plugs/header install, now CEL blinks
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 820
Likes: 0
From: Houston TX
plugs/header install, now CEL blinks
hey guys, long story shirt, I went ahead and had headers installed, no cats and an X pipe.
Also they guy said to bring some plugs while he was there and he switched them out( went with TR5)
When he was "done" I turned the car on.... sounded good, but when I hit the throttle, it sounded shaky, like a misfire
Only the front 02 sensors were reintalled, the rears were deleted. Now I know this will throw a code(lean bank I believe) but I know it wont make my car run sloppy like it did.
We went for a test drive and off the line its now hesitant, it feels like it shakes slightly and it doesnt sound too healthy. Of course the installer blames it on the deleted rear 02 sensors and also, since I dont have an air intake, he says its running lean so I will need an air intake and a tune...
Ive heard header swaps will get you a CEL, but blinking CEL are missfires correct? What could trigger this?
To top it all off, I got a reader for the codes... it wont read the damn codes, I went to Auto Zone, same thing, they said my OBD plug is faulty!!!!!!!!!
Any suggestions on any of these problems guys? My weekend just went from
to 
Also they guy said to bring some plugs while he was there and he switched them out( went with TR5)
When he was "done" I turned the car on.... sounded good, but when I hit the throttle, it sounded shaky, like a misfire
Only the front 02 sensors were reintalled, the rears were deleted. Now I know this will throw a code(lean bank I believe) but I know it wont make my car run sloppy like it did.
We went for a test drive and off the line its now hesitant, it feels like it shakes slightly and it doesnt sound too healthy. Of course the installer blames it on the deleted rear 02 sensors and also, since I dont have an air intake, he says its running lean so I will need an air intake and a tune...
Ive heard header swaps will get you a CEL, but blinking CEL are missfires correct? What could trigger this?
To top it all off, I got a reader for the codes... it wont read the damn codes, I went to Auto Zone, same thing, they said my OBD plug is faulty!!!!!!!!!
Any suggestions on any of these problems guys? My weekend just went from
to
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 187
Likes: 5
From: Champaign Illinois
its a misfire for sure... take a look at plug wires and make sure they're installed correctly... usually on coils 7 & 8 where there's not enough space to fit them on correctly.
I've had a few incidents where NGK plugs were actually bad straight from the box.
Your obd2 port is just a fuse. Cig lighter. change it out.
I've had a few incidents where NGK plugs were actually bad straight from the box.
Your obd2 port is just a fuse. Cig lighter. change it out.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 820
Likes: 0
From: Houston TX
its a misfire for sure... take a look at plug wires and make sure they're installed correctly... usually on coils 7 & 8 where there's not enough space to fit them on correctly.
I've had a few incidents where NGK plugs were actually bad straight from the box.
Your obd2 port is just a fuse. Cig lighter. change it out.
I've had a few incidents where NGK plugs were actually bad straight from the box.
Your obd2 port is just a fuse. Cig lighter. change it out.
Oh, and the OBD, it does power up my reader but when it comes to reading, it says "cannot read" and my cig port is working fine
Thanks
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,836
Likes: 9
From: Rushsylvania Ohio
Ok yea, he said I didnt need any wires, he was going to reinstall mine, but when I picked the car up, he said a few came apart while removing them so he had to use some old ones that were still "good" laying around. I may have to get new wires.
Oh, and the OBD, it does power up my reader but when it comes to reading, it says "cannot read" and my cig port is working fine
Thanks
Oh, and the OBD, it does power up my reader but when it comes to reading, it says "cannot read" and my cig port is working fine
Thanks
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 820
Likes: 0
From: Houston TX
Racer
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 468
Likes: 0
From: Phillips Ranch California
Wow your installer sounds horrible and i'd be PO'd!
More than likely you probably have damaged and or junk wires on your car since he said he had to use some old "good" wires...
Get new wires and never use that guy again would be my suggestion.
More than likely you probably have damaged and or junk wires on your car since he said he had to use some old "good" wires...
Get new wires and never use that guy again would be my suggestion.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 534
Likes: 33
From: Southern cali
i would start first with getting a new set of plug wires. Sounds like either one or more wires are defective.
FYI-- I am particularly concerned with your installer stating that "the wires came apart in his hands" ... that to me indicates he did not grab the boot but the wire itself, causing the damage.
When you do install the new wires, please make sure you hear the "click" when you put the boot on the spark plug.
FYI-- I am particularly concerned with your installer stating that "the wires came apart in his hands" ... that to me indicates he did not grab the boot but the wire itself, causing the damage.
When you do install the new wires, please make sure you hear the "click" when you put the boot on the spark plug.
Last edited by C6topless; Apr 2, 2011 at 10:59 PM.
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Racer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 400
Likes: 1
same thing happenes with my friend's G8, he told me to check his engine, started pulling the plug wires with a slight pressure to see if they were conected properly, when I got to plug wire number 4 the wire came off so easy. Connected back problem solved. Check your wires first, and your plugs if the issue continues
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 820
Likes: 0
From: Houston TX
i would start first with getting a new set of plug wires. Sounds like either one or more wires are defective.
FYI-- I am particularly concerned with your installer stating that "the wires came apart in his hands" ... that to me indicates he did not grab the boot but the wire itself, causing the damage.
