ok i drove around for about 20 miles i got CEL . I am running turboxs turboback with their testpipe. will this service engine soon light effect my performance? Should i hook up my UTEC and turn it off. Or get a highflow cat?

 

I say get rid of the test pipe, and Run a CAT.. If you knew the fines involved if your caught without the CAT, plus the HP difference is around 4hp or less..

If you turn off the light, be aware that it will not go on at all (except for the knock feature that flashes it)

 

Malibu,

I thought taking the cat off and putting a test pipe would yield more than 4hp.

 

i took ur advice JAck. i ordered a high flow cat from UR. Its better then being a victum of a cop who is having a bad day LOL>

 

Bad move...thats about 15whp when you get to the 300+whp level. Jack may be right with everything, but being a tree hugger or a power getter are two different things no offense bud. But on the dyno I saw a 15whp difference between a catted car and an uncatted one. the difference is real. see for yourself talk to Junior or anyone at turbotrix. You'll thank me later

 

was your gain made by switching from the factory cat to testpipe? or high flow cat to test pipe? 15 hp is the largest jump i have ever seen for test pipe.

 

Even if it is 15 whp or more. trust me its not worth the $1500 you are going to pay for the test pipe when you get cought plus towing your car. Here in CALI if they get you with a test pipe you are hosed.

 

I've seen one of the graphs where it yields 15whp more than the factory cat or 5whp more than high flow cat. And don't forget, that's PEEK WHP not across the range. I rather have cleaner air where I live than few whp more.

 

yup ^ your 100% correct. I'll second that

 

The biggest gains are from jumping from a stock cat to a high performance at or test pipe.. However I don't think you'd want your car impounded for inspection and fines and/or imprisonment if you happen to get caugh.. also keep in mind that if you ask a shop to pass you on an inspection, and they do it, if they get caught they will get in trouble, plus you'd likely be charged with some sort of felony (likely fraud, and tampering with a controlled device)

 

You can turn off the CEL with the UTEC, but everytime you start your car the CEL will come on for about 5 seconds before UTEC shuts it off. That's when you know you have a code.

Have fun with the high flow cat.

 

bunch of wimps....stop the whining haha. just put it on, i drove my wrx around catless in NJ and NY for a year, its still up there catless with no problems, you dont even have to get inspection for 4 years because you bought the car new. and anyway now in FL, there is no inspection haha. i will be FASTARRRRRRRRR

 

There's enough data out there that indicates that in the real world, the performance between a High performance Cat, and the test pipe makes no difference..

BTW, Federal law requires a catalytic converter. if your car is ever spot checked without a cat it could be a federal offense..

Even at 15 hp, it really makes very little difference in your car's performance on the street.. Its only when your competing on the track that it could ever make a difference, and thats only if your competing against an identical car with the same mods.. And even then, your talking less than 1/100th of a second difference..

HP Is a made up perception of power, and its the torque numbers that are important when your working on your car.. I'm sure the aftermarket 18 or 19" wheels on the cars are doing more to hurt the performance than a catalytic converter.

Now back on topic..

Yes, you can turn off the CEL, and the UTEC uses the light to indicate knock (when the car is running) or like another member said, it will function for a short while before the UTEC shuts it off.. However, its not always an indicator of a CEL, since the light also goes on and remains on for 5 seconds after starting even without the UTEC installed..

Your best bet is to check and reset codes before you do any tuning on your car.. And of course, if you have any codes that you cannot attribute to modification, fix the car first before you brake something more important.. THEN tune it..

 

BTW Inspection is YEARLY in New York.. EMISSIONS inspections are not performed the first year after the car is purchased.. VISUAL INSPECTIONS ARE PERFORMED EVERY YEAR.. Some shops will look the other way as long as it passes the safety inspection.. It will depend on the shop.

I don't understand the desire to run without a Cat.. do you people care THAT LITTLE and Self absorbed that your wants are more important than playing your small part in the world?

(not intended as an insult, just an observation)

Test pipes are SPECIFICALLY Documented as off-road use only and not for use on pollution controlled vehicles.. Running it on the street means your knowingly breaking the law, whoever you paid to install it is also knowingly breaking the law.. You will see shops stop selling and manufacturing test pipes if the EPA discovers that they are knowingly manufacturing and installing these pipes on cars used on the street.


Anyway, this isn't the forum or appropriate thread for my rant.. but my only real point is your aftermarket wheels, and your driving skill, are having a bigger effect on performance than the performance difference of running with an aftermarket catalytic converter, or with a test pipe.