Anybody regret going stage 2?

[derbo]

Originally Posted by EricSMG

Swapping an X pipe is very easy and is probably the only sure-fire way to pass CA smog every 2 years.

The reason I say this is because, to my knowledge, there aren't any Stage 2 tunes that keep all four O2s in a factory "normal/ready" state which means automatic failure. That is the only reason for a full stage 2 setup to fail as the car will still appear to have cats and sniffer isn't used on post MY 2000 cars.

Now, I've "heard" rumors that such a tune may exist, but nothing concrete at this point and so, if it were me, I'd buy a second factory X pipe and swap every two years.

Even if they did have a tune that kept the readiness monitors set to green, SMOG guys can be sneaky and clear your readiness monitors after checking to see if they were flag to always green. My smog guy told me some shops do this to find people faking readiness monitors.

[eatsleepboost]

If you disconnect the battery and reconnect it your rediness should reset. On some cars such as my old evo I had a tune that set all to always pass so it didn't matter. The car always passed even if it had a cel I could clear it then immediately plug it in and pass. After you clear codes your rediness will reset to not ready as well.

[Dave07997S]

Originally Posted by RjR

Correct, I only install the OEM xpipe. Tune stays.

Thanks...just what I wanted to hear.

Dave

[wyatth]

Which test pipes make reinstalling the primary cats the easiest? I think that would the longest test pipes, so that there’s piping behind the cat (cut off) that can be clamped later.

[Dave07997S]

Originally Posted by wyatth

Which test pipes make reinstalling the primary cats the easiest? I think that would the longest test pipes, so that there’s piping behind the cat (cut off) that can be clamped later.

None of them are going to be that clean as you cut the cats right where the bracket is. I have seen it done but it isn't a clean job. I have the OEM xpipe and bought a used one and hacked up that one.

Dave

[entropy138]

Originally Posted by Bartledoo

I wonder if some of you guys have leaky test pipe joints because I never smell anything idling with all windows down. Mine are welded in because I could never get rid of the small leaks otherwise.

I think this is a lot of the issue. I noticed it frequently then spent some time refitting my x-pipe (no cats quad resonated) and now rarely smell it... only if there is a breeze blowing from the back of the car to the front.

Only regrets I have about stage 2 were that it led to AFD e85 and now that led to Harrop sc... it's a gateway drug