31535ZR20 R), Billet LPE brake/gas pedals, Escort 9500ci Radar Detector Laser Jammer, Roto Fab CAI with Ice Silver box, Carbon fiber tube/MAF Housing Assy, LPE Aluminum coil covers, SS9 Sleeper Fiber Glass Hood (ACS), Carbotech 1521 ceramic brake pads, Elite catch can.