Garyzworld

'03 SL55. ECU has not been flashed. Is there a cure for this problem? Also, will the car pass emissions after the ECU flash?

coldwell

What is the code?

Garyzworld

I have no way of knowing that. Just says check engine.

coldwell

You need to go get the code read. Most shops will do it for free.
You should also consider buying a code reader

Garyzworld

Cool

shardul

iTrader: (1)

Rear 02 code will be present. After they are turned off the CEL will be off and the car will not pass emissions.

Nor Cal SL55

I know this is an old post, but can you expand on the reason for the CEL issue? Will MBH longtubes make this a permanent issue so car will not pass emissions as long as the headers are on?

skylolow

I'm almost certain you will not pass emissions with MBH's on without some other work being done. When they are installed your upper cats are removed which cause the rear O2 Sensors to give you the CEL. Someone maybe able to get creative with your exhaust system and add some performance cats to make it all work and pass emissions. Different states have different standards so you'd need to talk to some local performance shops to see what can be done. Maybe it ends up being impossible.

I believe there is another way to get rid of CEL without a tune. But I don't know why someone would spend money on MBH and not be tuning the car also. I think a large majority of tunes the tuners already bypass the the rear O2's regardless.

I will tell you the MBH headers make a difference. Easily as important as a tune/pulley upgrade. The car becomes much more responsive throughout the rev range. Never dyno'd back to back but I truly believe they do add a solid 40-50HP if not more with what most end up doing to there exhaust in conjunction with the headers. I currently run MBH through custom x-pipe straight to the stock mufflers. Its loud and mean with no drone. If you want it more civil but still a good jump in sound leave the resonators on. But if your dealing with Cali emissions I'm not really sure what you can do. Local performance shop should be able to help you.

Nor Cal SL55

Thanks shyolow - I see that MBH has high flow cats on their website with bung extensions for front O2 sensors. I'm hoping this will enable a car to pass emissions in California. Guess I need to call MBH to find out...

Noir230

Nor Cal,

Are your headers CARB compliant? If so, please let me know where you got them. I live in CA also and have been trying without success to find CARB approved headers because my smog guy told me that the car wouldn't pass with non-CARB headers.

Thanks,

Nor Cal SL55

I don't have headers - just been researching. I have not seen any CARB compliant headers for an SL55.

I have a California address where smog is not required. Lucky me, if I decide to go that route. The exhaust manifolds are hard to see in the SL and most smog facilities wouldn't even notice. Now the sound might raise their curiosity if a gutted system was in place.