Offroad Xpipe...Help

[Derek Hall]

I have a 04 Mach 1 and I am having so much trouble with the bassani offroad x-pipe. I've installed the steeda mil's correctly, but the ses light continues to come on. Ford checked it and advised that the o2 sensors are not reading the exhaust correctly because of the increased flow.
I thought this was crap but i watched the machine read the exhaust and it would read it every 3-4 seconds and it should be reading it every second. i changed the o2 sensors and it will last about a week before the ses light is back on. The mil's were checked and they were working properly also.
Anyone with the offroad xpipe having this problem????

[Lonestar 7]

Werd to say the least!

[DTMach1]

Is your vehicle for racing use only? If it is, then don't worry about it.

Now, if you're driving it on the street, why don't you have cats? You wont see the extra 10hp tooling around town trust me on that one. Also, why not help the environment out a little by driving around town with cats?

If you're using a Bassani X, it's probably the modular one right? which means you can use cats around town and switch em out to the straight pipes at the strip and really benefit from the extra 10 or so hp.

If you lived in LA during the '80s you'll understand why i'm such a proponent of cats.

--Dale

[Comp Orange 04]

I have a 04 Mach 1 and I am having so much trouble with the bassani offroad x-pipe. I've installed the steeda mil's correctly, but the ses light continues to come on. Ford checked it and advised that the o2 sensors are not reading the exhaust correctly because of the increased flow.
I thought this was crap but i watched the machine read the exhaust and it would read it every 3-4 seconds and it should be reading it every second. i changed the o2 sensors and it will last about a week before the ses light is back on. The mil's were checked and they were working properly also.
Anyone with the offroad xpipe having this problem????

3 questions:

1) Did you put the MIL's on only the rear O2 sensors?
2) Are they plug in or splice ( I think Steeda's are plug in).
3) Which sensors (front or rear) are causing the issue. Should only be the fronts if the MIL's are working right.

[MACK1NEWBIE]

3 questions:

1) Did you put the MIL's on only the rear O2 sensors?
2) Are they plug in or splice ( I think Steeda's are plug in).
3) Which sensors (front or rear) are causing the issue. Should only be the fronts if the MIL's are working right. If you have already not done this, disconnect your Neg. battery term. for about 20 min. or so, so your computer can reset to the changes you have made? 04s only have to worry about the front sensors, the rears are after the cats. :thumbs:

[fstltlfkr]

Real quick ?, I only have to put the Mils on the upper sensor when I install my o/r Bassani x-pipe, is this correct. As far asthe 20 min. battery unhook that is in the instructions.
fstltlfkr
If you have already not done this, disconnect your Neg. battery term. for about 20 min. or so, so your computer can reset to the changes you have made? 04s only have to worry about the front sensors, the rears are after the cats. :thumbs:

[MACK1NEWBIE]

Real quick ?, I only have to put the Mils on the upper sensor when I install my o/r Bassani x-pipe, is this correct. As far asthe 20 min. battery unhook that is in the instructions.
fstltlfkrCorrect, great. :spinem:

[Comp Orange 04]

Real quick ?, I only have to put the Mils on the upper sensor when I install my o/r Bassani x-pipe, is this correct. As far asthe 20 min. battery unhook that is in the instructions.
fstltlfkr


No I do not believe that is correct. The front (upper) O2 sensors input directly to the computer and give input to the MAF to map your A/F ratio. Putting MIL's on the front (Upper) O2 sensors will reall make your car run wrong due to the constant signal being sent.

The MIL eliminators are used for the rear sensors which only input to the computer is to tell the effeciency of the catalyst inside. (IE they trick the computer into thinking the cats are fine with a constant GOOD signal therefore it will not give you a SES light). This is required when you have an O/R midpipe.

In 04 Ford changed the midpipe so that the 2nd set of cats are not monitored by the computer due to the sensor location, but you still have the first cat being monitored with the second set of O2 sensors.

Here is a picture of my 04 mid pipe with the sensor bungs.

http://www.mach-1.org/vbulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=515

[fstltlfkr]

Okay I have 1 yes, and 1 no, so wich witch is it, lol. The pipe coming from the manifold has an O2 sensor bung, and the X-Pipe also has an O2 sensor bung, since there are a total of 4, yes 4 cats on the 04 Mach, so any professionals with the correct answer let me know please, really does not matter as I have mil eliminators for all four bungs,

fstltlfkr

[Greg@GLD]

Paul Svinicki (Paul's High Performance (http://www.paulshp.com)) can solve this problem with his SCT programmer, by simply removing the rear O2 Sensors from the circuit. No MIL eliminators needed and no "check engine" light.
Too bad you live down in Florida. Try to find a tuner down there that has the SCT programmer and have them re-flash your EEC and problem solved.

