Check engine light now on. Any advice?

[Propdave]

Good evening

Recently I took my car out for a cancer charity event that included some spirited driving around a closed off area of downtown Edmonton. My car recently had FRPP headers installed with my existing Heffner X-pipe and this was my first real drive with the new setup. After two hours I was pulled from the event for noise violations. The car is crazy loud!

I have two questions for this group:

1. I now have a check engine light on the dash. All my gauges tell me the car is running normal and it drives fine. Could this be an O2 sensor issue causing the alert? Any other suggestions?


2. Although the car sounds great it's now a little loud for me (and my neighbours I suspect). What options do I have if I want to keep the headers and tone down the volume. I am familiar with the accufab, Heffner and Borla, any other suggestions? Does anyone make a valved system that can be opened and closed? I need an option that will work with the CDC bumper delete setup.

Thanks

Dave

 

[twobjshelbys]

You need to know what code caused the light to come on. Almost any auto parts place (Auto Zone, etc) will read the code out for you. They have a "canned" description but once you know the code you should get a better description on the web. Most places will no longer clear codes although they may accidentally do so . I bought a bluetooth OBDII reader for about $20 on Amazon and use an app (Torque Lite) on my phone to read and clear codes on all of my cars.

 

[Xcentric]

Could this be an O2 sensor issue causing the alert?
Dave

I would bet on it. But you really need to read the code to be certain. Your catalyst efficiency went to zero when you removed them causing the downstream sensor to throw a code. You can clear the code, but it will come back periodically. Buy a cheap code reader/clearer and it becomes a minor annoyance.

However, you need to be sure that the CEL is not being caused by something unrelated and potentially serious.

The matching Borla/FRPP racing muffler will tone down the noise at light throttle/cruise, but still be wonderfully anti-social when you get on it. An expensive solution though. And spirited driving in a downtown setting would still be very loud.

I haven't heard of a valved system. That would be cool, but you'd probably still need a muffler. I don't know how one could valve a straight through pipe.

 

[NorthwoodGT]

I would bet on it. But you really need to read the code to be certain. Your catalyst efficiency went to zero when you removed them causing the downstream sensor to throw a code. You can clear the code, but it will come back periodically. Buy a cheap code reader/clearer and it becomes a minor annoyance.

However, you need to be sure that the CEL is not being caused by something unrelated and potentially serious.

The matching Borla/FRPP racing muffler will tone down the noise at light throttle/cruise, but still be wonderfully anti-social when you get on it. An expensive solution though. And spirited driving in a downtown setting would still be very loud.

I haven't heard of a valved system. That would be cool, but you'd probably still need a muffler. I don't know how one could valve a straight through pipe.

"but still be wonderfully anti-social when you get on it" Only Gary would come up with that phrase!!! Perfect!!! go with the combo Xentric says. his car sounds awesome! especially under bridge over passes!

 

[mmlcobra]

As stated, any valved system would require a muffler.
IMO, way to much time and money in the limited space available in the GT.
I think it comes down to loud or not!
Best,
Mark

 

[nota4re]

If the car is too loud for you, probably your best bet is to replace the X-pipe with the Borla muffler. A relatively easy swap-out. I agree with others - if you didn't re-program the ECU at the time of the header install and suppress the CAT Efficiency code, that is most likely why you have a CEL. You will still have it even if you swap in the Borla but you can make a quick call or email to Torrie and he'll set you up with a tune that will also keep the CEL off.

 

[Propdave]

Thanks for the helpful advice.