So I purchased my 02 OZ Rally Lancer less than 4 months ago. Since then I have had to replace the following.

- Rims (The ones I received with the car were 18"s, but one was bent and wouldnt hold air for more than a day, I figured that out the hard way, aka i woke up and the **** was FLAT) 865$ for new rims and one new tire. 18"s of course

- Clutch (The slave cylinder was bad and that went almost immediately after I purchased the vehicle, maybe a week of driving, although i did learn how to drive stick on it ) New master, slave, and ACT clutch with heavy duty pressure plate. about 1,000 bucks.

Now this doesn't sound too bad, just a few fixes to get her back on her feet again . Its been a few weeks since the cars been fixed and there are no problems.

I choose to install the following:

- Subwoofer and amplifier
- New door speakers
- New alternator power wire, ground, etc. (all 0 gauge )
- New yellow top optima battery
- New air filter (only 37$, better than the ebay one i got with the car )
- Volt gauge for electrical test purposes with subwoofer and amplifier.

Total cost was around a grand.

A few more weeks go by and my idle stops sitting normal and fluctuates between 500 and 1500 rpms, occasionally stalling on me with intense power drain. I get a CEL and get a friend to datalog it and read me the code, it comes out as P507 or the IAC valve. He also says there is a code for an o2 sensor, but its nothing major so far.

A few more weeks go by and im researching as much as I can into exhaust systems and how they work, etc. and how o2 sensors, catalytic converters, and headers effect air flow.

I decide to take a look at what ive got under the chassis. My entire exhaust system is aftermarket junk and is rusting and welded together pretty poorly (It doesnt sound too bad though, thats why ive left it). After almost 2 months of ownership, one of the welds on my exhaust holding it to the chassis broke and my exhaust has been slapping the side of my axle for weeks.

One night I was speeding along trying to get home quickly, pulling 90mph in 4th gear at say 5k rpms, not the greatest idea, but 48 hours without sleep doesnt help either.

Anyways, after I am almost home I notice I cant hear my exhaust anymore, like its missing, and Im only hearing the engine revving, the gas pedal is slightly heavier. I get out and open the hood, its probably midnight, I see the exhaust header where the o2 sensor is located is glowing red hot. . The catalytic converter is also rattling now (it went bad ). along with the loose exhaust in the back

After that night when I drive the car it acts like the exhaust isnt kicking in after like 3k rpms when pushing on the gas, when releasing the gas to slow down however, the exhaust kicks in and is audible. And while idling at stoplights I can hear my cat rattle.

Im pretty sure the o2 sensor at the exhaust header is fried and or damage and doesnt work properly. I believe this is whats causing my exhaust to becoming almost silent while driving, because the engine isnt running correctly.

I have decided just to replace everything with bolt ons and remove this junk. Im tired of the whole situation.Im posting what im looking at for some criticism and help. Im new to cars but I think ive picked out some decent parts for my budget. Thanks for the help everyone! I will keep posting when something new breaks, because it seems to be a common thing with my lancer .

I have purchased and installed the following: with a total of about 700$.

*OBX EXhaust Header 02-06 lancer 195$:
http://www.rsaperformance.com/obx58.html

*OBX High flow cat 124$:
http://www.rsaperformance.com/obxcatco02mi.html

Purchased Denso Front and Rear o2 Sensors for 187$ total from Bennett auto supply.

*Ebay N1 exhaust system with bolts, etc. to replace crapped rusted welded system i have)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...K%3AMEWAX%3AIT

I have made sure that the catalytic converter and the exhaust system are the same size piping for fitment, and that the brackets all match. It looks like a good setup to me. Im also not looking to turbo my car in the future (too much for my little lancer to handle, it already breaks all the time) so this is a permanent setup.

EDIT: 7/28/2010 - OBX Headers and high flow cat still holding strong, need to remove the silencer from the exhaust and get this baby to the track for some fun. Gonna start to paint soon.

 

Well all these views and no replies? Thanks everyone.

I went ahead and purchased the headers, cat, and the catback exhaust. Only thing left to order are the two new o2 sensors and then figure out how to install the second o2 sensor thats under the car, should be fun!

I will post updates on my progress with as I am doing this all on my own (first timer). *even if no one cares *

 

i believe there is another post somewhere talking about the location and how to install it on for the o2 sensor. i need to get one myself.

 

Where, the search function is malarkey.

