Cat removal and fooling the ECU (Advice Needed) - LotusTalk

Evil Twin · 04-07-2009, 12:34 PM

I'm giving some thought to turning my Elise into a track-only toy and not driving it on the street. If I go that route, I'd strip out some weight and would make some other changes appropriate for its more-focused track-only role. One option would be to remove the catalytic converter. My only concern about removing the cat is that I'd prefer not to have the CEL illuminated all the time in the event that non-cat related error codes are thrown.

Does anyone know whether there are any electronic gizmo's made for the 2ZZ motor that will fool the ECU into not throwing a CEL? I know that such devices are made for other motors, but I've not heard of one for our car. Any thoughts/suggestions?

Does anyone make a straight-pipe that'll mate to the stock header/exhaust?

Thanks for your help,
Twin

shay2nak · 04-07-2009, 12:48 PM

2bular makes a decat for the stock header. You could have the CEL prevented from displaying, but you'll have to have your ECU reprogrammed.

Icedog_16 · 04-07-2009, 12:51 PM

Mil mod.

Or you can get Charlie's tune.

De-cat pipe: http://sector111.com/products/perfor...e-cat_pipe.cfm

Evil Twin · 04-08-2009, 09:41 AM

Okay, so the straightpipe is available from a known vendor, but when I read through the Mil Mod thread, it wasn't clear to me if this solution actually works, long term. Has anyone done it, tracked their car regularly, and never seen a check engine light come on?

Thanks Shay3nak and Icedog!
Twin

CHRISN · 04-08-2009, 11:32 AM

After some research I will be trying this Mil mod. I figure for the $5 investment and availability I will try it.

Chris

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evil Twin

Okay, so the straightpipe is available from a known vendor, but when I read through the Mil Mod thread, it wasn't clear to me if this solution actually works, long term. Has anyone done it, tracked their car regularly, and never seen a check engine light come on?

Thanks Shay3nak and Icedog!
Twin

Icedog_16 · 04-08-2009, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evil Twin

Okay, so the straightpipe is available from a known vendor, but when I read through the Mil Mod thread, it wasn't clear to me if this solution actually works, long term. Has anyone done it, tracked their car regularly, and never seen a check engine light come on?

Thanks Shay3nak and Icedog!
Twin

No prob! Hollywood lives in my area and I know it worked for him without a problem. I would think that even if the occasional CEL came on you could always clear it with a code reader.

Phantom · 04-08-2009, 12:46 PM

I was in your shoes a few years ago Twin, and it's still not really clear what the best solution is- However, I can offer that I drove my car for about a year with a racing header (no cat) and never once had a CEL- The workaround actually came with the header, and adapted the downstream sensor at 90 degrees and out of the direct exhaust flow- This is very simular to the plug defouler mod you probably ran across in your research- I suspect the 90 degree adapter that comes with the Exigemotorwerks header is simply for clearance, and that the plug defouler solution works just as well- Good luck!

plastique999 · 04-08-2009, 12:51 PM

I had Charlie tune me

shay2nak · 04-08-2009, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plastique999

I had Charlie tune me

that's what i'm going to do. Decat + 6" GT3 go on tomorrow!

Evil Twin · 04-08-2009, 01:51 PM

I have to admit to being biased against using after-market ECU flashes -- I'm not willing to sacrifice longevity for a few HP, and I once spent a fortune trying to dial in an aftermarket ECU for a trackcar I once had -- but I'd be curious to learn more about Charlie's "tune". Any feedback? Phantom, what racing header did you buy and what's downstream of it? Thanks, all. I appreciate the help.

plastique999 · 04-08-2009, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shay2nak

that's what i'm going to do. Decat + 6" GT3 go on tomorrow!

Awesome combo....Ara, you will love it!!!

I have decat + 8" GT3 - I wish it were a tad louder....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evil Twin

I have to admit to being biased against using after-market ECU flashes -- I'm not willing to sacrifice longevity for a few HP, and I once spent a fortune trying to dial in an aftermarket ECU for a trackcar I once had -- but I'd be curious to learn more about Charlie's "tune". Any feedback? Phantom, what racing header did you buy and what's downstream of it? Thanks, all. I appreciate the help.

Charlie has tuned more Lotus' than I've changed socks....really he has the most and trusted experience in tuning our cars.

I have BWR s/c which he originally tuned, and then added a few things (decat, 2bular exhaust, cup box), and I am dyno'g at 227 whp.
Cam changeover at around 5000 rpm.

