348 test pipes and check engine lights

Correct me if I´m wrong, but the check engine lights indicate an overheating of the catalysators. So w/o cats you can simply ignore the CEL or turn the bulbs out ..

 

Hi Frank,

I'll copy and paste here what I said in an older thread.
http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40266



I haven't had any major problems since I removed my cats.

However, the removal of the cats will expose any problem you may be currently having with the thermocouples and/or oxygen sensors.

Let me explain. The thermocouples are EXTREMELY delicate. Improper handling of them when doing the job or at any other time will cause them to break. As a result, you will have "Check Engine" lights on the dashboard. The same is true for the oxygen sensors--be very careful.

Now it's possible that your thermocouples and/or oxygen (lambda) sensors at this moment may be on their way out. That is, they may be defective, but not causing any problems. As soon as the cats are taken off, you'll know whether these parts are defective because you'll see some kind of warning lights on the dashboard.

I was lucky, but according to Manu at Scuderia Systems in the UK, a few 348s out of every 10 experience these problems when the cats are taken off.

Take the chance and don't worry about it if you have these small problems after removing the cats. Just replace whatever sensors need replacement.

As for "real" problems, removal of the cats won't cause any. It actually will make the car safer, for you won't have any chance of the cats and/or the car catching fire.

 

The check engine light could be a whole lot of things. You need to pull the codes to find out what is making the light come on. It could be something related to the test pipes, and it could be something else. But, you won't know until you pull the codes.

 

Ernie/Frank -

Here are some pictures of my track-day setup. No ECU, no slow-down lights. When I start the car, I still get the diagnostic blink of the Slow-Down lights, then they go off. There is *nothing* mounted behind the tower -- just two long threaded nuts where the old ECU used to hang out.

(There goes the neighborhood).....
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When you put the key in and turn it, all the lights should come on. But if you are getting the slow down light when the car is running, and you don't even have the cat ecu plugged into the wiring loom, then you could have some sort of a short.

 

Ernie -

Frank is getting CEL, not slow down. :-(

 

Thats the O2 sensors you replaced.

 

Maybe the old sensors got oil contamination.

Time to change your user name Frank?
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Sounds like it means that the bank is basically stuck lean or rich--the system only has so much authority to add/subtract fuel to get back to stoich, so if it can't it will set a code to notify you that you perhaps have an air leak or a fuel supply issue.

I take it that the 348's aren't OBDII cars with a pre- and post-cat O2 sensor...