Racingline Y-Pipe Install - Did it throw a CEL?

[1125Altima3.5]

Just looking to see how often people are getting CELs after installing the new y-pipe from Racingline.

Will probably be my next mod, but the CEL issue is a sticking point. Also wanted to see if people had different experiences depending on whether they DIYed or went to a mechanic

EDIT: Hit "Save" too early; please post "went to a mechanic" in a message if you went to a mechanic.

[One Crazy Max]

you should not get a CEL.

the y-pipe removes the third un-metered cat, so being that it is not measure by the computer, the ECU will not know anything was changed.

[1125Altima3.5]

you should not get a CEL.

the y-pipe removes the third un-metered cat, so being that it is not measure by the computer, the ECU will not know anything was changed.

Don't think it's that simple. The car monitors lots of parameters that can be affected by the y-pipe (A/F ratios for example).

Let's say you blocked off the exhaust outlet with a solid metal blank. That would be downstream of the sensors, but I bet you'd get a CEL!

[il duce]

there are only 2 ways that i can see the CEL being thrown from this install.

1) during the install, you damage something (such as an O2 sensor) that the ECU monitors

2) as already mentioned, the A/F ratio changes dramatically and goes outside the stock range recognized by the ECU. This is not that big of a deal because our cars are equipped with a feedforward feedback control loop for fuel delivery, which means that the car can learn new parameters - it will just take some time to adjust. And since nissan engineers designed a $hitty ECU, it takes forever to learn. Best advice is to drive it sedately while the light is on so that the computer doesn't have to calculate a plethora of new options right away. Also if you have an OBDII code reader, you can just reset the light with that. If not, the light will go away eventually when the ECU adjusts.

The only other issue i can see is that the precats are toast, but that's not very likely unless you have upwards of 100 000km on the car.

[Alien_Tracker]

So far, I've put 100 miles on my car since I installed the Y-pipe. No CEL.

[XXplosive990]

ya i got a check engine light like a week after installing it so i didnt know if they were related or not. stupid CEL is annoying

[Alien_Tracker]

Did you pull the code to see if it's even related to the Y-pipe?

[mcheddadi]

I got nothing and i've had it for humm two weeks maybe lol and I did 1/4 mile drag and lots of driving in wet and sunny conditions. So i'm guessing those that did get lights just broke their sensors in the headers

[XXplosive990]

yeah i didnt use a reader though, i used the easy n go 2 long blinks, 11 short, 10 short, 3 short..... lol but i got no idea wtf this means. n i dont think i damaged anything

[1125Altima3.5]

yeah i didnt use a reader though, i used the easy n go 2 long blinks, 11 short, 10 short, 3 short..... lol but i got no idea wtf this means. n i dont think i damaged anything

The last three digits in that sequence are "A03". If you search the engine control service manual, the only place that string comes up is in the trouble code "P2A03".

That's the same code another guy got when he used an OBD2 reader after he got a CEL with the racingline y-pipe. From the manual:

P2A03: Air fuel ratio (A/F) sensor 1 (bank 2) circuit range/performance• The output voltage computed by ECM from the A/F sensor 1 signal is shifted to the lean side for a specified period.• The A/F signal computed by ECM from the A/F sensor 1 signal is shifted to the rich side for a specified period.

Looks like we have a pattern here...

[XXplosive990]

yeah ......uh oh......this isnt anything BAD is it?

[mcheddadi]

guys that get a SES light, please post if you have aftermarket exhaust, catback or axelback, and CVT or 6MT

[XXplosive990]

stock exhuast, and CVT.. think the stock exhaust might have something to do with it???

[Racingline]

For those wondering about he CEL.. As you all know the pipes were tested for months, and no CEL's occurred during any of our tests.

With nearly 100 pipes already sold to date and only 2 cels reported, I'm more inclined to think that there is either an installation error ( leaks, physical damage to o2, unplugging o2 during install and turning car on, or other). Either way hardly enough to claim a pattern.

We have been making these Ypipes for the Altima community for a few years now and CEL/SES are never an issue unless something else was done during the install. The only things that have changed is whats happening down steam of the o2 senors, unless there is a leak causing turbulence and playing with the sensor since it is so close to the flange or sealant accidentally placed on the sensor.

The mention of the computer actually seeing a momentary lean/rich condition is also possible ( although not likely, unless your driving style changed dramatically from grandma to road warrior), in which case the car will relearn in a few hundred miles. As posted by a few individuals, the pipe has added more/ smoother power the longer the car was driven. which has also been the case with our 3rd gen altima and maxima ypipes.