Icedog_16 · 04-09-2009, 11:25 AM

I had no problems with Charlie's tune. The lowering of the cam changeover was worth it in itself. The power's not night-and-day, obviously, but every little bit helps. No CEL is the cherry on top.

Evil Twin · 04-12-2009, 08:31 AM

Is the "Charlie tune" the result of work done by "CharlieX" on this forum? If so, I might PM him to see what he has to say. Thanks.

Icedog_16 · 04-14-2009, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evil Twin

Is the "Charlie tune" the result of work done by "CharlieX" on this forum? If so, I might PM him to see what he has to say. Thanks.

Yep!

shay2nak · 04-14-2009, 12:44 PM

I've driven around for 60 miles or so and only had the CEL come on once. 0420. Then I just clear it. It's not like it comes on and stays on ALL the time. (I thought that)

Noizemaker · 04-15-2009, 12:49 AM

I ran the anti-fouler solution for years on my old subaru. Never had a problem. I will do the same thing on the lotus if I ever pull the cat.

04-07-2009, 12:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
Evil Twin No Livestock on Track! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 858 Images: 14	Cat removal and fooling the ECU (Advice Needed) I'm giving some thought to turning my Elise into a track-only toy and not driving it on the street. If I go that route, I'd strip out some weight and would make some other changes appropriate for its more-focused track-only role. One option would be to remove the catalytic converter. My only concern about removing the cat is that I'd prefer not to have the CEL illuminated all the time in the event that non-cat related error codes are thrown. Does anyone know whether there are any electronic gizmo's made for the 2ZZ motor that will fool the ECU into not throwing a CEL? I know that such devices are made for other motors, but I've not heard of one for our car. Any thoughts/suggestions? Does anyone make a straight-pipe that'll mate to the stock header/exhaust? Thanks for your help, Twin __________________ 2005 Graphite Gray with Black Interior, Sports Package, Touring Package, Hard Top, Starshield, 6-point Schroth Harness, Fire Extinguisher, and Wiring Loom for DL-1. Otherwise bone stock -- and staying that way -- okay, okay, that's true if you ignore the Braille battery, Micro mirror, Multivex mirrors, ROTA slipstreams, RA-1s, two-piece rotors, springs, polyurethane ASB bushings, RTD brace, Sparco seat, and all the stuff I've taken out of the car...

04-07-2009, 12:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
shay2nak I <3 chicken, I <3 liver Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Land of da 1000 Oaks, CA Posts: 15,055	2bular makes a decat for the stock header. You could have the CEL prevented from displaying, but you'll have to have your ECU reprogrammed. __________________ save ~10 lbs gain 1 hp EQ: Y=(190X) / (1984-X) where Y is (HP) and X is (lbs) '07 EXIGE S * MY CAR ** VIDEOS! '08 ACURA TSX 6-speed http://www.makeNYNYagain.com

04-08-2009, 09:41 AM	#4 (permalink)
Evil Twin No Livestock on Track! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 858 Images: 14	Okay, so the straightpipe is available from a known vendor, but when I read through the Mil Mod thread, it wasn't clear to me if this solution actually works, long term. Has anyone done it, tracked their car regularly, and never seen a check engine light come on? Thanks Shay3nak and Icedog! Twin __________________ 2005 Graphite Gray with Black Interior, Sports Package, Touring Package, Hard Top, Starshield, 6-point Schroth Harness, Fire Extinguisher, and Wiring Loom for DL-1. Otherwise bone stock -- and staying that way -- okay, okay, that's true if you ignore the Braille battery, Micro mirror, Multivex mirrors, ROTA slipstreams, RA-1s, two-piece rotors, springs, polyurethane ASB bushings, RTD brace, Sparco seat, and all the stuff I've taken out of the car...

