New EMSpowered exhaust thread

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My only concern at this point is my check engine light comes on after 15-20 min of driving after I reset it and then it stays on until I reset it again. I'm pretty sure it must be due to the O2 sensors somehow, mainly because it would be too much of a coincidence that the light came on right after I exchanged the exhaust. I put new O2 sensors in last summer so I don't suspect they have gone bad but will be taking another look at the connections/wiring again to make sure I don't have an intermittent connection.

Unfortunately Autozone and Advance don't have ODBI meters, only ODBII so can't confirm the codes w/o going to a shop which I hesitate to do just to have them find out it is related to O2 sensors but may have to.

Very well could be the O2's. Both my trucks had the first O2 sensor go out almost exactly at 150k.

For checking the code, do the jumper trick. Some searching should net you the procedure.
 
Hey Guys, just thought I would jump in on this to warn any others looking at purchsing this kit. Don't do It, I waited 4 months to receive the exhaust kit without the gaskets, bolts and clamps, and with the incorrect post cat O2 sensor location. Baktash has refused to send the gaskets or refund the money that I have spent in completing the install.

As for the kit its self, it has a few kinks to be worked out as you can see from the threads concerning this kit. The issues I have had are Fit, O2 location, Vibration due to the kit bolts in without issolation rubber, overly loud and finally the high pitch whistle.:mad::crybaby:

My suggestion, find a local muffler shop and spend the extra money!!!

:cheers:
Hi Tim,
I never refused to issue you a refund for the hardware you purchased. I replied to you back on 4/14/2010 letting you know that our cost on the hardware is around $40 and that I'd issue you a refund of $50. And asked if you had paid more than that locally for the hardware and if so we'd reimburse you what you had paid. I never received a reply back from you.

The O2 sensor location post-cat was revised, and all of the folks which may have been effected by the incorrectly positioned O2 sensor port were emailed to see if theirs needed to be replaced. We have sent out several of the replacement pipes. I never received a reply back from you regarding your exhaust and the post-cat O2 sensor location. I'll call you here in a minute, from your post here I can only assume that you have not received any of these emails.
 
Have to side with ebagger on this one. As you can see by my experience there were a few things to work thru but Baktash was responsive and never pushed back. I think he genuinely wanted to see satisfaction.

Overall, I am fine with the sound and expected anything with the words "performance" to be a little on the loud side.

I think I have everything adjusted now that I don't hear or feel any vibration.

My only concern at this point is my check engine light comes on after 15-20 min of driving after I reset it and then it stays on until I reset it again. I'm pretty sure it must be due to the O2 sensors somehow, mainly because it would be too much of a coincidence that the light came on right after I exchanged the exhaust. I put new O2 sensors in last summer so I don't suspect they have gone bad but will be taking another look at the connections/wiring again to make sure I don't have an intermittent connection.

Unfortunately Autozone and Advance don't have ODBI meters, only ODBII so can't confirm the codes w/o going to a shop which I hesitate to do just to have them find out it is related to O2 sensors but may have to.
For pre-OBDII cars you don't need a code reader. It's pretty easy to check the codes, see here: Off-Road.Com - Toyota Tech - Diagnostic Trouble Codes
 
Wambo -- If you would like to retrofit an OEM resonator to the end of your exhaust to quiet it down a little, I still have the whole rear section of pipe/resonator/tail. If you need one send a PM.
 
Getting a code 26 which unfortunately points to a lot of things related to rich mixture, including the O2 sensors...

May be time for a new thread...but before leaving this one, is there a chance that a leak upstream (at the manifold) could be a possible cause? Seems it could possibly throw off the O2 readings. Guess that will be the first thing I'll check.
 
Getting a code 26 which unfortunately points to a lot of things related to rich mixture, including the O2 sensors...

May be time for a new thread...but before leaving this one, is there a chance that a leak upstream (at the manifold) could be a possible cause? Seems it could possibly throw off the O2 readings. Guess that will be the first thing I'll check.

Leak upstream (in the exhaust) I would think would cause a lean mixture, rather than rich.
 
Rich mixture certainly is not a problem of exhaust leak. I've had my fair share of them too.

Did you pull your EFI fuse for a spell after installing? I forgot if your truck has a MAF, but the first thing you could try is cleaning your MAF with electronics cleaner, reset your ECU (disconnect your battery for 5-10 minutes) then see what happens in a few weeks.
 
Running lean would certainly be more logical but didn't rule out that if things are out of whack then who knows what overcorrection the electronics might be doing. Just looking at the things I recently changed as a first step before tearing into other areas...

