Got around to installing a set of Fast Intension resonated test pipes today. Something went really wrong. The car sounds really really loud like there's a hole in the muffler, the car idles really low and almost shuts off. The back pressure is so loud that it makes like gun shot pop noises. Also the car is a lot slower. And on top of that the CEL light went on. I think I installed it pretty well w/ no problems. Everything seems to be tightened. I was very carefull w/ the O2 sensor. Any idea what went wrong? This is driving me nuts, if this can't be solved I'm just going to have to put the stock cats back on. 1 step forward, 2 steps back

 

have you tried resetting your ecu. if not go ahead and take the negative off of your battery. i dont know if this will help but give it a shot. and what year is your Z. only 03's dont shoot CEL's with TP's. you will have to make de-foulers to get rid of that. good luck man.

 

You used new gaskets right? If the bolts are tight there is no leak.

SES light is ON. Did you install non-foulers?

 

Did you make sure the test pipes were on the correct sides? The test pipe that's suppose to be on the right installed on the right side, and the one that's suppose to be on the left installed on the left side. Otherwise, your Z will be coughing & farting the entire time . . .

 

really? they are the same shape, and all test pipes are are tubing.

is it the angle the O2 sensor sits at?

but it sounds to me like you have an exhuast leak.

 

You have an exhaust leak, make sure you put in new gaskets with your pipes ( no metal to metal contact) And your CEL will show up, get some 02 simulators on ebay then reset your ecu and your good to go. pm me if you have any more questions.

 

oh and if you got the gaskets WITH the cheapo test pipes you should get some OEM ones, always use OEM... the rest suck.

 

the car was resetted. its an 03. it can be an exhaust leak but it can't be the main reason because it is seriously loud. people r looking at me like wtf is wrong with my car. can it really be the wrong tp on one side. it aligns perfect. I installed the tp with the o2 sensor closer to the plug. is that right?

 

I don't think you can put the test pipes on the wrong side because then you couldn't even plug in the 02 sensors. I'm guessing some of your bolts are loose which is casing an exhaust leak. My guess would be the ones up top on the 3 bolt flange. The other ones are pretty easy to get to to check on the 2 bolt flange.

 

Again if the bolts are tight then the install is OK. Loud is subjective.

 

the tp came with gaskets for the y pipe to the tp but not headers to tp. sould I just switch oem for both?

 

Hey motor,
So you're saying if I order an aftermarket Test pipe to NOT use the supplied gaskets? I should order some OEM gaskets to fit? Or is it just a problem with the brand he chose? What about APS?

 

The test pipes are not the same, they are not universal. The driver side has the O2 Bung pointing inboard, and the passenger side as well. If your car sounds obnoxiously loud, then something is seriously wrong. We have been fabricating and installing these test pipes for years and I have never heard of any issues let alone something this bad. As far as the three bolt metal gasket at the top, you will re-use those, and make sure you use the two, 2-bolt gaskets I sent you with them. You will reuse one stud from each manifold and aside of that use the 8 bolts and nuts I sent with it. As far as your check engine light you need Spark Plug Non-Foulers. You can find them at your local Auto Part store in the help section, Part # 42002. You can either buy one set and drill them about 3/4 of the way out so the O2 sensor probe will screw all of the way down, or if thats to difficult but 2 sets, drill 1 set all of the way out and screw it in to the other set. Then install them in to the bungs on the test pipes and install the O2 sensors in to them.(Try to use some Anti-seize on the threads, make sure the stuff you get is O2 sensor safe). If you have any more problems with these please give me a call @ 818-882-2788...Thanks, Tony

 

I just hope its because the bolts up top is loose. gonna bring it to the shop later. something I should have done from the get go

 

It sounds to me like you have 2 issues -

Exhaust leak and an O2 issue.

Exhaust leak - as your going to a shop to get it checked - get the non-foulers as well and kill 2 birds. The non foulers will cost you $10 for the 2 sets.

O2 sensors - you may have damaged them. Wiring, bolt on process, etc. OR they are just CEL'd and your car has gone into 'safe mode'. Get the non-foulers, and reset the ECU.

Rick

 

what happened to me is i forgot to tighted one of the 02sensor bung plugs so when i was driving it fell out and had a huge exaust leak. i'd make sure all your bolts are tight and gaskets are all there!

 

problem solved guys. I did everything right with the tp's. I messed up when I was installing my spark plugs. I mismatched #4 plug with #6. I am so burnt. I drove the car into the shop and they told me my cylinders are misfiring so they ran a dionostic on it. told them I changed the spark plugs and that's pobably it. checked the plugs and it was. everything is good now, no cel either. thanks for all the help and suggestion guys. u guys r great. as for the tp's, its louder but nice at low end. it rasps at high end which I'm not crazy about. lost low end but gained high end. can't even cruise on 6th gear at low rpm on the highway because it feels slow. u tp fella's have the same feeling? btw I have it with a nismo exhaust too. definitely hanging on to my stock cats just incase I have doubts.

 

Geez. did this guy mention he had the plug wire off when he asked for help.
Guess he's in politics.

 

No, he didn't . . . just a "minor" detail that he forgot to tell anyone but in the meantime, everyone else is going thru a wild goose chase to help him solve his problem. BTW motormouth, I was just kidding about the test pipes being installed on the correct location.

 

I had an issue and asked for help. Eveybody put their thoughts in and in my previous post i thanked them for that. What was the point of your post? I also changed my tranny and diff fluid, slapped on 19's and put in a Sparco chair too at the same time when I did the TP's. Should I have also mentioned that too? This is really why I avoid posting because there's always someone who thinks they have something smart to say. I couldve just left the post alone after the car was fixed but I felt that for the people who put in their 2 cents to help me, I should at least let them know that my car is fixed and they deserve my thanks. I've been on this forum for way too long and I dont need to be getting into this flame game or burn any bridges. So knock yourself out if you feel like you have something else to say. This thread is offically done, case solved. As for the rest of you guys thanks for the input, the car is A ok.