Kushiaji

I've been looking everywhere for some headers for my 2001 LX2.0 Protege and I've been unsuccessful. Can anyone point me out a link, a company, or perhaps a price? Thanks!

P.S. Be sure to check out the Supercharger Donation Thread!

03ESPro

Wagner Motorsports, OBX/Forza (same header, different label) and Essential Speed all make headers that will fit your application. www.wagnermotorsports.net , and www.protegegarage.com are links for the Wagner and OBX headers, although you can sometimes find the OBX/Forza on ebay as well.

Roddimus Prime

wow, a newbie giving me a bump! That's awesome! We're going to get a long well.

Also, check out the vendor section for some of the stuff I'm working on/with for the 2.0L motors....cams, ecu, powdercoating (all years), supercharger, etc.

juddz

Hey, Roddimus... what are you planning on doing with your OBX header, once you put in your Wagner part?

Roddimus Prime

I'm actually keeping the OBX header as I damaged my cat beyond repair when I pulled it off to swap headers. The wagner header is already been sold.

juddz

I noticed that the pre-cat just below the stock manifold has to be taken out completely when the OBX header is installed, leaving just the downstream cat to do all of the HC, CO and NOx reduction. So, with the OBX header installed, there is only 1/2 of the catalyst area left to do all of the work. Also, with the remaining cat further down stream, the remaining catalyst takes longer to get up to effective temperature (cats don't work cold). Has anyone set an O2 sensor fault code (check engine light)? Or, are those of you using the OBX header using an aftermarket cat? Or, (the third possibility), are there no issues whatsoever? Does anything have to be done to the midpipe, or does the OBX unit just bolt up?

Roddimus Prime

I wouldn't be too worried about the effectivness of just the second cat. It's more than capable of scrubbing the gasses. If everything is left as is with the obx header you will throw a CEL. HOwever, this can be avoided if you cap off the primary 02 sensor hole, use the first 02 in the second o2 bung and tap yourself a new bung for the second 02 AFTER the second cat. The car never knows the difference.

I personally don't mind the CEL.

Topher

all you need is the MIL fix...it's $21 from apex motor sports (480) 967-6515

it taps into your o2 sensor wires...easy installation.

juddz

Hey, Topher - what does the MIL fix do?

Topher

keeps you from having a check-engine-light.

i threw one after 3 days with my header...i bought the MIL fix, and haven't had one since...and the car also runs better once you put it on.

juddz

Sorry, I guess I opened myself up for that one. What I mean is, how does it work? What signal is the ECU getting? The sensors need to operate in order for the ECU to control A/F. However, the downstream O2 is really nothing more than a diagnostic tool to make sure the cats are working properly. So I guess the MIL fix is a module that plugs in between the upstream and the harness, and somehow manipulates the signal? Don't worry if none of you guys know the details - I'll just call the number. Thanks again for your insight.

03ESPro

From what I recall, the first sensor is left alone, this is what controls the ECU, the second simply verifies that the first cat is working. When the first cat is removed, the second 02 sees the dirty exhaust and throws a CEL. The MIL eliminator is simply a resistor and capacitor (?) that sends the ECU the signal saying that the first cat is working.

Topher

1-M Ohm Resistor
1-uF Capacitor

that's it.

when you throw a CEL like this, your motor runs REALLY rich (as if it's not running rich enough already)...my mpg's were HORRIBLE when i had my CEL...now they're back to where they should be...so it's WELL worth the investment ($21).