'Tis that time the DMV calls for my obligation... - NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds

enRo · 09-16-2008, 09:14 PM

...in protecting the environment. Yes, its inspection time, and I am 110% sure I will fail with flying colors. SES Light for rear 02 sensors (which was tuned out, but came back

for the same thing ) and exhaust with a wicked o-zone-layer-slayer smell and tone that will disrupt any kind of peace... the thing is, the car has LT's and cats along with the AIR system reattached, but what I'm wondering is... I hear the stories, the pleads, and the testimonies but no definitive answer. Sure, the outcome may vary depending on the inspection station + inspector, but how does one get by inspection with these types of things? My recent lack of interest in dealing with cars in general has gotten the better of me, but when I finally spent a good 5 hours cleaning and detailing it inside and out, I've noticed that I am due for inspection this month.

Let's add a little to this situation. I've been doing some "window-shopping" for a new exhaust setup cuz the two year old Pacesetters I have installed is damn near close to breaking apart (thank you non-ceramic-coated headers), and for the past 2 years Ive dealt with an unfixable rattle due to a poorly-made Hooker catback. Anybody have luck passing with mid-legth headers + cats? I may be balancing the scales here with sacrificing tone for cleanliness, but would it be worth the hassle in the long run?

Solutions? Experience? Suggestions? Discuss.

LTb1ow · 09-16-2008, 09:18 PM

Don't you just plugged in? Get the codes fixed, and get a pair of high flow cats.

enRo · 09-16-2008, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shownomercy

Don't you just plugged in? Get the codes fixed, and get a pair of high flow cats.

Done, done, and done. At first, had the O2's tuned out by Paul, then the light came on. Eventually I did get a TSP catted-Y due to a fine-threatening pull-over... So I had two bungs welded on there and installed the two original REAR O2 sensors. Fail. So, I order two new O2 sensors and install. Fail. Went to my buddy's auto shop to have him diagnose the problem. Fail.

LTb1ow · 09-16-2008, 09:24 PM

Explain the "fail"? Why ?

enRo · 09-16-2008, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shownomercy

Explain the "fail"? Why ?

Cant really explain it. O2 sensors arent being picked up by the 'puter. Bungs were welded on in the proper location, no break in the connections and two sets of O2's later, still no sign of the code going away. So when I took it to the shop, my buddy somehow tested the sensors (not attached to my car) and they weren't faulty.

LTb1ow · 09-16-2008, 09:32 PM

Can't you just get them properly tuned out?

enRo · 09-16-2008, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shownomercy

Can't you just get them properly tuned out?

Thats what I thought happened when I paid Paul $50 to tune them out, but to no avail, the light came on a couple days afterwards. Once in a while Ill catch a break on my way to work, and notice the SES light is gone, but the minute I start it back up to go home, it's on again.

BonzoHansen · 09-16-2008, 09:42 PM

Don't they make some kind of 'sims' you can plug in place to fool the ecm?

LTb1ow · 09-16-2008, 09:43 PM

They were deemed illegal and the company that made them was sued. I think.

JL8Jeff · 09-17-2008, 07:21 AM

I have a pair of O2 sims on my car you can "borrow" if you want. The cats might not be getting up to temp high enough to help work properly. The rear O2's are probably reading fine and it's just not clean enough. Sims or a real tune is needed. The MAC headers are probably better in terms of being emission's legal regarding location of the cats but I don't know if the cats will work any better. I've heard bad things about the MAC cats getting clogged up quickly. I think BTK has the Random Tech cat setup with stock manifolds on his SS and noticed a difference in power without having headers put on. Did you ever get a proper tune on the car?

sweetbmxrider · 09-17-2008, 04:46 PM

what were the O2's reading? or did he not check them via scanner but measured the resistance?

69BirdX · 09-17-2008, 05:17 PM

i passed with a kooks lts and highflow cats. my e brake light stays on including the abs light. My one headlight started to act up and would go up. I still passed they reved it a few times cause they liked the sound. If you get the check engine light off you should be good. They did look under my hood but onyl for a few secs they dont know what they are looking at. My 02 snesor throw a code everynow and then. I delete about once a month. Thats because of the CIA it allows more dirt through the engine which can momentarly mess with the MAF.
________
Vapir no2

enRo · 09-17-2008, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetbmxrider

what were the O2's reading? or did he not check them via scanner but measured the resistance?

The 02's werent even picking up on the scanner IIRC, he measured resistance and the 02's do in fact work.

lastcall190 · 09-17-2008, 05:46 PM

What you need is for the code not to even be reported, I believe. I had the same type of thing popping up. Set it as "do not report" in EFI Live, and no light for months. Word of advice? Do NOT, under ANY circumstance... go to the Randolph station. You will fail for sound probably faster than you can blink. IMO, get the SES light issue solved and take it to a private garage. You don't have tint so you're already "ahead of the game" so to speak... More shops are leary of passing a car with tint than with no cats from what I've seen.

-J

ins0mnia24 · 09-17-2008, 06:48 PM

Souds like somebody didnt delete all of 10 codes 5 for each side " If I remember correctly" for the rear O2's.

Anyways using rear O2 sensors even if you have a Y-pipe with cats the car is still going to throw DTC's because the readings and operating ranges for the rear O2's can't be used anymore because your cats are farther back in the exhaust stream so your sensors will not be reading the values that they have been preset to read..

V · 09-19-2008, 10:45 PM

i did the same stuff i did on my ss, and my light stay off

anyways noah, i still have your VIN saved on my software so i can do more with your car, we can definately look at it again for no charge of course.

enRo · 09-20-2008, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmokingSS

i did the same stuff i did on my ss, and my light stay off

anyways noah, i still have your VIN saved on my software so i can do more with your car, we can definately look at it again for no charge of course.

Ok coo coo. I didnt wanna bother you cuz u were/are active in the military

V · 09-20-2008, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigDaddyKane

Ok coo coo. I didnt wanna bother you cuz u were/are active in the military

ill see when im in nj next and ill let you know, i got your number, if its still the same since then

KirkEvil · 09-21-2008, 11:15 PM

tape $50.00 to the steering wheel before you step out of the car

foff667 · 09-23-2008, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmokingSS

i did the same stuff i did on my ss, and my light stay off

anyways noah, i still have your VIN saved on my software so i can do more with your car, we can definately look at it again for no charge of course.

Paul if you want me to look over the file shoot it to whenn1 at verizon.net

My GTP passed without issue a couple of a weeks ago