I did disconnect the battery again last night. Started up and ran for a few miles and filled with higher octane fuel. No light and ran much more smoothly but too early to say it's resolved. This is the 4th time I've reset things via battery disconnect and keeps returning to poor state after 15-20 miles. Have fingers crossed that it was just a coincidence that I was almost empty with poor fuel in tank or just because the truck wasn't run for a few weeks is the cause... Guess I'll know for sure later today.
 
If the truck runs decent after an ECU reset, but then poorly after the ECU relearns the parameters, that means that there is something that is giving the ECU poor data.

Basically after resetting the ECU, it's running on purely mapped values, ignoring most of the input that it receives. After a few trips, it starts to use the data from the O2 sensors, MAF, eft.

Bad O2 sensors would be high on my suspect list, but it could be a vacuum leak (and the ECU is dumping fuel to compensate), bad MAF, etc.
 
THanks EBag. Makes sense. Is there an easy way to validate O2 sensors? I've read a few write ups but doesn't look very straight forward. I have a DVM if there are some basic connections that can be validated.

If I unplugged them and the truck ran better with them unplugged would that confirm they are the issue? (I'm assuming if they are unplugged the ECU will rely on default values for the O2 readings).
 
THanks EBag. Makes sense. Is there an easy way to validate O2 sensors? I've read a few write ups but doesn't look very straight forward. I have a DVM if there are some basic connections that can be validated.

The FSM shows how to test them. You check for resistance. Not sure if ODB-I is the same as ODB-II.


If I unplugged them and the truck ran better with them unplugged would that confirm they are the issue? (I'm assuming if they are unplugged the ECU will rely on default values for the O2 readings).

I doubt it.
 
The FSM shows how to test them. You check for resistance. Not sure if ODB-I is the same as ODB-II.

Don't have an FSM (I know...) but did find some ref info. Resistance should be between 5 and 6.5 ohms (at 68 degrees F). Both of mine checked out to be 5.9 ohms (between 75-80 degrees today) so I'd say they have passed that test. Since this is using one of the heater connections my guess is this only verifies that the heating elements are OK. So I guess the voltage test will be another required indictor (haven't done this one yet since will require some to help keep the rpms up).

Took a drive, light was off on way to store but then back on again on the return trip...

Since this is off topic I'll just keep it short (but since I started this thread it isn't really highjacking...) or start another one.
 
zx9r- Did you use some silicone or copper seal upstream of the cats? Just a thought but its bad for O2 sensors, maybe test em even though they are newer?
 
zx9r- Did you use some silicone or copper seal upstream of the cats? Just a thought but its bad for O2 sensors, maybe test em even though they are newer?

I did use copper/silicone gasket seal around the O2 sensors gaskets. Not a lot and careful not to get any on the sensors themselves. I also used it at the manifold connection. Never heard of it being a bad thing. Is it temporary while it is still curing over time and maybe giving off vapors?
 
Checked into the sealer that I used (Permatex 81878 Sensor Safe Ultra Copper Hi Temp RTV). Claims to be O2 sensor safe so I'll eliminate that as a possibility for now.
 
Can anyone tell me where this exhaust attaches to the LC? I have a 97 header back system. I just got a system in, but no instructions with the hardware. I am assuming this will attach at 3 places: the manifold, bracket at the cat, and on to the frame at the tip. The brackets connected to the frame are salvageable, but the brackets connecting to the brackets going to the frame are not. I have two photos showing how severe the bracket connecting the cats and muffler look. Keep in mind these have been patch worked with spot wields until I get my beautiful EMS system on. Any help is appreciated.
IMGP0943.webp
IMGP0945.webp
 
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You will have the following connections:

- stock exhaust manifold to EMS downpipe;
- EMS downpipe to frame crossover pipe (the 2 flanges), and this includes a mounting bracket as seen below:
IMG_0896.JPG

- Crossover to rear section, and this includes one mount in the rear just above the rear axle iirc.

Your mounts look salvageable.
 
Thanks... Little_joe
I just spoke with Baktash. The hanger brackets should be trashed. Brackets on the frame should not be touched. Header back system ships with all hardware except these existing items need to be reused (header studs and locking nuts plus the bolts/nuts from O2 sensors). Good thing I have this guy's cell#. He always calls back promptly, but he should think about a install guide soon.
 
I've got a system waiting for install as well, do you guys think the o2 sensor bolts should be stainless as well? I live in the rust belt and cant stand the rust, but stainless is not as strong and has a tendency to bind up in my experience. thanks:)
 

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