Another Newbie Exhaust Question

[shadow04]

I've searched the forum and still can't find an answer so I'm posting. Please point to a thread if this question's been answered.

I just purchased an 04 GT 5spd. It has an off-road H-pipe with speed-tek? mufflers. I'm in TX so have to pass emissions. I had the car a day and the 'service engine light' came on. They told me it was because the mechanic didn't clear the code after replacing an O2 sensor (I saw the new sensor). They took it to different shop where the code was cleared and so far so good. Different people have said the car is probably not running right because there's no cats and no MIL's. This is my first stang so I can't tell if it should run better or not. I'm currently looking into x-pipes with cats but not sure when I can get one. Is it bad to run like I'm running? sorry for long post. thanks in advance.

[Masshole]

well normally the check engine light will come up when your not running cats. but if you had the code cleared its fine. alota people dont run cats.
the light might be on for another reason. is it still on???

[shadow04]

no light hasn't come back on. It came on right after I got gas for the first time. I noticed there is a separate light for the gas cap so figured that light should come on if the gas cap was the problem. The service light came on about 5mins after getting gas. Dealership said if it was the gas cap the cap light would come on and then possibly service light. But if only service light came on then could be something else. Light is still off but won't be surprised if it comes back when I fill up..any ideas? thanks

[Orange97GTVert]

Late Model Restoration (one of our sponsors) sells some mini-cats for around $60 each, you could have the H-pipe cut & have them welded in. Dallas has emissions sniffers and you probably can't get inspection without cats. It is getting harder everywhere to get them inspected without them.

[Masshole]

no light hasn't come back on. It came on right after I got gas for the first time. I noticed there is a separate light for the gas cap so figured that light should come on if the gas cap was the problem. The service light came on about 5mins after getting gas. Dealership said if it was the gas cap the cap light would come on and then possibly service light. But if only service light came on then could be something else. Light is still off but won't be surprised if it comes back when I fill up..any ideas? thanks

it most likely is something else. next time the light comes on have it checked out..... it might only be something small setting it off. i kno i had that problem with my Probe GT. it ended up being one of the O2 sensors.

"i've" never seen a service engine light come on because of a gas cap. but i havent seen it all :chuckle: actually...... i may have, but i think it might have been because he fifnt out that cap on tight enough. dont hold me to it tho.

[Lime05GT]

As far as I know, running an off-road pipe on the 96 and up is going to make the "check engine" light come on because the rear O2 sensors. I know people who have just learned to live with the light, since all it's doing is saying the cats are not burning off the excess gas in the system. It's not going to hurt it, but it is going to get annoying staring at that light all the time.

Like I told you, you have 2 choices: a. spend $300 or so on the catted H or X pipe or b. drop about $60 on a set of MIL Eliminators to fool the computer :mick:

[Lime05GT]

Late Model Restoration (one of our sponsors) sells some mini-cats for around $60 each, you could have the H-pipe cut & have them welded in....

I bet I could talk my buddy into cutting and welding those cats in for you. Sounds like it's time for a road trip to Hewitt :woot:

[shadow04]

so is it cheaper to weld in some cats or just buy an x-pipe with cats?

[Lime05GT]

welding in some after market cats would be MUCH cheaper

[Orange97GTVert]

welding in some after market cats would be MUCH cheaper

:werd:

[Masshole]

b. drop about $60 on a set of MIL Eliminators to fool the computer :mick:


this is a better option then anything. :mick:

[Lime05GT]

I thought so too, but he must be getting old...says it's too loud with the off-road pipe :lmao1: That's why I suggested re-installing some cats to tone it down :mick:

[Masshole]

I thought so too, but he must be getting old...says it's too loud with the off-road pipe :lmao1: That's why I suggested re-installing some cats to tone it down :mick:

or he could jusy buy some walker quiet flow mufflers :chuckle:

http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/exhaust_-and-_mufflers~pop.html?apwcid=X109 3010841W41260599c6350&apwkwd=Walker+Exhaust&gclid=CPu--bX3hY8CFRGCGgodPWpQ2Q&ef_id=1360:3:3cf8722cd83caff83 6e0590f2dd67158_493528869:dr-htdB6B3YAAHUbLo8AAAAF:20071011 034740

[shadow04]

yeh yeh yeh....I love the sound but don't want to draw too much attention to myself. We'll see what happens. If it gets to expensive I'll be dropping $60 on the MIL's and run it for awhile....I by no means want it stock!!:mad:

[shadow04]

ok..now that I have a mustang I've opened myself up to endless jabs from my wife who hates Fords. So, with this thing being too loud for her to drive that adds to the amount of jabs, cut downs, etc i get...It'd be good to get it semi-quiet during normal driving and then loud when getting frisky. :bolt:

[Lime05GT]

Yeah, but we were also thinking about possible hassles with inspections due to it not having emissions equipment underneath.

No, no stock will not be allowed :snicker:

[shadow04]

Eric, ..you are correct sir. The car was just inspected so I guess I'm good for awhile. It's going to suck if I get used to the tone and then quiet it down! :thumbsdow

[Lime05GT]

ok..now that I have a mustang I've opened myself up to endless jabs from my wife who hates Fords.

The whole family is like that...hasn't stopped me from enjoying mine :nanana:

[my86gt]

loud you havent sean loud ill let you hear mine :lmao:

[Lime05GT]

loud you havent sean loud ill let you hear mine :lmao:

:werd: Your's sounds SICK :drool:

[Masshole]

loud you havent seen loud ill let you hear Dean's old notch :woot:

:werd:

thanks brotha


:lmao1: :lmao1: :lmao1: :lmao1: :lmao1: :lmao1: :lmao1: :lmao1: :lmao1:

[Lime05GT]

:rolleyes::lmao:

[my86gt]

nice try dean :lmao:

[Masshole]

nice try dean :lmao:

hey i can try cant i :lmao:
















no but really.... i wish i had video of mine. it woulda made yours sound like a lawnmower :lmao:

[Dirty_SOHC]

Ok, here is the plain and simple. On 96 and newer cars the down stream o2's will cause a CEL if they are not turned off or you do not have MIL eliminators when running no cats. If you have to pass emissions you are going to need cats. You can turn off the rear o2's with a hand held tuner or in a custom tune. The down stream o2's or rear o2's, what ever you want to call them do not effect the tune what so ever, they are there as an emissions monitoring tool, that is it. With new technology, new cats a flowing almost as well as no cats, just don't buy the cheapest thing out there.

[shadow04]

ok I know my car isn't THAT loud...maybe I'll pull everything off and run open-header:D

shudahadav8 --thanks for the info. I was wondering if the mechanic somehow disabled the light from tripping on the O2 sensor because if he reset it my guess is that it would've come back on by now. That makes sense to me anyway.

[shadow04]

This is great :D....I copied below an e-mail I got today from one of our warehouse managers at work:

How the ride? Man them pipes are loud!! I heard you get on I35 the other day after we talked, sounds mean!!

Then later someone else asked about it and said it was loud! :happydanc

I'm still stuck getting it legal with some cats though.

[Saleen2Be]

welding in some after market cats would be MUCH cheaper

by a pretty good margin to