Stueck

i am seriously contemplating about this exhaust...
http://www.racingmazda.com/protege-exhaust.htm
i have this thing about doing everything right if im going to do it at all. i know it is not emission legal, but that is no problem because i know guys at the mazda and toyota dealership right up the street who would pass me... what do you guys think?

sorry if this seems like a n00bish posting/ranting

hughes412

I think it looks sharp. I have heard stuff about it but cant remimber if it was good or bad. Price isn't bad ether.

Stueck

if i get it i am definately getting another muffler..that is just too ricey for my taste. maybe go with the MSP axle back?

Roddimus Prime

looks good to me. you should pm Topher...he has that header.

Stueck

dibbs are it would throw a major CEL?

Roddimus Prime

sure, as with any header like this...you just need an MIL or similar o2 sensor simulator. I actually sell the MIL's for like $15shipped so all you'd do is splice in 2 wires and tape it up.

Stueck

cool. i might get it around summer time...

Stueck

why would it throw a CEL if it had the o2 bung thing?

Roddimus Prime

the catalytic convertor is nothing more than a filter for your exhaust gas. Just as an air filter cleans the air going into the engine the "Cat" cleans it coming out. One 02 sensor before the cat gets a baselline reading....then the gas flows through the Cat to be scrubbed where the second o2 sesnor checks it to make sure the cat is working properly. Without a cat there the second sensor gets the same voltage reading as the first throwing a CEL indicating the cat isn't working. Your ECU then starts dumping raw fuel into the exhaust in an attempt to "warm up" the cat to proper operating temps quickly....since this never happens you jst end up running super-rich all the time. the simulator I sell wires onto the second sensor and tells it that is seeing the correct voltage it's looking for.

Stueck

ok, stupid question:

if there is a different voltage reading it doesnt get a CEL?

part 2 (really stupid)

couldnt you just tie the O2 to somewhere in the engine bay?

(im not trying to get out of buying a MIL, you can count on being the guy i ask)

Roddimus Prime

you can do that but you'll still be getting the INCORRECT reading...not just a "different" reading.

also, you'll then have t plug up the hole in the header where the sensor goes!

Stueck

is the incorrect reading a bad thing? well, i know it is a bad thing, but is it a major? ie different reading, CPU adds fuel, fuel builds up in exhaust, car catches fire...etc?

hughes412

Or you can do a spark plug defaler (it screws in to the bung and then you put the o2 in it). I have a friend with a P5 that did this and works fine.

Roddimus Prime

the non-foulers are ok but all they do is hold the sensor out of the direct exhaust stream....this is no garauntee that'll it'll get ideal readings all the time. Also, you have to slightly modify them to make them fit properly.

tonkabui

there have been many a bad experiences with racing mazda. if you go to the other forum, you'll see how many unhappy people there were.