CEL masking for midpipe install
 

I've been looking in the Series 2 forum for a while but cant seem to find anything so far that could help me mask my CEL. I installed the AP midpipe and love the sound but that annoying light is on my dash lol. With the Cobb AP hopes gone for good I wondered if there are any other options I might have missed.


Thanks in advance guys!

get an adaptronic piggyback from Turblown for the S2 ... other than that, nothing you can do

You can buy a cheap obd2 scanner and just clear the cel every time it pops up, it doesn't come on very often.

You could take some electrical tape and just cover the CEL.

LoL i wondered when the electrical tape idea was going to pop up i used to do that on my old Eclipse haha... but seriously a cheap OBD2 scanner will clear it? just not for good right?


Thanks for the replies btw

Yes a cheap scanner can clear it, it will come back in some amount of miles though. Usually it takes a long time but it depends what type of driving you do I think.

Has anyone actually gotten one of these or any piggyback to work ? When we tried over the summer anything contact with the factory computer whatsoever would foul everything up. Only thing that would work is completely bypassing the factory computer, but you'd lose too much stuff like power steering , etc.

Tried this .... doesn't keep it clear very long for me. Couple days maybe best. I've tried virtually everything to clear this damn thing. Even tried one of those Electric simulators which was a waste.

I heard about using a defouler on the downstream O2 sensor from one of my buddies, but I've personally never tried it.
Works by getting less exhaust gases to the sensor, which shows a decrease in gases compared to the upstream O2, which gives it the "illusion" that the cat system is working fine.
http://mpcart.commercev3.com/images/jhook_defouler2.jpg

bcdjudo,
What were the exact problems with adaptronic? Power steering and whats else? I know you said there may have a had a solution. idk if your still going back to try again, but through all I have read, couldnt find complete answers.

doesn't work. we have one of the strictest ECU's for emissions. Use that and you will get a CEL showing that the O2 sensor is outside of the exhaust stream.

ask me how i know.

How do you know this?
I heard from a pal of mine that it works, however he drives a Civic.
I'm from California, I don't know how your emissions tests are.

lol ... ususally when someone says 'ask me how i know' it is a sarcastic way of saying 'i tried it and it didn't work'


So... i tried it and it didn't work

Like i said, our ECU has a very sensitive emissions check. Using a 'o2 spacer' or 'spark plug fouler' or 'J bung' may work, but the odds are very very slim. If you dont get the P0420, you will get another CEL telling you that the sensor is too far out of the exhaust stream.

Wow! Nice!

I actually was wondering about a defouler but oh well guess we're kinda SOL...unless I just use the generic scanner... a few days of the CEL gone why not.. lol

This may be a dumb question, but would the CEL come on if you have the stock cats but a greddy cat-back? Also, does a Series 1 exhaust fit a series 2? sorry im a newb with exhaust stuff..

no a CEL wouldn't come on if you have the stock cat and an aftermarket cat-back unless there was a malfunction in the system (this wouldn't be related to just swapping catbacks).

And although S1 exhausts "fit" in an s2, you may have some clearance issues as the tips on an s1 exhaust sit higher in relation so the muffler / intermediate pipe. I.e. if you are lowered, you may have an issue with intermediate pipe clearance.

I used the Access port and No more P0420. But sadly you guys are S2 and don't have access to that... Ive seen little cat like O2 sensor plugs not sure if they work though.. seem like a reasonable idea..

O2 Simulator Mini Cat Cel Fix best oxygen sensor simulator made.

Have any S2 owners tried this solution yet,does it work

https://www.rx8club.com/aftermarket-...ni-cat-229283/

By his wording it almost doesn't sound like he ever reset the cel to see if it worked but I'm sure he must have.

Trust me when i tell you, these or nothing like them (I've tried the electrical one s too) will work. Only thing that will since there's no accessport for us is a complete stand alone which i had on the car if some of you recall but had some other issues running it that we had to overcome. Will hopefully revisit that this spring.

Any updates on this topic
has any figured something out

Yes. Buy MazdaEdit and mask the CEL through the ECU.

.....

This might be a dumb idea, but what if u installed a resistor in the sensor wire going to the PCM? That way the sensor would still be in the exhaust stream and it would add the difference in voltage required.