 

ppl are more interested in pictures Throw up some pics of your progress and you'll get some replies.

Sounds like your sinking some money into this lancer, hopefully you got a good deal when you bought it

 

I paid 3,800 for it with only 64k miles, this is my dream car too, so I had to have it. Thought it was a steal until I started having problems. Im really wishing I never crashed my other car and had both, so when the lancer was down I still had a ride. sitting around SUCKS. rambling at 3a.m. awesome. Once I get a carport setup and get the lancer jacked up and start rippin **** out. I will definately post pics

btw i just looked at your car, very nice!. I hope mine can look half as good one day. but money talks ;-).

 

Just purchased a carport and full cover, and am getting ready to put the car up this weekend.
Got a few goodies in the mail today, thought I would share. Can't wait for the catback to come! Still wondering what im gonna do about the o2 sensor situation, trying to read about the RRM CEL eliminator and other products, anyone have reviews or suggestions (anything appreciated, even critical, **** you too (: )

Here is the new OBX Header, DP, and High flow cat I got today, (Only camera I have is my phone)









And a pic of my buddy working on taking out the old header bolts.



Thanks to Green Bandit's great how-to: https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/la...6k-no-way.html

The "peel back" helped so much, the note of "nut from hell" made me laugh so hard cause that's what all of us were thinking when we were trying to take the header off.


EDIT: I just found this after scouring the service manual, this is pretty much exactly what my setup looks like now, so im gonna keep it the same with the o2 sensor BEFORE the cat. Any input?

 

Sounds like the cat came apart and once you idle up the car, the cat plugs itself. Rather common on cars that have been "tinkered" with. Glad to see you're doing it right and using name-brand parts instead of taking it to the local muffler shop to get bubba to slap some welds on it for ya.

There should be 2 o2 sensors in the vehicle, one before the cat and one after it.

 

But there are controversial picturse in even the FSM about where the o2 sensor really goes. More proof appreciated.

Update as well! Just woke up to find this lying outside waiting for me! New SRS N1 Catback exhaust system. Gonna keep the silencer and hope its quiet.

 

I only owned a 2000 Toyota ECHO before this Lancer, for Christ sake that's barely a car. This Lancer is the first car I have ever worked on so far, but it has been fairly easy and a bit fun, its all coming together quite nicely now. I cant believe how flush the exhaust tip is now, It used to sag like my grandmothers tit.









EDIT: This is pretty much exactly what my setup looks like now, so im gonna keep it the same with the o2 sensor BEFORE the cat. Any input?



I cannot find anyone who will explain to me why the manual says in some parts to put the o2 sensor before the cat, and sometimes after. Any help appreciated, were going to install the new o2 sensors today . pics later

 

there are 2 o2 sensors, one is screwed into the header and the other is right before the cat. Since your new header doesnt have a precat like the factory ones do, you will probably throw a cel for the rear o2 sensor. Thats where an eliminator comes in, it makes the ecu think the rear o2 sensor is recieving less airflow than it really is. once you get it up and running go to autozone or use your friends scanner to see what code exactly you are throwing, no need to spend 70+ bucks on a front o2 if its actually the rear o2 giving you trouble.

 

theres 2 cats, a precat in the manifold and a catylitic converter in the exhaust piping, which is the one that is under the car. one o2 sensor goes before the precat on the manifold and one goes after the precat, but before the convertor on the piping.

 

Thank you, your the first one to properly explain this to me. I really do appreciate it man. Got my baby started up tonight, will post pics later.

Also, I installed the new o2 sensors in their positions, first on the header, second before the cat. I started the car and my check engine light went OFF. I'm very satisfied with my install and the car sounds good!

 

So i went for another test drive tonight, hear a loud noise under the car and all of a sudden it sounds like a ****ing tractor. I get home and look under the car to find out the o2 plug in the rear of the cat (my cat came with 2 o2 sensor holes, just in case ;-) ) but we never torqued the plug and forgot about it. It popped off going down the road and im NEVER going to find it. Where can i get a replacement, or does anyone know the exact size and or thread of the o2 sensors?

 

Np thats what forums are for. Heres what your looking for

o2 sensor bung plug

http://www.jegs.com/i/Moroso/710/22734/10002/-1?CT=999

Theyre all the same size i believe. ex : i used my friends 02 antifouler that he used on his b18 hatch, which he got from his friends sentra SE-R. Or have an exhaust shop weld it shut, unless u plan on getting a wideband eventually.