Headers installed --> check engine light
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 89,144
Likes: 3
From: Life's tough, wear a helmet.
Headers installed --> check engine light
2003 Z06
LG long tube pro w/hi-flo cats
Had the headers w/hi-flo cats installed by my regular mechanic (very competent). After about 60 miles of driving the check engine light came on. I'm going to assume it's an O2 sensor issue, but my question is this: does installing headers/cats without a tune always result in a check engine issue or is this just a coincidence?
The car is back at the mechanic but I don't yet know what code is being thrown.
And yes, I'm scheduling a tune.
TIA
LG long tube pro w/hi-flo cats
Had the headers w/hi-flo cats installed by my regular mechanic (very competent). After about 60 miles of driving the check engine light came on. I'm going to assume it's an O2 sensor issue, but my question is this: does installing headers/cats without a tune always result in a check engine issue or is this just a coincidence?
The car is back at the mechanic but I don't yet know what code is being thrown.
And yes, I'm scheduling a tune.
TIA
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,056
Likes: 0
From: Havelock, NC ( NJ Resident )
Yes it does, but most cars learn and the check engine goes off. So just keep driving the car and hope it learns. Have your Mechanic reset the check engine light and let it learn.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 583
Likes: 0
From: OKC OK
2003 Z06
LG long tube pro w/hi-flo cats
Had the headers w/hi-flo cats installed by my regular mechanic (very competent). After about 60 miles of driving the check engine light came on. I'm going to assume it's an O2 sensor issue, but my question is this: does installing headers/cats without a tune always result in a check engine issue or is this just a coincidence?
The car is back at the mechanic but I don't yet know what code is being thrown.
And yes, I'm scheduling a tune.
TIA
LG long tube pro w/hi-flo cats
Had the headers w/hi-flo cats installed by my regular mechanic (very competent). After about 60 miles of driving the check engine light came on. I'm going to assume it's an O2 sensor issue, but my question is this: does installing headers/cats without a tune always result in a check engine issue or is this just a coincidence?
The car is back at the mechanic but I don't yet know what code is being thrown.
And yes, I'm scheduling a tune.
TIA
More than likely, it is a 420/430, rear O2 codes. Not a problem with the tune.
I was just getting ready to pounce on you for not having a tune.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,056
Likes: 0
From: Havelock, NC ( NJ Resident )
I ran my car with header for several months without a tune, I waited for a major reason to have my ride tuned, my PCM learned and adjusted to the changes and the addition of headers.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 583
Likes: 0
From: OKC OK
I see this all the time, and you cannot deny that if it runs that much better (seat of the pants, through all operation ranges, in addition to 5-8% higher dyno results) with the proper tune, the 'relearn" method is not a complete solution.
I not bagging you for not tuning it, but you need to truly understand the limitations of what you get, when not properly tuning it.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 124,404
Likes: 288
From: .... NJ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '19
Most get that code at one time or another, but more so if you put in high flow cats, not just LT. I usually get it in hot weather for some reason when just driving around town. When I get a tune I will have the tuner take car of it.Pull the codes and post them up.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 9,298
Likes: 4
From: American Canyon Lethal Injection
Good luck
Last edited by SLPRC5; Aug 3, 2007 at 03:20 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 394
Likes: 5
From: West Point Utah
I have lg long tube headers and high flow cats and X pipe with a borla stinger exhaust and have not tuned the car. I would love to get a tune but i live in Utah and no one does it. The car runs good and will once every few months kick a o2 sensor code. I know its not running at peak tune but the car seems to adjust well.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,653
Likes: 6
From: North Royalton, OH
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 124,404
Likes: 288
From: .... NJ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '19
I have lg long tube headers and high flow cats and X pipe with a borla stinger exhaust and have not tuned the car. I would love to get a tune but i live in Utah and no one does it. The car runs good and will once every few months kick a o2 sensor code. I know its not running at peak tune but the car seems to adjust well.