[XXplosive990]

hrmm a leak somewhere might be a possibilty, as far as damaging anythin i really doubt it, in a garage n was really careful with the sensors. but umm how would i check for a leak???

[Racingline]

with the car fully cooled start the car and listen for any hissing.

also with the front end lifted, supported on stands and the e-brake FULLY set..... reach your hand around all connections and feel for any air passing through. from fully cooled you'll have about 2-3 min before the pipes get too hot to touch. As long as your fans don't come on a leak should be really easy to find by just following the perimeter of the flanges. A leak at the catback flange will not have any effect what so ever so don't worry about getting back there.

It's best to make sure that the car is fully cooled before putting your hands near the pipe for (A) safety, but (B) when hot, the pipes actually expand slightly and may make finding really small leaks a bit harder to detect.

[XXplosive990]

wow so yeah i think i may have found my problem then, i raised the car up, turned it on n felt around the start of the Y-pipe and there was definately a leak on one of the sides of the triangle. n i also noticed one of the bolts there is actually gone. WTF?? I'll be fixing this tomorrow n resetting the light. hopefully thats it, thanks for the help though racingline ill update tomorrow on how it went

[1125Altima3.5]

I noticed another guy on youtube who had a CEL in his y-pipe video. The exhaust leak sounds like a good candidate for all of these issues. That's 3/100, not too bad but enough to make you think twice...

I'd like to see if Racingline can get someone to make gaskets for the y-pipe - header connection. From the altimas.net forum, it seems like a lot of people are just using high-temp sealant to make up the connection.

Included nuts/bolts/instructions would be nice too, even if they push the price a little over $300...

[XXplosive990]

yeah as i was looking around my y pipe where the seal is, it looks as if me putting in the missing bolt wont change much but ill find out for sure tomorrow. probably gonna need to put something there to seal it up if it doesnt work, whats recommended??

[Racingline]

yeah as i was looking around my y pipe where the seal is, it looks as if me putting in the missing bolt wont change much but ill find out for sure tomorrow. probably gonna need to put something there to seal it up if it doesnt work, whats recommended??

your going to have to remove the pipe, clean the flanges and reapply new sealant before tightening down again. it's the only way to make sure you get a clean and secure seal.

That's 3/100, not too bad but enough to make you think twice...

Included nuts/bolts/instructions would be nice too, even if they push the price a little over $300...

nuts and bolts are included, some got out the door without them but most have them. Instructions have been online since day 1.

3/100......... 1 has now been confirmed a bad install, the other likely is as well. The video means nothing as you are speculating at a random video without knowing any facts about the car, it could be the other person who posted having the light who posted that video..... If your talking about he video by "importroller", those lights are gas and tpms, bringing it back down to 1/100 and I'll bet it's not the pipe itself that's causing issues on that car as well

[XXplosive990]

yep yep most likely the case, thanks again though for all the help racingline. i really appreciate it. i will be fixing the leak tomorrow morning n hopefully getting rid of the light for good. i love my y-pipe, n aside from the light going off its been GREAT.

[1125Altima3.5]

Ok, serious attitude here, I'm thinking I don't need the y-pipe:

1) No response to two people with a CEL issue until a prospective customer posts a poll. (Check the other y-pipe thread)

2) Company can't be bothered to print a webpage and put the instructions into a box with y-pipe. Company thinks it's ok that "most" packages shipped with required mounting hardware.

3) Company can't be bothered to include basic things like gaskets. Seriously? Who the hell makes high temp metal-to-metal connections with sealant alone? Bush league....

4) Racingline rep here has the tact and verbal skills of a 12-year-old.

I think I'll go for remote-mounted turbos instead...good luck to all who do decide to go with the bolt-on, which seemed like a good mod if not for all of this nonsense.

<would love to see what the real "bad install" rate is, so everyone please keep responding to the poll. I'm betting the design flaw of a no-gasket connection has caused way more than 2-3 CELs. By my count the rate is currently 40%>

[Racingline]

Ok, serious attitude here, I'm thinking I don't need the y-pipe:

1) No response to two people with a CEL issue until a prospective customer posts a poll. (Check the other y-pipe thread)

2) Company can't be bothered to print a webpage and put the instructions into a box with y-pipe. Company thinks it's ok that "most" packages shipped with required mounting hardware.

3) Company can't be bothered to include basic things like gaskets. Seriously? Who the hell makes high temp metal-to-metal connections with sealant alone? Bush league....

