Header Install - The Aftermath
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,257
Likes: 4
From: North Carolina
Header Install - The Aftermath
Installed the Jet Coated Hedman Headers today. Couple of odd things I noticed after the install. First off, I removed the oxygen pump and all its equipment. I also removed the EGR valve and disconnected that "sensor" that was attached to the base. I bough a new O2 sensor, but I never installed it... I think I will let the exhaust shop do it.
Now the aftermath.... The check engine light is not on even though the O2 sensor is disconnected?
The fans are set to come on at 180*F, yet the primary ECU fan comes on as soon as the car turns over? Also the oil temperature gauge reads a temperature with Key on engine off, yet when you start the car it reads low? Anyone have any input,
Meanwhile the exhuast shop is 40 minutes away,... is it safe to drive the car 40 mins on the street with open headers?
DG
Now the aftermath.... The check engine light is not on even though the O2 sensor is disconnected?
The fans are set to come on at 180*F, yet the primary ECU fan comes on as soon as the car turns over? Also the oil temperature gauge reads a temperature with Key on engine off, yet when you start the car it reads low? Anyone have any input,Meanwhile the exhuast shop is 40 minutes away,... is it safe to drive the car 40 mins on the street with open headers?
DG
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,326
Likes: 18
From: Los Angeles California
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,318
Likes: 248
From: Summerland B.C. Canada
Check the wire to the oil temp switch, it's about 6 inches above oil filter. The wire or sender could have been knocked off or damaged during header install.
Does the motor run fine ?? Just wondering if "limp mode" has been triggered causing the fan to run with key on. Hopefully it's something simple like stuck contacts in fan relay. http://members.shaw.ca/corvette86/Co...%20Control.pdf
I wouldn't want to drive 40 minutes each way, in a plastic car with open headers.
I did that in my 68 Camaro, to the airport and back. That was an extremely loud trip and I bet there were flames flying out of them. 
Luckily I never came across any LEO's.
Does the motor run fine ?? Just wondering if "limp mode" has been triggered causing the fan to run with key on. Hopefully it's something simple like stuck contacts in fan relay. http://members.shaw.ca/corvette86/Co...%20Control.pdf
I wouldn't want to drive 40 minutes each way, in a plastic car with open headers.
I did that in my 68 Camaro, to the airport and back. That was an extremely loud trip and I bet there were flames flying out of them. Luckily I never came across any LEO's.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,257
Likes: 4
From: North Carolina
Check the wire to the oil temp switch, it's about 6 inches above oil filter. The wire or sender could have been knocked off or damaged during header install.
Does the motor run fine ?? Just wondering if "limp mode" has been triggered causing the fan to run with key on. Hopefully it's something simple like stuck contacts in fan relay. http://members.shaw.ca/corvette86/Co...%20Control.pdf
I wouldn't want to drive 40 minutes each way, in a plastic car with open headers. I did that in my 68 Camaro, to the airport and back. That was an extremely loud trip and I bet there were flames flying out of them. Luckily I never came across any LEO's.
Does the motor run fine ?? Just wondering if "limp mode" has been triggered causing the fan to run with key on. Hopefully it's something simple like stuck contacts in fan relay. http://members.shaw.ca/corvette86/Co...%20Control.pdf
I wouldn't want to drive 40 minutes each way, in a plastic car with open headers.
I did that in my 68 Camaro, to the airport and back. That was an extremely loud trip and I bet there were flames flying out of them. Luckily I never came across any LEO's.I should post a poll. From my house to the shop, how long will it take for the state police to pick me up...
As soon as I pull out of the driveway
15 mins
20 mins
25 mins
Wish me luck guys.
DG
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 278
Likes: 4
From: Havre de Grace, Maryland
I ran my '93 with open headers long enough to back it off the trailer and it stalled after running about 3 minutes and wouldn't restart. It was flooded! The O2 sensor in the collector read a lean condition because of its proximity to the open header and caused a rich condition. For this reason and also the risk of melting (or burning) the fiberglass floorboards (it happened to a friend of mine in a short run in his neighborhood!) I wouldn't do it!!
