Test pipe and O2 spacer with catalyst

[jordancl]

the 90 has two parts, the mini cat w/ a 90, and a spacer. Just not sure if the threads on the spacer will thread into the cat

[MYFASTA4]

I installed a test pipe twice in my driveway using 2 jack stands. Getting the OEM pipe out took 2hrs but that included getting the car up in the air and stable. I tried the removal through the engine bay as some others have done, but no luck for me. Got it out from below. As an aside, I wrapped the pipe in high quality exhaust wrap secured with full stainless hose clamps. Not much louder than stock, but with an angry growl when throttled. OEM exhaust beyond that. Oh, I'm on a stage 2 tune now which definitely adds some pep.

BTW, here's the process, courtesy of wabbit23 (hope you don't mind that I post this).



Before you disconnect any sensors
disconnect your batteries negative terminal. Then go ahead and remove your under panel. I wouldn't recommend removing your stock airbox yet due to accidentally dropping something into your turbo. You'd end up with a bad day.

1. Tools- 3/8 drive ratchet with 6" ext and O2 sensor socket.
Diconnect and remove the primary O2 sensor. You can remove the secondary if you like but it isn't a necessity at this point.

2. Tools- 15mm ratcheting wrench or regular wrench.
Remove the two visible bolts and the engine side top bolt from the point the cat/turbo connection. Some PB Blaster or any of that type of bolt loosening stuff comes in very handy!!!

3. Tools- 13mm wrench and 13mm socket and 1/4drive ratchet.
Remove the brace that has the spring on the side of the Cat. The bolt that is holding the bushings part removes the whole thing but you want this off completely since getting the cat out alone is pretty much a pain in the ass.

4. 15mm socket, 3/8 drive ratchet and a 9 inch extension.
Towards the front of the engine there's a small hole just big enough to squeeze your hand through and guide the socket onto the nut. You want to have the ratchet towards the back of the cat where you removed the spring/brace from. This will remove the last nut from the cat/turbo connection.

5. Remove the 3 nuts and bolts from the cat/midpipe connection. I had a 1/4 Allen key and 12mm wrench but you might have different hardware here. (I had 12mm nuts only)

6. Once all hardware is off the cat remove the stock airbox. This will allow just enough room to take the cat out from the engine bay. You have to play with it a little but it will come out from the top. Just keep twisting and pulling and finagle it until it comes out. (again, I couldn't get it from the top. removed exhaust mid pipe at clamp with 13mm nuts, then dropped OEM cat out).

7. Put your new pipe in and put everything back on. Reconnect all sensors and battery and turn key. ( I put new test pipe in from underneath as well, with spacers and O2 already installed.)

this is prety much right on , nice write up, i got the rear cat nuts from the top with an extention other than that right on. the ecode tech told me to move the engine to the driver side a couple of mm to get the cat out from the top but i guess we would all try doing it differently.
its a pain, 2 of the nuts ar really hard to get to, but 300 miles later its all good, i replace the gaskets and nuts and installed a 90 degree spacer. after the car sat with the hood open in the garage for 2 hours it took me about 2 and a half hours to do, i wasnt rushing and took a couple of smoke breaks.

[a4_bob]

So I have almost 400 miles on the HFC w/ 90* spacer and have had four Lean codes on the rear sensor then had my 1st check engine light today. very discouraging as i'm really getting attached to the HFC...

[ItsDubC]

Damn, I just don't get how this could be working in a testpipe configuration but not w/ an HFC

[MYFASTA4]

what really sucks about it is, that every time i turn the car on i'm paranoid looking at the dash to see if today is my day lol
i'm with a4_bob i'm too attach now to go back

[fatboyj711]

Question for those who are throwing fault codes and CEL with an HFC and 90 degree spacer... Do you guys plan of switching to the straight spacer?

[kmjmrq]

Damn, I just don't get how this could be working in a testpipe configuration but not w/ an HFC

my 90 spacer is working fine with HFC.. over 700+ miles...

[ItsDubC]

^Definitely some good news; tho why it's working for you and not others is a frustrating mystery lol

[a4_bob]

so i got another Too Lean fault and another CEL on the way home tonight. All of my faults have been Too Lean.

Wondering about what might be different between my setup and kmjmrq:
* I'm still running the stage1 APR tune. I wanted to see how the spacer performed before deciding to go stage2 with or without O2 sensor enabled (highly prefer enabled). I wonder if going to stage2 would make any difference (doubt it).
* I have the eurocode HFC

or I should have just listened to Blake at the beginning of this thread...

