F430 How do I avoid Check Engine Light when replacing headers?

Some cars will throw a light and some won’t. It can be a little bit hit or miss.

In my case, I have Fabspeed headers and sport cats, and I did get the light - codes P0420 and P0430 if I recall correctly, ‘Catalyst Efficiency Below Threshold.’

Next time in the shop I installed a set of O2 extenders, basically small extensions that fit between the post cat port and the O2 sensor that fool the ECU into believing all is well.

Haven’t had a code since.

 

The salesman is doing his job to try and make a sale but he is 100% wrong. It is rare NOT to get a check engine light.

All aftermarket headers without the pre-cat will flash the CEL sooner or later. Some do it with more frequency than others, kind of a luck of the draw situation.

There are ways around it with O2 sensor extenders, mini cats, turning off the monitors via an ECU flash but obviously that won't work when it comes time for a smog check every other year.

However, with that said, I think the reward of replacing the stock F430 headers outweigh the risks of keeping the stock headers in. Also, if you have a OBD2 reader, you can plug it in and clear those CEL whenever they turn on. Keep in mind that if a CEL pops up, and you clear it, it will also clear your readiness monitors and you'll need to perform a drive cycle to reset those monitors before you can take your car in for a smog check

 

Mine is an ‘05, bought three years ago with 25K miles and blown headers, now with a bit over 40K miles.

The Fabspeed extenders or mini cats screw right in to the existing ports, so you should have no issues with whichever cats you choose. If they were designed to fit with stock 430 components, the Fabspeed bits will bolt right up.

I don’t know whether Capristo makes a similar extender type solution, but I assume they probably do. If so, it’s your choice on which to go with as I think both are solid companies with quality products.

 

Exactly.

 

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I live in socal. My headers were cracked in my '07 and I had them replaced with Fabspeed and O2 extenders. Had these installed at Fast Cars. No CEL to date.

 

Take a look at Steve's post (bisel): https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/p0421-p0431-trouble-codes-catalytic-converter-anyone-have-good-fix.552866/

The fabspeed mini cats look like a nicely packaged design, but for what they are, they're pretty expensive. You can get the same thing for a lot less through other companies like bid daddies (http://www.bigdaddiesgarage.com/mini-cat-cel-fix.html)

Page 18, post 174 on Steve's thread above shows how he stacked the 90 degree adapter + cat extender + mini cat to alleviate his issues with the CEL light.

 

I have a pair of fabspeed mini cats if someone is interested. It's not the 90 degree but 45 degree. it has about 300 miles on them. They were too heavy on my test pipes and came of putting a hole where the bung was.
I don't need them now since Mase tune out my CEL. They are a bit scratched up but not too bad....pictures upon request.

 

I had check engine light come on after switching to AP headers. Every 4-5 engine starts I get the light and the car drives and sounds weird. I do a battery reset to clear it. I got my ECU reflashed by a company down in Huntigton Beach area. Car runs even better with tune and never had a light come on.

 

I did my extensive research on headers and mufflers prior to buying one as one thing I hate is resolving CEL issues.

Based on my research, for F430, using Agency Power Headers and Kline Exhaust - not one thread I read had a check engine light issue so I went that configuration.

Its been 4,000 miles now with AP headers and Kline Exhaust = No CEL.

Dan

 

Wow that's impressive. I switched to challenge headers, (no precats) with the rest stock and got a CEL straight away and mines euro spec. Fixed it with o2 extenders though. Goes to show all cars are different.

 

Awesome!

Dan

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Awesome!

Dan

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