My dad has a car with aftermarket headers on it. It is year 2003. The aftermarket headers remove the stock cat and replace it with a high flow one. The two o2 sensors that plug in after the cat are now registering a CEL.

Emissions are due and he failed at two different places just because the CEL was on. They wouldn't even perform the test, it was an automatic failure.

Unplugging the battery only removes CEL for a short while, not long enough to make it to the place without it coming back on.

So we're wondering what the hell to do now. Is there a way to somehow magically make the CEL go away? Or perhaps someone knows of a place here in VA that might be abit more lenient and pass him?

Last resort is to buy oem headers have them installed, so about $1k just to pass emissions. I already bought O2 sensor spacers, but they were too big and there wasn't enough room to fit the sensor.

Any input is much appreciated...thanks.

 

What does the CEL say is the failure? Missing a secondary O2 sensor?

 

It's standard for you to automatically fail with a CEL.

You can either buy an o2 simulator (I have also heard that wrapping it in aluminum foil helps), or you can just yank the battery cable across the street, drive it over and pass, then drive off.

 

Move to Fauquier county. Problem solved.

 

o2 sim $30 permanent fix

 

You can try the S2000 test pipe fix, you stack up the 02 sensor behind a drilled out anti fouler, it takes the O2 sensor out of the direct exhaust path.

Click here

 

what car is this?!??!

By the way... if your handy, and this is what i did, i just took the instrument panel out, there are lil light bulbs. take the one light bulb that lights the CEL. no light bulb, no cel worked like a charm

 

accept now you don't know if your really throwing a CEL for something else

 

CEL's are just a nuisance anyway.

 

I'm glad I read this thread. I thought you had a nasty intestinal problem.