Increased emissions CEL after ~400 miles post test pipes

[RE36TRO]

Curious how long the CEL would trigger after the installation of test pipes? I installed my test pipes over 400 miles ago and just recently the CEL triggered with the increased emissions message. It has never triggered even after the test pipes until now. Could this be the missing primary cats finally being noticed or possibly a completely new issue?

Car history:
Been running an Alpine tune for about 400 miles now.
Dinan intake for about the same.
RB's, TA's, plugs changed 1k miles ago
Currently sitting at 79k miles.

[mrspecter]

In my experience, I would say this is fairly normal. When I had my gintani x pipe installed the first time I drove for over 500+ miles before the CEL came on. Some times it would come back earlier after a couple hundred miles.

[Ervin87]

It is normal. No front cats and factory tune= CEL

[DanMpower]

You already have the Alpine Tune, send Alex a request for a Stage 2 tune, that will fix your issue if indeed the CEL was triggered by a "catalytic threshold below efficiency" event. I would pull the codes first to confirm, if you don't have a code reader hit up AutoZone for a free scan.

Edit: You can also use the AlpineMSS flash tool to pull codes.

[RE36TRO]

Thanks for the advice, on that note during the initial stage 2 tune with Alex the CEL was not present. I assume there was no means of knowing even on his end during the ECU access.

[DanMpower]

Originally Posted by RE36TRO

Thanks for the advice, on that note during the initial stage 2 tune with Alex the CEL was not present. I assume there was no means of knowing even on his end during the ECU access.

Are you currently running a Stage 1 or Stage 2 tune with Alex?

[RE36TRO]

Originally Posted by DanMpower

Are you currently running a Stage 1 or Stage 2 tune with Alex?

Stage 2. I think I can see where you're getting at. Being stage 2 should already account for test pipes this type of CEL should already be deleted?

[DanMpower]

Originally Posted by RE36TRO

Stage 2. I think I can see where you're getting at. Being stage 2 should already account for test pipes this type of CEL should already be deleted?

Yes sir, the stage 2 file should "turn off" the downstream O2 sensors so the car won't trip the CEL for missing primary cats.

I would pull the codes first to see if it's not something else, if it really is a code for the missing cats, I would double-check with Alex.

[RE36TRO]

So I was able to get a readout tonight. It was actually tied to an upstream alert. The shop has since cleared it for me to see if it reoccurs. One thing I did not mention is prior to this I did not drive the car for long periods of time or at all. I have since returned a lease on my DD and have been now going full steam with the M just getting off a 400 mile road trip. The shop says this can play a part otherwise simply will just need to replace the driver side O2.

[DanMpower]

Originally Posted by RE36TRO

So I was able to get a readout tonight. It was actually tied to an upstream alert. The shop has since cleared it for me to see if it reoccurs. One thing I did not mention is prior to this I did not drive the car for long periods of time or at all. I have since returned a lease on my DD and have been now going full steam with the M just getting off a 400 mile road trip. The shop says this can play a part otherwise simply will just need to replace the driver side O2.

Cool man, good to hear!

At 79k miles, it's probably a good idea to replace both those upstream sensors anyway, I did both of mine a couple of weeks ago as preventative maintenance.

The sensors are Bosch 17039, about $80-90 a pop.

[tdott]

Always scan the codes. Otherwise it's just guessing.

[RE36TRO]

Originally Posted by tdott

Always scan the codes. Otherwise it's just guessing.

Agreed. Just thought I'd try to get ahead prior to making my way to a scanner.