well after several busted knuckles and a trip to home depot for some long socket extensions, i finally got my helix test pipes installed,

the good news--- no CEL as of yet, and they are a good bit lighter than the oem cats, and they look awesome.

the bad news--- the smell, yuck, and the sound, damn they are loud, from about 3000 up to redline, they are very loud, dont know if its because of the injen exhaust but damn.

the worst is i feel like the car is slower, the throttle response seems slower, i dont know if its because i expected more, or if the extra 150 ponies from the vortech has spoiled me, and the 5-10 from the pipes is unrecognizable.

oh well. i guess ill try them for a while and see if they grow on me.

 

I installed mine on friday and it took me and friend like 3 hours to do so. I have the greddy tt. I can definately feel the power. I dynoed my car and i think i made the most HP compared to those that have the greddy tt @ the stock 5psi with an exhaust and stock cats/hi-flow cats. No CEL on friday but on saturday i got the CEL and has been on ever since. Hope it goes away. Oh did u disconnect the negative terminal when u installed the pipes? Some say if u did this then u wont get a CEL. I didtn do this and have one.

 

no i didnt disconnect the battery, i have only driven it about 30 miles since the install, my luck ill get the CEL tomorrow.

 

the helix's (my experience) are rasy, no matter the exhaust (had em on oem exhaust with the same expressions you have)..


check (and double check) the O² sensors, if the SES lights, as they (or one) may have loosened up, giving a false read or sumthin...

good luck!

-eS

 

With test pipes...its very hit or miss. The majority of people will get the CEL....but some have run for a few thousand miles without it.

No question, the ECU will compare the readings from the upstream vs. downstream O2 and know that you removed the cats.

you should contact SkiDazzle...he sells a really neat O2 sensor modulation thingy....and it forever eliminates the CEL's due to running too rich, or removal of cats. I think they are $30...but check with him.

Good luck! I am switching to Helix test pipes this week, since I am moving to Charlotte, and there are no smog checks. I think I'll hitting up SkiDazzle for one of those handy devices.

 

if you only have 30 miles give it some time to break in!

 

hey GQ---

have you personally heard the test pipes??

i had mine on for ½ hour only..... (no emissions or inspections here either).. couldnt get the cats back on fast enough.......

-eS

((my crawford HF cats should arrive this week))

 

esemes....dont know if you remember but i bought your set, maybe this set is cursed.

 

(INsert embarrassed emoticon here)

cursed?? id say blessed, seeing as the SES has remained dormant on yours and mine......

they are good quality and fitment (IMO) , i just didnt like the sound they made at 2800-3200 rpms...... (keeping in mind its a stock setup i heard it thru)

im hoping you are enjoying them (one thing i DID notice was the quicker topend pull....) ...

eS

 

well id rather have a SES light than the sound, i can live with the light. i think they are gonna be too loud for me, i also think ive lost some response, the car doesnt seem to be as quick as it was.

 

top end too??

dang......


welp, a resale is an easy thing for these (as many are anxious to ditch the cats)....

hope it works out okay for ya

eS

 

seems like it depends entirely on the car on whether it throws a cel. ive had pipes for about 12000 miles now and never threw a code yet others throw them instantly, maybe different version ecus are more sensitive?

 

I love my Helix test pipes. No smell and just a throaty sound with the borla TD exhaust. I have over 1,000 miles and no cel yet. They sound straight *****'in on my ride.