4) Racingline rep here has the tact and verbal skills of a 12-year-old.

I think I'll go for remote-mounted turbos instead...good luck to all who do decide to go with the bolt-on, which seemed like a good mod if not for all of this nonsense.

<would love to see what the real "bad install" rate is, so everyone please keep responding to the poll. I'm betting the design flaw of a no-gasket connection has caused way more than 2-3 CELs. By my count the rate is currently 40%>

1)Not one of these people have emailed us directly about their issue, and policing the forums 24/7 is not really realistic. We do have other things we need to do during the day

2)We never said it was ok that some went out without bolts, only that it happened to some and that the issue has been fixed. Stillen does not send printed instructions with many of their parts either, they must be a crappy company.

3)Actually the high temp gaskets have been used for years by many in lots of different types of installs. It's fast, cheap, and extremely effective. There is a reason it's available at every parts store, it's works! Not making the provisions for the OEM gaskets helps to keep the primaries slightly larger and thus helping flow more.

4)my verbal skills my suck but your tact and reasoning skills is just as bad if not worse. I have been civil and and answered all questions and concerns in a simple and mature manner.

5)With all due respect, if your count is 40%, your math skills are well below my 12 year old grammer.

In any event there have been many satisfied customers and I believe the part and it's quality are well within our customers expectations. The one issue of the CEL appears to have been found and has nothing to due with the pipe itself, so I will consider this issue resolved unless somebody with a valid point has something to add since I don't want this thread to get too out of hand.

This isn't Vovino posting again is it??.....................


Modified by Racingline at 9:14 AM 7/17/2009

[pkrutop]

Ok, serious attitude here, I'm thinking I don't need the y-pipe:

1) No response to two people with a CEL issue until a prospective customer posts a poll. (Check the other y-pipe thread)

2) Company can't be bothered to print a webpage and put the instructions into a box with y-pipe. Company thinks it's ok that "most" packages shipped with required mounting hardware.

3) Company can't be bothered to include basic things like gaskets. Seriously? Who the hell makes high temp metal-to-metal connections with sealant alone? Bush league....

4) Racingline rep here has the tact and verbal skills of a 12-year-old.

I think I'll go for remote-mounted turbos instead...good luck to all who do decide to go with the bolt-on, which seemed like a good mod if not for all of this nonsense.

<would love to see what the real "bad install" rate is, so everyone please keep responding to the poll. I'm betting the design flaw of a no-gasket connection has caused way more than 2-3 CELs. By my count the rate is currently 40%>

Are you for real bud??

People have problems wth all kinds of aftermarket parts from every company. Intakes, pulleys, strut bars, sway bars, ect... 99% of the time, it's the install. Most parts are DIY's, but when people don't know what they're doing, or the best way to do it, something is bound to happen to atleast a couple of people.

Bashing Racingline is fairly childish. Taking a shot at someones verbal skills on a forum? Really? If you've bought any of their parts, you would know that they make quality parts with amazing customer service. If a problem arises, shoot them an email and they will rectify the situation ASAP. If you don't want to buy the y-pipe for whatever reason, just don't. It's that simple.

[mcheddadi]

1125Altima3.5

know your place

[1125Altima3.5]

It's not in Canada. THANK GOD.

[mcheddadi]

It's not in Canada. THANK GOD.

you looking for a ban?

[pkrutop]

It's not in Canada. THANK GOD.

Showing your childish side again eh.

[Alien_Tracker]

amazing customer service. If a problem arises, shoot them an email and they will rectify the situation ASAP.

I'm not too sure about that. No one from Racingline offered to ship me the bolts that they left out. It's not like I was one of the first to buy it. I waited a while to see if they would address the problems and complaints that people had on here. When I spend $300 on a part, I expect to get everything I need. I shouldn't have had to go to Lowe's and spend an additional $5 on hardware. I love the pipe, but I'm not impressed with their customer service.

Someone from racingline finally got on here and mentioned using RTV sealant. I didn't see that mentioned anywhere in the brief online instructions. Are we supposed to use RTV on the downpipe flanges?

[XXplosive990]

ok, so i was one of the ones that had a CEL go off, i tightened all three bolts n drove around a bit and the light came back after about 20 miles. so i went back, took it off again and this time used sealant. ive been really busy n driving all day n since i put the sealant on i've driven around 80 miles and there is still no CEL. so im pretty sure its gone for good now. so for those of you having the CEL problem, using sealant might be the best idea. it worked for me