Don't worry people, when the fix is available, I will personally see to it that our current customers will be taken care of first and foremost, at no charge to them. I will however still require the proof of purchase. It is a company policy that we need a simple proof of purchase for all warranty, refund, and exhange claims. Sorry guys, that's just how business is. Like I have said in previous posts, I back our products 110%, and if there is a problem, you can be sure I'll get it taken care of correctly.

 

Thanks Ray...

Just let us know when.... I'll fax the "Packing list" that came with the header..

BTW, I'm the guy that spoke to you on the phone (OCT).. still need the (1) bracket that came off.. the thingy that hold the 2-pc header together..


Thanks....
Keith.

 

no other header claimed to not throw a CEL either. i'm not trying to bash you guys, and i know you make a good product, but the fact of the matter is one of the selling points of your header over others is that it didn't throw a CEL. i happen to own a AW header and a zpi s-pipe i knew when i bought them i was going to throw a CEL.

 

keith, I'll get a slip-fit tab out to you along with the O2 fix as soon as it is ready.

 

Either he's making the anti-fouler setup wrong, is running it on the primary O2 sensor , his sensor is f'ed or something because I've been running an anti-fouler for over 12K miles now with one of the DC headers and haven't seen one check engine light.

$2 at Autozone baby.

 

Any update on availability?

 

And, any data on exactly _why_ the headers set the CEL? A header is just a piece of pipe, perhaps better flowing than the stock plumbing, and it shouldn't make much difference in emissions.

It would be a shame to put a lot of effort into bandaid fixes without examining the true cause of the problem.

 

The true cause of the CEL is that a cat is removed and the secondary O2 sensor notices it. It responds as it is supposed to do when a cat fails and the flow changes by throwing a CEL. The anti fouler is not a band-aid by any means since it tricks the sensor into getting the readings it expects to see.

It is not a desing flaw of the headers avialble at all, but the emissions self checking system working properly.

 

Ah, I see. Removing a cat will certainly change things. Time to fool the computer...

 

The error comes from removing the cat built into the OEM header. Then the o2 sensor reads incorrect air flow and causes the CEL to come on.

 

I guess another way to look at would be this...if your header does not throw a CEL with the second O2 sensor in the stock location, then it is not flowing that much more air than stock..which would mean the header is not going to add much in the way of HP. So if you look at it this way, a properly desinged header will throw a CEL..so if you have a CEL, then be happy because you have proven that your header does increase airflow through the system and was a purchase that has increased HP.

 

Hmmm, how does the O2 sensor detect airflow? I though that it measured oxygen content in the exhaust stream.

I would expect that the second sensor after the cat would detect less oxygen with the cat intact. With the cat out, the oxygen content is too high, meaning that the cat between the sensors isn't working (or has been removed). Unfortunately, at a cold start, the system expects to see the same amount of oxygen in the inlet and outlet of the cat, so if you just monkey with the second sensor signal the computer will not see the signals it expects when cold and will trigger the CEL for a sensor failure.

The fix would be a circuit to make sure that the sensor configuration looks normal to the computer at start, yet alters the second sensor signal to simulate less oxygen after the engine runs for a couple of minutes, simulating an operating cat. Possible, but tricky!

 

A little off topic, but from what I understand there are two cats in the exhaust system of the tC right? Will removing one of the cats cause the car to fail an emmissions test? If so, I'm guessing that replacing both with one high flow cat would be a way to get it to pass again?

 

Your question goes way beyond a yes/no answer! Whether it passes or not depends upon whether the high flow cats do the same job as the stock parts and if the CEL lights stay out. Not an easy task.

 

so whats the status on this...

 

 

were still testing it to make sure it doesnt throw a CEL when installed.

 

here is a solution, there is a cat built into the header right? and the first O2 sensor is after that cat right? so that cat must do something, so just extend the O2 sensor wires and place the O2 sensor after a high flow cat. has anyone tried this yet? quit tring to trick the sensor and let it do its job, somewhere else.

 

There are two cats, one on the OEM exhaust manifold, and the second after the S-pipe. There are also two O2 sensors, one BEFORE the first cat, and one in the S-pipe, AFTER the first cat. The elimination of the first cat creates a rich condition for the second O2. The goal is to not allow the second O2 to read this change.

 

right so jam another hiflow cat in there somwhere and move the O2 sensors. i know what causes the problem but i also know what fixed it on my other 2 cars.