It's not a simple voltage yes/no that the ECU is looking for. It's more complicated than that, and a simple resistor won't work. You would just get a CEL for the ECU not seeing the O2 sensor operating correctly.

:biggthump

Mazdaedit personal - not to pricey

Yup, and just to add, the PCM does do random rich-lean tests to ensure that the o2 sensor isn't fouled. The result of this test cannot easily be replicated via a resistor.

Really, so its not a PWM waveform that the sensor sends to the PCM? And the PCM isn't looking for a difference voltage between the two O2 sensors or a difference in the measured data sent from the sensor and the data stored in memory?

It's looking for a difference, but it's not looking for a difference like how many pieces of fruit are present in each basket:
http://www.lulusoso.com/upload/20120...uit_Basket.jpg


It's sending specific information and expecting a specific response, more like this:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...er_(CATTC).jpg



Maybe those are exaggerated a bit, but should serve the purpose.

Obviously more costly than a resistor, but it works and you also get to tune your engine for more powahhh :)

FYI, the code that you will throw with a fouler is usually P0421 as opposed to P0420. Once the Rich-Lean test kicks in, it will detect that although the o2 is spaced out and seeing less concentration of emissions, the ratio doesn't match what the ECU is expecting.

P0420 ftw!

So...Is there no other option other than an approx. $470 MazdaEdit or repeated code clearing or black tape?

well based on your sig, you have a 2005, so the other option would be a COBB

Thanks for the tips/advise/patience!
So, please tell me about a "COBB". What is it? What does/can it do? Where can I get it? And approx. cost?

THX, again!

Thanks, P.S.
I checked out the COBB and for what I want, I feel it is a little rich for my blood. To clear the CEL code, I did try the battery disconnect trick accompanied w/ having the switch on and turning the lights on and leaving it for about 15 min. Hooked it all back up, started it and no CEL. I realize that this is temporary but for my present needs, it will work for me. I'm tracking it at the end of the month at Blackhawk Farms near South Beloit, Ill. I'll be taking along a spare coil, additional oil (and checking it after each session) and all the tools I can fit in the truck and on the trailer. It certainly has been educational and am certain will continue to be. Thanks to all for the help to-date.

MR Goodwrench...what group are you going to Blackhawk with? Might bring mine out too.

Moliver, I'm running w/ the Northwoods Shelby Club. Last I heard, they were filling up. Where are you out of? I'm in Green Bay. First tracked mine in May at Gingerman in South Haven, MI. Had a great time till I dropped a coil and slugged the Cat! Excited to get it back on the track. Been a great learning experience.

interesting..we never had a CEL on our S2 with the Bhr midpipe

it was the catted version though which i hear helps to mask the CEL a little more

erm ... a cat will prevent a CEL ....

Correct, you will not get the CEL for 'no cat' when you have a cat installed.

Help
 

I have a 2010 rx8. I'm getting the lean/rich error after installing a AP midpipe. So the Mazdaedit software with the Tactrix Openport 2.0 will kill my CEL?! If so I'll buy the software and device but I want to be sure someone has used this and passed an inspection. I live in NC and all they check for is codes. So someone please give me some good news on this. I've been searching and this would be better then buying a cat and playing swap out for a day or two a year.

Correct, MazdaEdit can turn off the ECU's ability to throw CEL codes. See this thread for more info: https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-eng...daedit-239275/

It's a long thread, but it's a lot of discussion about what you can do, what you can't, the development challenges, etc... If you are getting a MazdaEdit, I highly recommend you read the entire thread.

Yep, at least two of us have successfully done this on an s2, and there are probably several more out there. It's actually pretty easy once you get the software registered :)

https://www.rx8club.com/series-ii-en...5/#post4531808

Tuning the beast gets a little more involved...

So. Ahh.. I did it. I have mazdaedit and I think I killed my cel. Not sure if I'll pass emissions but hell its worth a shot. :) The advantage of tuning my car I believe will be pretty interesting. I have a lot of research to do as I'm pretty blind on using the program. I get the jist of everything but I'm not gonna start just changing values to see cause and effect. lol.

Wow you guys are life savers, I placed my order for the openport and now I dont have to explain to my girl every time the CEL comes back on that its nothing to worry about lol

If you don't mask out particular CEL, make sure you check your CEL from time to time to make sure it's not something else...