New headers=got problems=need help
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 353
Likes: 0
From: Kailua-Kona Hawaii
New headers=got problems=need help
I installed my new set of B&B headers today and the car is running like crap. In first gear, up to about 3000 rpm, the car sputters and does not have smooth acceleration. Above this RPM, it accelerates great and sounds awesome. I also notice a little bit of the same in second gear and third. I had my ECM tuned for exactly the mods that I have done (Corsa cat-back, honker intake, 160 thermo). The weird thing is that I have been running around for the last two weeks with my tuned ECM (without headers) and it has been fine. I throw the headers on (which I am tuned for) and it goes to crap. Any ideas where my problem is? I am gonna call my tuner on Monday.
Also, I thought that since my headers had the O2 sensor ports, that I would not get a check engine light.... but I got one. Gonna call B&B about that one too on Monday.
Also, I thought that since my headers had the O2 sensor ports, that I would not get a check engine light.... but I got one. Gonna call B&B about that one too on Monday.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 26,714
Likes: 344
From: Houston, TX
Originally Posted by Steve Germany
Sounds like your O2 sensors are bad or disconnected.
Also, you say you had your car "tuned" for the mods you had. But you had it tuned before the headers where put on. That is not the best way to tune a car. It should be dyno tuned with all the mods in place. What you got is a "canned" set of tuning parameters based on what someone thinks your car will want when you put those mods on.
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,254
Likes: 0
From: Ft. Liquordale Florida
Originally Posted by jschindler
This is my first thought as well.
Also, you say you had your car "tuned" for the mods you had. But you had it tuned before the headers where put on. That is not the best way to tune a car. It should be dyno tuned with all the mods in place. What you got is a "canned" set of tuning parameters based on what someone thinks your car will want when you put those mods on.
Also, you say you had your car "tuned" for the mods you had. But you had it tuned before the headers where put on. That is not the best way to tune a car. It should be dyno tuned with all the mods in place. What you got is a "canned" set of tuning parameters based on what someone thinks your car will want when you put those mods on.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 7,179
Likes: 2
From: Charlotte, NC
Originally Posted by Steve Germany
Sounds like your O2 sensors are bad or disconnected.
I would check that out... also check for any exhaust leaks...O2's do not like being dropped or heated meaning if you use a torch on them yes I know they are in the exhaust and it's hot in there. This is my experiance talking from senarios such as when the O2 sensor is seized in and it needs to be heated.
-=Rick
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 353
Likes: 0
From: Kailua-Kona Hawaii
Do you think that if I call my tuner and tell them my car is running like crap they can put it back to the stock ECM settings? I'd probably lose out on a little performance, but it would be better than what is happening right now. Also, I am pretty far from taking my car to a tuner and dyno, so mail order was my only option without spending mega bucks to ship it to the lower 48.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 570
Likes: 0
From: Olathe Kansas
Originally Posted by jrjen2
Do you think that if I call my tuner and tell them my car is running like crap they can put it back to the stock ECM settings? I'd probably lose out on a little performance, but it would be better than what is happening right now. Also, I am pretty far from taking my car to a tuner and dyno, so mail order was my only option without spending mega bucks to ship it to the lower 48.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 353
Likes: 0
From: Kailua-Kona Hawaii
Yeah, I will put the car back up on the lift and take a look at the sensors again. Is there anyway to tell if one is bad without going to the dealership. The dealer would see my headers and instantly tell me to bend over. I'll do a once over on my install today.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 7,179
Likes: 2
From: Charlotte, NC
I would also make sure the 02's are plugged into their correct locations I'm not sure if they can be installed wrong. and check for melted harnesses that may not have been moved out of the way correctly. harnesses against the exhaust piping will melt.
-=Rick
-=Rick
Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 675
Likes: 291
From: Las Vegas
Follow the above advice. When I put the headers on my '04 GTO, one of the 02 sensors was bad, and the car did the exact same thing. Check the connections, and make sure they are screwed in tight. I'd see if there is an Autozone or Pep Boys type of place that will scan the car for you and tell you the codes.
Last edited by Vegas Sam; Aug 13, 2005 at 03:22 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 7,588
Likes: 6
From: Montreal Qc
Originally Posted by VetteTech81
I would also make sure the 02's are plugged into their correct locations I'm not sure if they can be installed wrong. and check for melted harnesses that may not have been moved out of the way correctly. harnesses against the exhaust piping will melt.
-=Rick
-=Rick
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 923
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by jrjen2
I installed my new set of B&B headers today and the car is running like crap. In first gear, up to about 3000 rpm, the car sputters and does not have smooth acceleration. Above this RPM, it accelerates great and sounds awesome. I also notice a little bit of the same in second gear and third. I had my ECM tuned for exactly the mods that I have done (Corsa cat-back, honker intake, 160 thermo). The weird thing is that I have been running around for the last two weeks with my tuned ECM (without headers) and it has been fine. I throw the headers on (which I am tuned for) and it goes to crap. Any ideas where my problem is? I am gonna call my tuner on Monday.
Also, I thought that since my headers had the O2 sensor ports, that I would not get a check engine light.... but I got one. Gonna call B&B about that one too on Monday.
Also, I thought that since my headers had the O2 sensor ports, that I would not get a check engine light.... but I got one. Gonna call B&B about that one too on Monday.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=101
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 353
Likes: 0
From: Kailua-Kona Hawaii
I checked out all my hookups (plugs, hoses, etc.) and everything looks good. I took the car out today and it is running worse than yesterday. It was hesitating, sputtering, and backfiring. I think that it is pretty much undriveable for fear of hurting the engine. It has got to be the tune on my ECM. I am gonna have to send it back. I'll worry about the O2 when I get the car back on the road. 
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 353
Likes: 0
From: Kailua-Kona Hawaii
My tuner seems to think that all my problems are because I have screwed up my O2 sensors. Either they are in the wrong place or busted. When I put the car back up on the lift, is there anyway to tell front from back sensors or if they are no good w/out hooking them up to a code reader. Can I ohm them out or something?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 7,179
Likes: 2
From: Charlotte, NC
Originally Posted by jrjen2
My tuner seems to think that all my problems are because I have screwed up my O2 sensors. Either they are in the wrong place or busted. When I put the car back up on the lift, is there anyway to tell front from back sensors or if they are no good w/out hooking them up to a code reader. Can I ohm them out or something?
usually I use a lab scope to check an O2, the O2's are voltage generators, so I wouldn't ohm them out. you could hook up a dvom and let them get warm and check for voltage but that's not really a good test. For the signal side that is (O2's can fail for the heater circut as well) I usually hook up the lab scope and check freq and amplitude of the signal to make sure we can see full rich, full lean, and that the sensor can operate quick enough. It's very possible to damage a sensor on install if you drop it or bang it around a little.
Something else the code reader is not going to tell you the O2 sensor is junk it only points you in a direction it gives you clues on diagnosis. you could still have harness problem or module problem ect. Thats why Autozone loves to pull codes for free.. OH you have lean codes blah blah whatever you need 2 oxygensensors and a MAF or whatever BS when you may actually have a vacum leak ect.. hopefully I am explaining this correctly. because too often people assume oh you can just plug it in and it will tell you whats wrong with my car... no sometimes it's a quick fix right, sometimes it requires some diagnostics which is a semi structred test proceedure usually put together by the tech working on the car.
-=Rick