[tallymach1]

You positively can not use mil's on the front O2 sensors. The front pair are for feedback to the computer on how the engine is running (rich/lean) so it can make adjustments. The sole purpose of the back sensors is to make sure the cats are functioning properly. You will not only set a code by running them on the front sensors, but you could also cause engine damage. In some cases, the front O2's and back O2's can not be swapped from there respective locations due to a slight difference in calibration.

[Greg@GLD]

Is your vehicle for racing use only? If it is, then don't worry about it.

Now, if you're driving it on the street, why don't you have cats? You wont see the extra 10hp tooling around town trust me on that one. Also, why not help the environment out a little by driving around town with cats?

If you're using a Bassani X, it's probably the modular one right? which means you can use cats around town and switch em out to the straight pipes at the strip and really benefit from the extra 10 or so hp.

If you lived in LA during the '80s you'll understand why i'm such a proponent of cats.

--Dale



Agree with your reasoning about the smog issues, I am a former resident of Southern California. However to address your first statement- if he's getting a check engine light, then he DOES need to worry about this, because if that light is on then his EEC is doing bad things to his spark and fuel curves and this is going to hinder the performance to the point where the car will probably run better without the X-Pipe!

[MACK1NEWBIE]

You positively can not use mil's on the front O2 sensors. The front pair are for feedback to the computer on how the engine is running (rich/lean) so it can make adjustments. The sole purpose of the back sensors is to make sure the cats are functioning properly. You will not only set a code by running them on the front sensors, but you could also cause engine damage. In some cases, the front O2's and back O2's can not be swapped from there respective locations due to a slight difference in calibration.I have a 04 Mach 1 and already have done what the car in question has done and only useing the front sensors. Reset the computer after I made these changes and no check engine light, car run's great. The key is you have to zero out the cpu or it will read a problem has occured. Somebody also mentioned that there are 6 Cats on the 04, I strongly advise you to get down on your knees and take a look, there are 4, 2 pre-cats the ones close to the motor and then farther down stream you will find the cats. I have them laying on the garage floor if you would like to see them up close. ;)

[Comp Orange 04]

I have a 04 Mach 1 and already have done what the car in question has done and only useing the front sensors. Reset the computer after I made these changes and no check engine light, car run's great. The key is you have to zero out the cpu or it will read a problem has occured. Somebody also mentioned that there are 6 Cats on the 04, I strongly advise you to get down on your knees and take a look, there are 4, 2 pre-cats the ones close to the motor and then farther down stream you will find the cats. I have them laying on the garage floor if you would like to see them up close. ;)

So you placed MIL eliminators on the front O2 sensors and left the rear sensors off? Or did you place MIL's on both sets?

If you place MIL's on both sets it will eventually throw a code since the front voltage will be the same as the rear voltage so the net reult will be 'Bad cats" to the computer. Sure resetting the computer will get rid of it but it will show up again after roughly 500 miles later or after your second long drive.

If you place MIL's on the front and left the rears alone you will be inputting a constant voltage to your CPU during closed loop operation vice a variable one. That my or may not not throw a code, but it sure won't do your car any good when it is relying on the O2 sensors to map your A/F ratio.

[MACK1NEWBIE]

Just on the front, 2k and still no code.

[DTMach1]

Agree with your reasoning about the smog issues, I am a former resident of Southern California. However to address your first statement- if he's getting a check engine light, then he DOES need to worry about this, because if that light is on then his EEC is doing bad things to his spark and fuel curves and this is going to hinder the performance to the point where the car will probably run better without the X-Pipe!

heehee thanks for catching that one!! I have a problem with completing my sentences. I should have finished that sentence by saying there would be no need to worry about it on the street with cats...but he should carry the mils with him and the straight pipes and install them on the track so there wouldn't be an issue with the SES light as long as they are functioning properly and placed in the proper location.

Like you've posted though, it seems easier to get an SCT tune done to fix the problem!!!

Thanks for catching my snafu! :beer:

--Dale