I don't know about this one in particular, but it seems O2 spacers are hit & miss. They can typically keep the CEL away for some time, but are never a perfect solution. The only 100% tried and true way is APR stage 2 software.

[a4_bob]

Up to now all the DTCs were Too Lean but yesterday I got a 'too rich' DTC during some spirited driving.

15735 - Oxygen (Lambda) Sensor Signal B1 S2: too Rich
P2271 00 [096] - Short to Ground
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00000001
Fault Priority: 2
Fault Frequency: 1
Mileage: 15157 km
Date: 2011.08.11
Time: 13:24:16

This one's a little different than jordancl's; mine's from the rear sensor and 'Short to Ground'.

[jordancl]

check the OBDII freeze frame for that CEL and check your revs and speed and stuff to see when it actually popped

[jordancl]

Quick update, my sensor was previously facing the driver because the cord was too short / tight to orient any other way. I followed it and found spots where I could free up some slack and reseated it so the sensor pointed directly out, parallel to the HFC as shown in a picture earlier in this thread. I also cleared my CEL (too rich, for the 5th time). And I have been CEL free for ~400 miles.

I'm not sure if the orientation had anything to do with it or if it was just convenient timing. I had been clearing the CEL every few days as it went Lean > Rich > Rich > Rich > Rich, but with my freeze frames it seemed like the trim was getting closer to 0%. I figured eventually the ECU would figure out how much fuel it needed to not pop a CEL.

Anyway, CEL free. Next obstacle is scheduling my free (no labor charge) upgrade to APR Stage 2 with RSW.

[ItsDubC]

^Awesome news. Tho now I wonder why the seating angle matters so much

[jordancl]

I'm not sure if it does. I contacted a4_bob who was having a similar issue and he said his is seated the same as mine is seated now, and has always been. He has had similar CELs. It's possible that it doesn't matter at all and I changed it at the same time my ECU figured out how to do it right.

FYI, this is what my orientation looks like now (not my car, this was posted earlier ITT):

http://www.audizine.com/gallery/data.../o2spacer1.JPG

[MYFASTA4]

I wonder if the distance it's different with the nut while you keep the same angle

[StratJohn]

Having it forward like in the picture might be resulting in a reduction in flow to the sensor itself, kind of like letting your fingers drag over a spinning object without getting caught.

On that note if A4_bob has it that was and still has an issue, maybe its an outlying problem. Glad to hear you're CEL free so far!

[B8_RDC]

Anyone tried a test pipe and 90 degree O2 spacer with catalyst substrate on a B8?? Does it throw CEL's??

http://www.stratmosphere.com/product/spacercat90/12

$12 shipping. Wow that's unacceptable, I imagine it would be a few dollars for First Class and much less for priority....

You drop shipping these from China?
http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/47...nsor_bung.html

[a4_bob]

Having it forward like in the picture might be resulting in a reduction in flow to the sensor itself, kind of like letting your fingers drag over a spinning object without getting caught.

On that note if A4_bob has it that was and still has an issue, maybe its an outlying problem. Glad to hear you're CEL free so far!

Glad you're still going clear JordanCL. I regularly (1 or 2x per day) get P2096 Too Lean DTCs on the rear sensor. 2 CELs today. I have basically the same install, pictured here...

Any ideas on troubleshooting or next steps for an "outlying problem"?

[UmIsThisThingOn]

For those that are playing catch-up on using an o2 spacer with your car, here's what I've gathered so far.

Straight Spacer:
No CEL
wabbit23 - 034 HFC/GIAC Stage I
xstwin - EC Testpipe/OEM Software
CEL:
n/a

90º Spacer:
No CEL:
jordancl - 034 HFC/Unknown Software
kmjmrq - 034 HFC/APR Stage II w/ o2 sensor enabled
CEL:
a4_bob - EC HFC/APR Stage I
MYFASTA4 - EC HFC/STaSIS Software
UmIsThisThingOn - EC HFC/OEM Software (CEL @ 31 Miles after install, gone @45-50)

The Infiltrator - EC HFC/APR Stage I - unknown CEL status

[MYFASTA4]

what john says makes sense , but 1k miles later im still cel free

[StratJohn]

$12 shipping. Wow that's unacceptable, I imagine it would be a few dollars for First Class and much less for priority....

I see you read the first page, but not page two.. Anyone who wants it can get a flat rate USPS with no tracking info for $5.

[StratJohn]

Any ideas on troubleshooting or next steps for an "outlying problem"?

My steps for dealing with a problem like this, personally:

Disassemble the whole set up. Try spacer all the way in, ensure lockring is tight, ensure 90* piece is tight. Drive til the light arrives, record mileage and set up.

