Alright, this may be a longer post but I need some help..
A few months ago right after the SS GB on headers and exhaust, i bought the 4-1 black "ceramic" coated headers and the 2.5" OBX exhaust, got everything and took it to a local import shop..

For about $300-- they installed everything (including test pipe despite the fact that i said it was NOT a cat) and after about 5 hours (yes 5) they came to me and told me after everything was fit in and secured that the 1st O2 sensor did not fit into the 1st bung on the headers and the 2nd sensor had no place-- having to leave, i had to drive with no sensors and a hole in my exhaust under my hood (thank god its not a daily driver)

For another $220 I took it back to them and told them to remove the headers and plug up the bung and make a new one and install a cat-- the sold me a high flow magnaflow cat and decided to WELD MY STOCK FLANGES ONTO THE HIGH FLOW CAT and installed the 2nd bung, plugging up the 1st bung but not installing a new O2 bung...

NOW, i realized it and took it back PISSED that they didnt install the 1st sensor, so they promised to fix it... plugged the original bung and reinstalled one about 6 inches down on the manifold... I thought it was fine... then a week or so later, i got a CEL and i was running RICH

I reset my ECU and replaced my spark plugs hoping it was just a misfire... a week later-- back to CEL and running RICH

I then decided that maybe the 1st sensor was dead so i went to Hyundai and bought for $100 a new sensor... installed it and a week later CEL and RICH...

What should i do? I tried to contact SS but they did nothing but promised to send another one then never answering later emails, and the shop wont take responsibility because the parts were not theirs... is there something i am missing or should i chaulk it up to a lost cause, buy new headers and have someone else install?

Thanks alot... and also the "Ceramic coating" on my headers is bubbling off...

 

how did u get a hold of ss auto?

 

well you will have a CEL with any header. And even though you put a cat after a header there is a huge possibility that you will still get CEL. but its not a biggie IMO. now tell me how do you know that you are running rich??? you have a wideband? you took your car to dyno?

 

No, i havent used a wide band or a dyno, im not a car expert im more into audio but im trying to learn, i dont mind the CEL-- im pretty sure im running rich because it makes a different MUCH louder sound, it smells horrible, the muffler is filled with BLACK from the exhaust so my assumption is running rich plus it doesnt drive well-- without the CEL it rides great and you have the power all the way to redline but with the CEL you cant even hit redline-- its like hitting a limiter at about 4500-5000 RPMs.
I emailed SSAuto and they said they would send me a new one if i give them my info-- i did and never have heard back from them since...
thanks

 

wierd.. i didnt have a CEL when i had my 4-2-1 SS headers on.. i did at first but when i got my exhaust done and O2 sensors put in, the CEL went away.

Your post above has me confused, so i will just clarify that as of now, your car goes like this:

Header--1st O2 sensor---cat---2nd O2 sensor---exhaust pipe---muffler


If it isnt like that, then that is the way it is supposed to be, the cat in between the O2 sensors. If it is like that, then i have no clue, cuz mine went away after it was all fixed like i said. I have them off the car now, too damn loud for my taste. wink.gif

 

why the hell did you not install this yourself. Its just a matter of removing the radiator fans, and some bolts. I could have done that whole install in 5 hours BY MYSELF. Anyways going with the ceramic coated 4-1 was dumb too. 01Importshark has posted on here about his and I've seen them in person. The Tubes on the design are so short and much longer than the stock ones. So you just spent all that money on the header and gained like .05 hp. Also the ceramic coating is garbage, I dont think its real ceramic coating after looking at it. So good job getting ripped. You should really do projects yourself because shops dont care about your car like you do.

 

OP, lots of folks don't get CEL's with headers.

You just have to get the O2 sensors in the right place.

 

some people dont wanna deal with that crap and dont wanna do it themselves. It took me only 3hrs to intall my 4-1 header, and you dont need to remove fans..... at least i didnt have to do it... I agree that coating is garbage, but header itself is really nice and gave me really nice top end power!!! definitely not .05 HP!!! and no one got ripped off, chill out dude!

Redz, I always get CEL, no matter what I do, but it doesnt botter me at all...


Hardhittingtib, I have no clue why you are running rich and your ar runs like shit. I got CEL and my second sensor is not even hooked up now, and car runs awesome, with a big top end power!!!

 

I have the same header and have had no probles other than the bolt holes not lining up correctly...easy fix....My o2 senson fit the bung that was on the header and i installed the second sensor after my high flow cat.....have had the set up for a few weeks now and have had no problems or check engine lights

 

I honestly dont know, i know it would be ALOT cheaper and easier just to do it myself but im not at all mechanically inclined and i really didnt have anyone capable willing to work besides me just as a comfort aid and i would like to learn about working on my car engine-wise but my lack of knowledge, skills, and tools makes it that much more difficult and i did set it up headers -> o2 sensor on headers -> cat -> 2nd o2 sensor and having a CEL for the 2nd sensor doesnt affect the ECU, the 1st does... maybe its just that the headers arent lined up-- ill take a look at that also... other than that maybe i just got ripped and should just go buy a 4-2-1 and just do it myself with a friend... thanks