When you do install the new wires, please make sure you hear the "click" when you put the boot on the spark plug.
FYI-- I am particularly concerned with your installer stating that "the wires came apart in his hands" ... that to me indicates he did not grab the boot but the wire itself, causing the damage.
When you do install the new wires, please make sure you hear the "click" when you put the boot on the spark plug.
We did the work at his house and being a saturday Im sure he wanted to get it done and go about his day, but he shouldve atleast offered to help me at a later time, which he didnt.
I will buy some new wires first. What is the best thing I can get at an auto parts store, on a sunday, LOL
Can I just buy generic wires and if it solves the problem, upgrade later on or is that a bad way to go also?
Thanks
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Thanks guys. The installer was a great guy, up until we test drove the car. He blamed it on everything he possibly couldve other than his own fault...
We did the work at his house and being a saturday Im sure he wanted to get it done and go about his day, but he shouldve atleast offered to help me at a later time, which he didnt.
I will buy some new wires first. What is the best thing I can get at an auto parts store, on a sunday, LOL
Can I just buy generic wires and if it solves the problem, upgrade later on or is that a bad way to go also?
Thanks
We did the work at his house and being a saturday Im sure he wanted to get it done and go about his day, but he shouldve atleast offered to help me at a later time, which he didnt.
I will buy some new wires first. What is the best thing I can get at an auto parts store, on a sunday, LOL
Can I just buy generic wires and if it solves the problem, upgrade later on or is that a bad way to go also?
Thanks
I it were me, I would remove each wire and carefully examine them. Its very easy not to install them fully on the plug or coil. While there OFF, measure each one with an ohm meter. They should be in the hundreds of ohms (Normal ohm reading is 300 ohms to 500 ohms)
If,, you have one in the thousands or greater,,, thats the issue. I would try and hold out for some GM Performance parts Red wires but IF,,, you plan on up grading to some better wires later, any inexpensive wires will do. Hell, if it were me, I would repair the bad wire (dissect the bad wire and install a length of good wire using the same connectors and order the GM Performance wires and replace the old wires with the good stuff.
Contact Gene or Patrick at www.gmpartshouse.com
for the best price on those wires.
BC
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 820
Likes: 0
From: Houston TX
Thanks for the suggestion guys. Im ill equipped when it comes to working on cars. I wouldnt know how to check the ohms on the wires.
Also I need my car running asap so I will need to buy the wires locally, I cant wait for them to be shipped.
Im just going to buy a generic set, and pray my mechanic can fix this for me (different than header installer)
Any Ideas on the obd reader thingy. Cant figure that one out?????
Also I need my car running asap so I will need to buy the wires locally, I cant wait for them to be shipped.
Im just going to buy a generic set, and pray my mechanic can fix this for me (different than header installer)
Any Ideas on the obd reader thingy. Cant figure that one out?????
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: Charleston SC
I had the same problem when I installed my headers.. Found out I broke a plug.
Start the car up, open the hood. You should hear like a ticking sound from a side near the plugs. It will be pretty loud. That's usually a plug that isn't connected to the boot.
Have you pulled the boots off to inspect the plugs to make sure they are all good?
Start the car up, open the hood. You should hear like a ticking sound from a side near the plugs. It will be pretty loud. That's usually a plug that isn't connected to the boot.
Have you pulled the boots off to inspect the plugs to make sure they are all good?
Moderator emeritus
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 18,599
Likes: 3,955
From: Jacksonville Florida BWO Dayton, Cincinnati, Bloomsbury NJ, Cincinnati
2015 C7 of the Year Finalist
Broken plug or bad wires. Did you take the plugs out to install the headers? If not, look for cracked porcelain.
Elmer
Elmer
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,470
Likes: 2
From: Portland OR
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12
Best deal on the planet for wires and plugs is right here: MSD and NGK or AC Delco
http://www.mcssl.com/store/cc-perfor...81a6a08596362b
http://www.mcssl.com/store/cc-perfor...81a6a08596362b
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 820
Likes: 0
From: Houston TX
I had the same problem when I installed my headers.. Found out I broke a plug.
Start the car up, open the hood. You should hear like a ticking sound from a side near the plugs. It will be pretty loud. That's usually a plug that isn't connected to the boot.
Have you pulled the boots off to inspect the plugs to make sure they are all good?
Start the car up, open the hood. You should hear like a ticking sound from a side near the plugs. It will be pretty loud. That's usually a plug that isn't connected to the boot.
Have you pulled the boots off to inspect the plugs to make sure they are all good?
Best deal on the planet for wires and plugs is right here: MSD and NGK or AC Delco
http://www.mcssl.com/store/cc-perfor...81a6a08596362b
http://www.mcssl.com/store/cc-perfor...81a6a08596362b
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,307
Likes: 111
From: Tucson AZ
Once you get your misfire sorted out, you will still have a check engine code from the lack of rear O2 sensors. It is a catalytic converter fail code, but the car will still run fine. The front O2 sensors adjust fuel mixture, but the rears only check the cats.
You can install O2 simulators, tune it out with your Predator, or get a professional tune to turn the rear O2 sensors off.
You can install O2 simulators, tune it out with your Predator, or get a professional tune to turn the rear O2 sensors off.