Repeat step one, then try it with the spacer all the way out. CEL? Record results.

I'd then try some crush washers at the interfaces that could fit it.. Who knows, maybe there is a small leak in a thread on the sensor or the spacer.

I'd try the sensor in a variety of rotational positions.

I'd probably at some point, get another sensor as a control, but thats spending money, not trouble shooting.

Failing all of the above, I'd badger me to fire over a new 90* or a straight and see if it was all just a fluke.

[jordancl]

lol nice, John

[B8_RDC]

Anyone who wants it can get a flat rate USPS with no tracking info for $5.

How do I go about ordering with paypal checkout for that option?

[jordancl]

put it in the comments and send john a PM w/ your order number and he will refund the difference. I think.

[StratJohn]

How do I go about ordering with paypal checkout for that option?

Tell you what- I've contacted my website builder so I can set up an Audizine specific code for $5 flat-rate shipping on these items.. It seems like a better plan than invoicing and refunding. I should have that rocking within 3 hours max. I'll post when I do. Just as a thanks for you guys.

[ItsDubC]

^Thank YOU John, as I will eventually be ordering one of these

[a4_bob]

My steps for dealing with a problem like this, personally:

Disassemble the whole set up. Try spacer all the way in, ensure lockring is tight, ensure 90* piece is tight. Drive til the light arrives, record mileage and set up.

Repeat step one, then try it with the spacer all the way out. CEL? Record results.

I'd then try some crush washers at the interfaces that could fit it.. Who knows, maybe there is a small leak in a thread on the sensor or the spacer.

I'd try the sensor in a variety of rotational positions.

I'd probably at some point, get another sensor as a control, but thats spending money, not trouble shooting.

Failing all of the above, I'd badger me to fire over a new 90* or a straight and see if it was all just a fluke.

Thanks for the support, John & everyone else contributing to this. I'll be starting my experiments soon & will report any interesting findings.

[B8_RDC]

SJ: Man that picture freaks me out.

A4_bob: Looking forward to your test results, surprised CEL was still occurs with it.

[StratJohn]

Alright guys, couldn't make it happen in 3hrs.

None the less, if you want a 90* Oxygen Sensor Spacer, with $5 USPS shipping, in the lower 48 united states, with no tracking number... go here:

www.stratmosphere.com/product/22733/h

Add to cart, pick any shipping method you want (because, again, it doesn't matter, its going USPS) and finish everything up.

And feel free to let me know if anything gets quirky about it, I'll take care of it.

-john

[jordancl]

~1k miles and no CEL. APR Stage 2 (non-testpipe) on Monday and still good.

[StratJohn]

Awesome!

[ItsDubC]

Good news! Hmm... so if I grab one of these soon, I will have about 3 months to work out the CELs before inspection time... lol

[jordancl]

As i mentioned earlier my readiness tests were still passing so I could have cleared the CEL, gone to get an inspection, passed, then gotten a CEL like 15 miles later. Annoying, but would have passed inspection.

[a4_bob]

I seem to be the worst off and am getting CELs about 1x per week. I'm pretty sure I could pass a test now if I had to (we also get two tries on one test).

[StratJohn]

Bob-o, you're running the 90, right? Have you ensured that both sections, and the lockring, are totally tight? I mean I'm happy to fire over another one, it just seems like there is some fluke.

[a4_bob]

Bob-o, you're running the 90, right? Have you ensured that both sections, and the lockring, are totally tight? I mean I'm happy to fire over another one, it just seems like there is some fluke.

That's right, 90. Yes, they're all tight - a shop did my HFC install (and spacer) and I double checked the spacer. Given I just cleared a CEL this morning, I'm going to take the spacer off and re-check everything over the weekend. I've not had a chance to try the things that John suggested earlier so I'm going to give that a go.

I really appreciate your support John! I'll let ya know how it goes.

[StratJohn]

Ok cool, I just want to make sure everyone is taken care of. Let me know!

[UmIsThisThingOn]

I had my EC HFC and Milltek Quad exhaust installed today, along with the 90º spacer.
Got a CEL @ 31.5 miles.

Gonna run VCDS tonight or tomorrow to get the error codes.

[UmIsThisThingOn]

I had my EC HFC and Milltek Quad exhaust installed today, along with the 90º spacer.
Got a CEL @ 31.5 miles.

Gonna run VCDS tonight or tomorrow to get the error codes.

CEL went away either when I went out to lunch or just didn't pop again when I drove home tonight.
Crossing fingers, the ECU figured things out and will stay away.