04-08-2009, 12:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
Phantom Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 860 Images: 1	I was in your shoes a few years ago Twin, and it's still not really clear what the best solution is- However, I can offer that I drove my car for about a year with a racing header (no cat) and never once had a CEL- The workaround actually came with the header, and adapted the downstream sensor at 90 degrees and out of the direct exhaust flow- This is very simular to the plug defouler mod you probably ran across in your research- I suspect the 90 degree adapter that comes with the Exigemotorwerks header is simply for clearance, and that the plug defouler solution works just as well- Good luck! __________________ Grab Life by the Wheel

04-08-2009, 12:51 PM	#8 (permalink)
plastique999 Form and Function Join Date: May 2008 Location: Alta Loma, CA Posts: 3,046	I had Charlie tune me __________________ www.FaceNBody.com 2005 Lotus Elise: 2bular decat\GT3 exhaust,HID's,turn signal&rear fins delete, CFside scoops, CFbinnacle,CFcenter console,Zoom CF mirror,APR Aero kit,CF 5-elem. diffuser,Exige mesh,Ohlins DA,RTD brace,RAC 'lites,Toyo R888's,HawkHT10's,CO painted calipers,SS lines,Reverie XC CF seat,Reverie CF steering wheel,Schroth Profi II 6 pt harness,shifter re-Enforcer,Manly mounts, Accusump,Moroso pan,BWR key to BWR S/C! Spec Racer Ford #237

04-07-2009, 12:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
Icedog_16 I drank what?!? Join Date: May 2005 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 4,214	Mil mod. Or you can get Charlie's tune. De-cat pipe: http://sector111.com/products/perfor...e-cat_pipe.cfm

04-08-2009, 01:51 PM	#10 (permalink)
Evil Twin No Livestock on Track! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 858 Images: 14	I have to admit to being biased against using after-market ECU flashes -- I'm not willing to sacrifice longevity for a few HP, and I once spent a fortune trying to dial in an aftermarket ECU for a trackcar I once had -- but I'd be curious to learn more about Charlie's "tune". Any feedback? Phantom, what racing header did you buy and what's downstream of it? Thanks, all. I appreciate the help. __________________ 2005 Graphite Gray with Black Interior, Sports Package, Touring Package, Hard Top, Starshield, 6-point Schroth Harness, Fire Extinguisher, and Wiring Loom for DL-1. Otherwise bone stock -- and staying that way -- okay, okay, that's true if you ignore the Braille battery, Micro mirror, Multivex mirrors, ROTA slipstreams, RA-1s, two-piece rotors, springs, polyurethane ASB bushings, RTD brace, Sparco seat, and all the stuff I've taken out of the car...

04-09-2009, 11:25 AM	#12 (permalink)
Icedog_16 I drank what?!? Join Date: May 2005 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 4,214	I had no problems with Charlie's tune. The lowering of the cam changeover was worth it in itself. The power's not night-and-day, obviously, but every little bit helps. No CEL is the cherry on top.

04-12-2009, 08:31 AM	#13 (permalink)
Evil Twin No Livestock on Track! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 858 Images: 14	Is the "Charlie tune" the result of work done by "CharlieX" on this forum? If so, I might PM him to see what he has to say. Thanks. __________________ 2005 Graphite Gray with Black Interior, Sports Package, Touring Package, Hard Top, Starshield, 6-point Schroth Harness, Fire Extinguisher, and Wiring Loom for DL-1. Otherwise bone stock -- and staying that way -- okay, okay, that's true if you ignore the Braille battery, Micro mirror, Multivex mirrors, ROTA slipstreams, RA-1s, two-piece rotors, springs, polyurethane ASB bushings, RTD brace, Sparco seat, and all the stuff I've taken out of the car...

04-14-2009, 12:44 PM	#15 (permalink)
shay2nak I <3 chicken, I <3 liver Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Land of da 1000 Oaks, CA Posts: 15,055	I've driven around for 60 miles or so and only had the CEL come on once. 0420. Then I just clear it. It's not like it comes on and stays on ALL the time. (I thought that) __________________ save ~10 lbs gain 1 hp EQ: Y=(190X) / (1984-X) where Y is (HP) and X is (lbs) '07 EXIGE S * MY CAR ** VIDEOS! '08 ACURA TSX 6-speed http://www.makeNYNYagain.com

04-15-2009, 12:49 AM	#16 (permalink)
Noizemaker General Freakin' Lee. :( Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Bellevue WA Posts: 330	I ran the anti-fouler solution for years on my old subaru. Never had a problem. I will do the same thing on the lotus if I ever pull the cat. __________________ -Matt 05 Chrome Orange. Touring, LSS wheels, The Blue Sector111 radiator of doom, Dieselgeek 1/4 turn kit, 1/4din Oil Temp gauge, Starshield, LETSLA, HKS exhaust etc etc etc. 99 Neon ACR. Broken. 2.4l, T3/T4, T850 swap, SRT seats, etc etc etc.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode