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Do Headers Throw Check Engine Light?

Old Jul 11, 2014 | 06:04 PM
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Default Do Headers Throw Check Engine Light?

Hi all,
Looking to get a little more sound/performance out of my corvette. I have a Corsa Xtreme axle back, Stock x-pipe.

My question is, the stock headers have cats and O2 sensors on them, I know the aftermarket long tube headers have the spot for the O2 sensor, But no cats on them. Will that throw an emissions check engine light? I want my car to be able to pass New jersey inspection without swapping parts.

I am leaving my stock x-pipe with the cats on there for this reason, and I have also heard aftermarket x pipes with high flow cats could even make the car quieter and minimalize the deceleration gurgle, witch I like. (feel free to chime in)

Will just the cats on the x-pipe be enough to keep me free of check engine lights and pass New Jersey emissions? They don't hook anything up to the exhaust just through the obd2 port.

Thanks in advance!!
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Old Jul 11, 2014 | 06:44 PM
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Default yes they do

I recently installed obx headers with high flow cats and it does throw cel. I have borla type 2 stingers and the gurgle and popping has increased and gotten louder im about to have diablew tune for the header upgrade and cel. A tune is a must after header change, especially if u want to pass smog.
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Old Jul 11, 2014 | 06:49 PM
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You can get aftermarket headers with cats. Ask me how I know. As far as throwing codes, I couldn't tell you. My headers were put on at a shop and tuned at the same time. "IF" it threw codes, they were taken out at that time. No codes now. I did have an X pipe installed also and my car probably doubled in loudness.
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Old Jul 11, 2014 | 06:54 PM
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So if I tune I get no check engine? Not so much worried about the light but more worried about passing inspection.

and your car got louder with an x-pipe? Interesting
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Old Jul 11, 2014 | 07:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Yz Kid
Hi all,
Looking to get a little more sound/performance out of my corvette. I have a Corsa Xtreme axle back, Stock x-pipe.

My question is, the stock headers have cats and O2 sensors on them, I know the aftermarket long tube headers have the spot for the O2 sensor, But no cats on them. Will that throw an emissions check engine light? I want my car to be able to pass New jersey inspection without swapping parts.

I am leaving my stock x-pipe with the cats on there for this reason, and I have also heard aftermarket x pipes with high flow cats could even make the car quieter and minimalize the deceleration gurgle, witch I like. (feel free to chime in)

Will just the cats on the x-pipe be enough to keep me free of check engine lights and pass New Jersey emissions? They don't hook anything up to the exhaust just through the obd2 port.

Thanks in advance!!
I had this Dynatech X-Pipe and Dyantech Longtube 1-7/8 primary headers. It did not through a code and passed NH state inspection which also just uses OBD2 plug in. I don't know about the decel gurgle on stock mufflers, but with the Corsa sport mufflers and this exhaust that gurgle is very pronounced and includes some loud popping. It is obnoxious... and I love it.
http://www.afcodynapro.com/content/c...steel-dynatech

http://www.afcodynapro.com/content/h...steel-dynatech

The headers have a bung for the primary O2 sensor and the X-pipe has a bung for the secondary O2 sensor. You will probably need a wire harness extension, but I'm sure Casper sells them.

Best part, when I upgraded and built the Procharged LS3 motor, AFCO/Dynatech was able to sell me the straight pipes to bolt right in place of the Hi-flow Cats. Now that would've thrown a code without a little ECM tweaking.
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Old Jul 11, 2014 | 07:15 PM
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I have an old video of how the exhaust comparison when the engine was stock and after I did a heads/cam upgrade to the LS2. It hadn't been tuned when the video was taken of the heads/cam combo so there is some clowning around about that in the video. Pay the peanut gallery no mind.

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Old Jul 11, 2014 | 07:53 PM
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I have Melrose headers and Corsa Sport exhaust. Mine has not thrown a code yet . Ive been running them for about 4 months. I passed an OBDII inspection a couple of weeks after installation
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Old Jul 11, 2014 | 09:19 PM
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Originally Posted by jimmyb496
I have an old video of how the exhaust comparison when the engine was stock and after I did a heads/cam upgrade to the LS2. It hadn't been tuned when the video was taken of the heads/cam combo so there is some clowning around about that in the video. Pay the peanut gallery no mind.

http://youtu.be/9iKhMY5QlqA
That's a sick garage/lift
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Old Jul 11, 2014 | 11:43 PM
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Go see ECS (east coast supercharging) down in Cream Ridge.They will install headers for you and do the necessary tuning to turn off any lights.Headers with cats have the 02 sensors further back so a longer connector is installed and a tune is done to "fool" the engine into thinking the sensors are where they should be and don't take to long to warm up.That's what throws the cel. No inspection issues at all.I'm in NY where it's just as tough if not tougher.Let the pro's do their thing and you'll be fine.
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Old Jul 12, 2014 | 07:28 AM
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Looking at pictures I am getting confused, How many cats are on the car stock? 2 on the headers and 2 on the x-pipe? Or just 2 on the Headers?

Also I cant find any catted Long tube headers, Just catted x-pipes.

Thanks again everybody!
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Old Jul 12, 2014 | 07:42 AM
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yes..stock is 4 cats.
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Old Jul 12, 2014 | 11:43 AM
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So looks like my best bet is to get long tube headers and leave the stock x-pipe and get tuned. Hopefully be able to pass emissions with just the 2 x-pipe cats. I will give east coast supercharging a call.


I have also heard people talking about "shim kits" to beat emissions.
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Old Jul 12, 2014 | 12:08 PM
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Originally Posted by not08crmanymore
Let the pros do their thing and you'll be fine.
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Old Jul 12, 2014 | 02:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Yz Kid
So looks like my best bet is to get long tube headers and leave the stock x-pipe and get tuned. Hopefully be able to pass emissions with just the 2 x-pipe cats. I will give east coast supercharging a call.


I have also heard people talking about "shim kits" to beat emissions.
LT headers will not mate with your stock X-pipe. You will need to purchase the X-pipe (with or without cats) from the same header manufacturer as a total package.
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