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New Headers= Dreaded CEL

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Old Jan 13, 2007 | 10:41 AM
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Default New Headers= Dreaded CEL

Installed new Melrose headers w/RT hi flo cats 3 wks ago... Until 2 days ago everything was great then suddenly the dreaded CEL appears.

Code reading is P0420 (catylst efficiency) Bank 1. After telecon w/ Melrose and R/T they are sending a new modified wiring harness...hope this works. From reading this forum, this seems to be a common occurence. What have you guys done to correct this? Is a tune necessary?
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Old Jan 13, 2007 | 11:06 AM
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Originally Posted by conceptrealty
Installed new Melrose headers w/RT hi flo cats 3 wks ago... Until 2 days ago everything was great then suddenly the dreaded CEL appears.

Code reading is P0420 (catylst efficiency) Bank 1. After telecon w/ Melrose and R/T they are sending a new modified wiring harness...hope this works. From reading this forum, this seems to be a common occurence. What have you guys done to correct this? Is a tune necessary?
Do you have a code reader/reset device or a Diablo Predator? If so, clear the error code. I wouldn't worry about it, this is not uncommon and not usually a problem. Exhaust gases are generally cooler with headers and high-flow cats so it can throw a code every now and then.
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Old Jan 13, 2007 | 11:23 AM
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Why is it dreaded?? I like mine, it's pretty.
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Old Jan 13, 2007 | 12:18 PM
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I have the same code. I'm not too concern because this code does not put car on limp mode. Anyway, I just received a pair of o2 "clamps" which bolt right on and are suppose to resolve the issue 95% of the time. They were recommended by another CF member. They are not sponsors so PM for their name. The cost was around $30.00. I will be installing them sometime soon.
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Old Jan 13, 2007 | 07:50 PM
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If you get a tune, then they will not come back. Most guys get the tune anyway to get the most out of their headers.
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Old Jan 15, 2007 | 04:25 AM
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Either 1. get a tune, 2. pay someone with HP Tuners $200 (cost of a Tuners license for your car) to turn off the codes with HP Tuners, or 3. sping for the $500 and buy your own copy of HP Tuners and learn it from their forum and other forums. If you go this route you can split the cost with a buddy and tune his or her LS2 car as well. Or 2 buddies with LS1 cars, they cost $100 to tune each.

I recommend getting the full tune. Go to the Southeast Section or maybe search here, Mike Norris has been running specials on his tunes and you'll get a lot more than just your codes turned off with a full tune. A tune does a lot for an LS2.

Last edited by Joe_G; Jan 15, 2007 at 05:09 AM.
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Old Jan 15, 2007 | 06:55 AM
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Thanx for the responses, I think tune may be the best answer. I will see if the new harness works and if so I will post so others will know
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Old Jan 15, 2007 | 08:33 AM
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TUNE THAT PUPPY



QUIMBO SEEYAAAH
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Old Jan 15, 2007 | 08:37 AM
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Might be worth clearing all of these codes to prevent the CEL in the future.

P2A04
P2A01
P0060
P0054


Matt
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Old Jan 15, 2007 | 04:21 PM
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The car is running lean at idle and rich at WOT. This heats (in closed lopp due to too little fuel) and cools the cats too much (more fuel dumped at WOT due to measured lean condition at closed loop)inefficiently. The car is running as it should given the untuned nature of its fueling changes forced in by the headers. Once tuned, (wthout deleting codes) it wont happen anymore. The CEL is a normal response to an untuned bolt on mod and once you tune it properly it will run properly. No band-aid fixes are necessary.

The car is able to compensate for up to +24%/-20%. That is why some cars throw a CEL and some don't. It doesnt mean that any untuned car with headers is optimum.
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