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Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: O'Fallon Missouri
As soon as the car warms up and goes into closed loop, you may be in trouble.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,257
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From: North Carolina
Ok,... today I warmed the car up to 180*F where I have to set to run now. I already thought about the O2 sensor sensing a lean condition which is why I unpluged it. I drove the car up my road and it seems to be running OK. As far as I remember (at least on the OBDII cars) if the ECU does not sense an O2 sensor, it will put the car into a mathematically calculated fuel curve. Is this correct? If so I think I should be Ok so long as I stay off the gas. What I was wondering is why the engine still is not throwing a check engine light. As for the fans on, that may be a result of the O2 sensor or possibly one of the other mods. In any event the car is NOT overheating so thats a start.
I hope the exhaust doesn't melt the floor boards. I waited till the car was hot and then stuck my hand under there,... its Oven Warm but not blistering.
Unfortunately I have no choice but to drive the car to the muffler shop... just keeping my fingers crossed.
P.S. Exhaust gets installed Wednesday.
DG
I hope the exhaust doesn't melt the floor boards. I waited till the car was hot and then stuck my hand under there,... its Oven Warm but not blistering.
Unfortunately I have no choice but to drive the car to the muffler shop... just keeping my fingers crossed.
P.S. Exhaust gets installed Wednesday.
DG
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
Likes: 147
From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
exhaust
go to home depot and buy some roofing flashing material and make yourself some heat deflectors. The flashing cuts with tin snips. tie them on with coat hangers and thread them through the header holes so they don't slip. you should be ok on the floor issue then. Drill small holes in the flashing to thread the coat hanger material through.
I agree that you may have damaged the harness over by the starter, but if the check engine light does not come on, I would install the O2 sensor and cross your fingers.
Also, your car may run a lot cooler without the rest of the exhaust system, and it might not be in closed loop. (although mine goes in closed loop at about 148 degrees)
I agree that you may have damaged the harness over by the starter, but if the check engine light does not come on, I would install the O2 sensor and cross your fingers.
Also, your car may run a lot cooler without the rest of the exhaust system, and it might not be in closed loop. (although mine goes in closed loop at about 148 degrees)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 936
Likes: 2
From: Tyrone PA
Are you 100% sure the heater or a/c isn't on? When I did mine I unhooked the battery. When I hooked it back up the heater/ac turned itself on. I could not figure out why the fan was running, then I got in and found the ac on. Boy, did I feel dumb. I was getting ready to ask on here what I did that would cause that. I then pushed the off button and off went the fan!! You may need to go to a heated o2 sensor or install it closer to the engine. Hooker headers have a bung for the 02 that is close enough to the engine that it doesn't need to be heated. Seems to work great.
I am pretty sure it will stay in open loop, without an O2 sensor.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,318
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From: Summerland B.C. Canada
Good point, Auto climate control "on" seems to be a default setting, every time the battery is disconnected and reconnected. Seems to be the case for my C68 electronic climate control, not sure on the manual version, though.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,257
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From: North Carolina
DG
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,032
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Dumb question. Does your check engine light work?
I'd pull the codes from the car to see if it has anything set in the check engine memory.
One other thought... what conditions need to be met to trip the CE light for an 02 sensor. I know that it seems obvious that if you disconnect an 02, the light should come on... but I know on my '85 there are various sensors that I can disconnect, without setting off a trouble code...
I'd pull the codes from the car to see if it has anything set in the check engine memory.
One other thought... what conditions need to be met to trip the CE light for an 02 sensor. I know that it seems obvious that if you disconnect an 02, the light should come on... but I know on my '85 there are various sensors that I can disconnect, without setting off a trouble code...
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,257
Likes: 4
From: North Carolina
Dumb question. Does your check engine light work?
I'd pull the codes from the car to see if it has anything set in the check engine memory.
One other thought... what conditions need to be met to trip the CE light for an 02 sensor. I know that it seems obvious that if you disconnect an 02, the light should come on... but I know on my '85 there are various sensors that I can disconnect, without setting off a trouble code...
I'd pull the codes from the car to see if it has anything set in the check engine memory.
One other thought... what conditions need to be met to trip the CE light for an 02 sensor. I know that it seems obvious that if you disconnect an 02, the light should come on... but I know on my '85 there are various sensors that I can disconnect, without setting off a trouble code...
DG