so i put on my RRM headers, but i got stuck with my second O2 sensor. i was going to remove it to put the CEL eliminator in there--but that damn thing was refusing to come out. i gave up, this was tuesday... i gave it another shot today and all i succeeded in doing was completely rounding out the O2 sensor and shattering a cheapo O2 sensor socket from advance auto parts.

right now it kind of seems like my only option would be to replace the O2 sensor AND the cat since i doubt i will be able to use the sensor once i got it out of the cat, IF i could get it out. RRM has the high flow magnaflow cat for $130, and then oxygensensors.com has a O2 sensor for $79. i just don't have a ton of cash. i had to spend it all buying new parts after my wreck the other day.

i did some research and i'd found these MIL eliminator devices that use either a resistor or a 555 chip to modify the voltage being returned to the ECU from the O2 sensor. i'd found two or so positive posts about them from evo guys from the eliminator from mileliminatorsonline.com, and one from o2simulator.com. from the research i'd done you want the voltage to be transmitted between .5-.9v, if you get a constant voltage the entire time the ECU will catch on that you're up to no good and it will throw another code.

i ended up buying a $11.99 device from mileliminatorsonine.com, and i plan on installing this when it gets here. HOPEFULLY it will do the trick because the alternative to this is pretty pricey.

my question is: have any of you guys used either of these devices with any success? i ordered the device that was mitsubishi-specific... well, as far as the color of the wires goes for ease of installation. that and i'd read that a few evo guys had success with this device and issues with their 2nd O2 sensor.

any opinions? i'll be sure to share the results of my little test with the eliminator i bought.

i also might have access to a lift on wednesday when i hang out with a guy i used to work with. his mechanic might hook us up with some time on his lift. i am think that if there is a way to grind down sides of the rounded O2 sensor i may be able to just get a smaller wrench on there and just SLAM that thing once i have a spot where i can get better leverage. i'd like to hear thoughts on whether you guys think i could pull this off, too.

 

Yo, I tried for the third time myself Saturday! I dropped the whole down pipe along with the cat, took an adjustable wrench to that thing with a hammer and some oil type stuff and that motherlover still would not break free! I felt like a failure because I had to give up for the third time!

I was thinking about letting a dealership do it so I called to see if they would do me a straight one...those crackheads wanted to charge me $45 just to put my car on a lift and break the o2 free! I said forget it! But after my last attempt I guess they are going to have to do it because all I ended up doing was moving some of the metal on the 02 and not the sensor itself! I hate that thing!

Damn! Just thinking about it makes me want to kick something!

 

I had a problem with my cel eliminators too. My first one melted (was a perrin unit I believe) since the mechanic put it on the first O2 sensor. When I got my exhaust installed the guy tried to put a RRM cel eliminator on the second cat but the threads in the CEL eliminator or the 02 sensor got stripped (can't remember which). What he ended up doing was welding a bit of tubing to the O2 sensor and then welding that tubing to the CEL eliminator and cat. I haven't had a CEL to this day so that's an option.

 

i hear that. i think i gave it about three shots laying on my back in a puddle of cold water before i said screw it. well, before i stripped the f-ing sensor and said screw it. i'd gladly pay someone $45 to deal with MY sensor now that it looks like an angry vice grip creature has mauled it mercilessly.

my friend and i may be trying our hand at one or both of these designs i have found for a DIY splice-in MIL eliminator... if we get that done i'll post up how it went. otherwise i have one on order from mileliminatorsonline.com. i made one of the non-fouler eliminators for my friend and his WRX and that thing works great. my big issue here was that my 2nd O2 sensor there seems to be hopelessly fused into the pipe. ugh.

 

Atilla, did u get ur mil eliminator yet?

 

nope, the order went through sunday and i'm assuming it will be shipped today or tomorrow.

the one my friend and i will most likely try will be the reistor and capacitor method. otherwise there's a huge complicated one that can apparently be tuned to simulate lean or rich conditions or anything in between.

 

i got my device in the mail yesterday, but it was too wet to install it.

i put it in with my friend this afternoon, and i've yet to see the dreaded P0421 return. this is a good thing. there is no P0421 pending, either. i have only gone 30 or so miles, but i will keep tabs on this thing. for now it is looking good.

i'll keep you guys updated... it's more expensive than the non-fouler fix, but for some of us it's our only option.

 

over 200 miles and no CEL! i think i'm closer to 300 miles actually... so these work for the dreaded P0421, i can say that with almost %100 certainty now.

 

BIG CHANNEL LOCKS. That is it. Good luck. Get that manifold on. We need the core back too. Thanks

ROAD/RACE

 

Mine came out with ease when it was hot. I had serious problems when it was cold. Take it for a drive then give it a try.

 

rob, i think the manifold should be here monday... i need to get in touch with my friend about when we can put it on. HOPEFULLY i will get things taken care of next weekend if he's not busy.