hey guys, i installed my test pipe about a week ago. i took off cat, put on test pipe, plugged in o2 and then reset ecu. after about 300 miles, the car still seems to struggle a bit when i try to fire it up. thing is, it only starts to struggle on a warm start? when i start it off in the morning, i cant really notice it, but after a simple like 10 minute drive, when i try to fire it up again, it starts to struggle a bit. like it cranks, but doesnt fire up until the 2nd or 3rd time. also, while starting up the car, it seems like it is running out of battery.

so my question is, is it something that i did while installing my test pipe? or is it my battery? did i blow a fuse? please help.

Johann

 

hmm ...

You dont have a CEL come on??

 

nope.

 

It's only a piece of pipe;I would check the battery.

 

there is nothing that you could have done during install. I honestly can't think of what it is, but just wanted to concur with EMIL that it's just a piece of pipe..

 

Define struggle more clearly. Is it the original battery? 3 years isn't an unusual failure point for a battery. If it's cranking slowly, then it sounds like a weak battery. I doubt the test pipe did anything, unless you clogged the exaust somehow.

If it's just cranking longer, no slower, then the battery is fine. And you have something else going on. I'd *guess* that running rich from a broken O2 sensor could cause issues with a warm start, but you'd need a mechanic to help with that.

Also, once it does start, how does it run for the first couple seconds? Normal or rough? How does it run overall?

 

WORD.

 

I can't see how the test pipe would be the culprit. My guess would be the battery.

 

struggle meaning that it takes about 2-3 cranks to start. not only that, but my speedometer also seems to dim out before the engine starts. but after it starts, the car runs fine.

i think i will go have my battery checked tomorrow.

 

You have to push the start button 2-3 times? You push the button, the enging rotates 2 to 3 times, before it starts? Crank isn't a good verb here. How many seconds does it take? Does it sound different in any way? Slow? Fast?

It doesn't sound like anything is wrong from your current description. "Cranks 2-3 times" sounds about right depending on what a crank is. The speedo dimming is also fairly normal. What's different?

Cold my engine takes less than 2 seconds to start and makes 3-5 cranking noises. Is this what you mean by crank?

It certainly won't hurt to get the battery checked. If it were me though I wouldn't mention the test pipe unless I really knew the mechanic well. Good Luck...