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I plan on installing a set of long tube headers on my stock 2000 coupe "if" the check engine lite does come on do I need to bring it to a tuner or can I just use a hand-held programer like a DIABLOSPORT to reprogram it so the lite doesn't come on?
The Diablo can make that adjustment, many hand-helds can not. Check first. For the same money though you are much better off with finding a tuner to work with your car. Your leaving a lot on the table by not having your car tuned personally, especially since it costs about the same money. ECS, my opinion of the best, does it mailorder if you can't find one locally. They are a forum vendor.
If you have ECS near you, I wouldn't consider any other options. Doug will be able to tune your car right and give you a little more hp than a Diablo will. If you have a manual trans he can defete the CAGS and an auto he can improve the shifting. He'll also work on the fans/cooling and you will probably gain some mpg's when he's all done.
If you put long tubes on, there's no "if" to it - you will get codes because it flows WAAY more air than stock and your air/fuel ratios will easily get outside the normal range. There's even a possibility that at WOT you can go lean and burn up a piston. I would NOT rely on a hand held programmer. The LTs are expensive and your engine is expensive. A good dyno tune only costs about the same as buying the hand held programmer anyway. The hand helds are usually programmed to provide VERY conservative tunes for MOST cars and are not set up to maximize the potential of your car like having a professional do it right. No question about. Make an appointment - you'll be happy you did.
If you install long tube headers, get the car tuned. The air to fuel ratio will be off without a tune so what would be the point of the install. You may still get codes. Tuners turn many of the O2 codes off but some are left on for diagnostic purposes. I still get P1130 a couple times a year.
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