Midnight Koop

here is a pic of the spacer

Utahkompressor

Interesting...my kleemann cat does not have any spacer that looks like this!

casper_c230

From what I've read on the forums, you ought to get one. I guess there's no need though until/unless something goes wrong and your car starts throwing codes. I recently discovered that I installed mine on the upstream rather than the downstream where it's supposed to be installed (confirmed by Cory @ Kleemann last week when I called him on the phone).

The reason you may not have gotten the spacer is b/c I think it wasn't included in the first few sets. If you bought the header early on before the big crowd, you may have gotten an earlier model and will need to call Cory to send you the spacer (pic is exactly as what the above guy posted). Make sure Cory doesn't charge you for the part. It and shipping should be included as it was a redesign that should have been adopted into the original header.

I've only swapped the spacer from the upstream to the downstream for a few days now and so far so good. No codes, but then again it's only been less than a week. I'll know more as the weeks go on. I'll post if there's other codes. Otherwise assume that all is good.

Glyn M Ruck

Ah! clever - They are using a spacer on the downsteam O2 sensor to make it less sensitive.

infected

The defouler helps a ton but it isn't a 100% cure. Sometimes I get the 0420 code after a spirited drive so I keep a scanner in the car for convenience now. I would say it comes on once a month.

Glyn M Ruck

They call it a "defouler" do they? Interesting.

Midnight Koop

which scanner do you have? i've been shopping around for one... and am not sure if there are ones that are better than others for our cars

thx

infected

Just a scanguage. Nice and compact so it fits in the glove compartment next to the CD magazine.

springdriver1

Hey what is the price of the kleemann header?

Midnight Koop

great thanks... i just ordered one. looks pretty solid

casper_c230

I just wanted to provide an update to my situation in case anyone's following this thread and is having issues with codes on their Kleemann m271 header. I don't know enough about cars to know if these two things actually helped, but I figured it was better than spending money to rip out my header only to find out later that it isn't even the problem.

1. I changed out the upstream o2 sensor. Info here.

2. I discovered that I do have the spacer and indeed it was on the wrong sensor. I moved it from the upstream to the downstream per Kleemann's confirmation.

3. I replaced the coil in bank one (since that's what the code said). Remove engine cover carefully, remove the two screws holding down the coil and just swap. Easier than changing spark plugs and a single coil costs the same or cheaper, $37-42/apiece.

4. I bought spark plugs to replace too, but haven't done it. I got it b/c I figured it would be a cheap solution. My codes were reset though and I didn't want to do anything else that could possibly give me more codes or screw up the readiness codes getting the okay status. I had my smog due in a hurry and didn't want to do anything to compromise it. Plus I had swapped out spark plugs not that long ago anyway and things were looking good. If you haven't already reset the codes and haven't changed spark plugs in awhile, I'd do this first. Compared to everything else, it's fairly easy (although swapping out the coil was super easy too).

And now all is good! Hopefully no more codes will be thrown at me anytime soon. Good luck y'all.

Midnight Koop

i never had to replace any coils or plugs... but after i switched the spacer and replaced the upstream sensor... i reset using my new scangauge and no CEL's since.

what code did you get that hinted the coils need replacing?>

infected

Usually should be a misfire in one of the cylinders. P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304

Midnight Koop

thanks, i'll keep these handy

Midnight Koop

i'm not going to get my panties in a bunch over this one, but originally I was getting codes for the O2 sensors in addition to the P0420 code

now a couple months later, i got this again yesterday:

201D-001 Catalytic converter Effect is insufficient. [P0420]

Just cleared it using my Scangauge and will see if it reappears.

Since both my O2 sensors have been replaced AND the spacer is in the correct location (downstream of the Cat). What would be the next step in diagnosing this if the P0420 codes craps on me again?

thanks in advance

rockcrete

I had this problem years ago when I installed headers on an LT1 Z28, the check engine light would come on after cruising in 6th on the freeway. It was caused by the header radiating too much heat out and the cat not staying hot enough.

The cure is to get the header ceramic coated......

Midnight Koop

thanks for the advice...

unfortunately, removing this thing is an absolute pain in the ****... and i don't have a back-up car at the moment.

if its a heat transfer problem... then would it be possible that the seal between my header and cat is leaking?

i'll sneak a peak under the hood later and see if the bolts holding the two together are fastened tight.

rockcrete

You could always try header wrap - an exhaust leak, you would definitely hear.

Just to confirm - that O2 isolator goes AFTER the cat. It is pushing the O2 back out of the exhaust flow so that the after cat one doesn't see as much "dirty" exhaust going past and thus "thinks" your exhaust is cleaner.

They are usually used on WRX's when you put a catless downpipe on them.......

rockcrete

Hmmmm, just looking at the picture of their "cat" it doesn't look like it really contains that much of a catalyst - I think there is a possibility that it may just be too small / inefficient.......

Glyn M Ruck

I think that the Kleeman Cat is borderline on efficiency vs. the MB unit.

Midnight Koop

Been driving the ML430 for the past 2-3 months with the c230 collecting dust...

I have a 2nd new cat in my trunk ready to be replaced, but was holding off for another diagnosis.

Drove to the dealership earlier this week, but needed to be jumped. And my parking break stuck and wouldn't come undone by pulling the hand release... result is that it broke on the way over there (rusty breaks?).

$350+ charge later, I'm picking up my still malfunctioning car with a new parking break... and their ~3rd diagnosis of this issue is that SOMETHING is clogged downstream of the headers. They concluded this by driving the car and detaching the bolts holding the headers/CAT and the car drove fine (but loud).

Since I already have the 2nd new Kleeman CAT, I'm going to go ahead and replace it and see what happens. The large temp differential, and lack of CEL's is screwing with me... but maybe I haven't been driving it enough to trigger a CEL.

My other option is to also replace the Secondary CAT, which could be causing this as well, but replacement part is $1015 according to parts at MB dealer... and I'd like to avoid that. I can't think of any other physical causes of a clog because the only things left are the aftermarket resonator and the open chamber remus muffler.

Does anyone know aftermarket replacement options for the secondary CAT? (that won't throw a CEL)

Will post update after 2nd CAT is installed. If fixed, then I'm sending the old/new one back to Cory for testing and hopefully refund if it is defective.

infected

You don't want to just remove the secondary cat all together and replace it with a test-pipe? That may be my plan this season.

Glyn M Ruck

There is no O2 sensor after the "secondary cat" so you can do what you like with it.