i have a check engine light coming up for my test pipe p420 would you guys recomment a spark plug non fouler or a o2 simulator? does anyone have pics of either install?

 

These are NOT my photos but im unsure of who the owner is exzactly. But they do give some very good photos and i hope that they dont mind




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You now need to drill out 1 of the non foulers using a 1/2" drill bit. When finished this is what it will look like.




o2 Sensor inserted in the modified non fouler


Second, unmodified non fouler now installed on modified non fouler, then threaded into the downpipe
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i have also used an electronic O2 sim from ziptech and it worked really well also. id say try the sprk plug defouler first since its cheap and if that dont your spend the money on the electronic sim.

 

Did the same thing on my R. I'll post a picture of my install.

 

good i dea, how much are those?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RS93DA &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">good i dea, how much are those?</TD></TR></TABLE>

i havent bougth them in awhile i think they are around $2.99(give or take a dollar).

 

wrap the secondary o2 sensor in aluminum foil, then wrap electrical tape around that to keep water out. tuck it up in the hole or duct tape to chassis.

 

Now, the spark plug non fouler trick will eliminate a check engine light due to a bad cat converter? My check engine light is on because of a bad cat converter and I am going to attempt the spark plug non fouler trick. Has anyone done this? does it work?

 

itll fix a "catalyst system efficiency below threshold" code, but if you have a code for a bad O2 sensor, it may not

 

ok...but i was reading another site and as far as air/fuel ratio. By doing this will it not tamper or give me wrong ratios?

 

Also, I posted in the wrong section. I have a 1999 civic si - b16a2 -

 

AF ratios are read off the primary (upstream) o2 sensor. The secondary o2 (in the cat) reads the actual conversion in the cat. ie no cat no conversion...sets a code.
I have no exprience with this trickery, but I think it might work..
I am curious as to your results

 

It varies in terms of working from car to car.
For instance, sometimes, like toyotas, it rarely works on because of the high efficiency of california emissions.
but hey for a few bucks, you have nothing to lose

 

I just put sparkplug non foulers on my 99 2.4 cat. 02 sensor and have had no check engine light for over 100 miles. Hope that continues!

 

found this thread.. will this trick work just using 1 of the spark plug foulers? im wondering this because my o2 sensor is on top of the cat and im worried about having clearance issues.. i already might have 2 bang the floor up a little bit for the o2 sensor to clear with just using 1 of the spark plug foulers.. or do you apply the spark plug non foulers to the o2 sensor that is in the header? i seen at the top of the thread someone wrote apply to the one in the downpipe.. just wasnt sure if that was on a turbo car or not..

 

Remember the 02 sensors typically go bad anytime after 75k miles, so the sensor could be bad and giving you that error.

 

both of my o2 sensors are new. does anybody know whether it matters what o2 sensor the spark plug non foulers go on?

 

on my car, I just tied the secondary to the chassis due to the fact that my test pipe doesnt have an o2 bung. It hasnt set a light yet and ive been driving it like this for a few months.

 

both o2 sensors are new. does anybody know if it matters what o2 sensor you put the spark plug non foulers on?

 

You need to put it on the downstream (rear, after cat) O2 sensor. It's purpose is to check the efficiency of the Catalytic Converter.

I don't think the o2 sensor will fit in just one of the "non foulers".

 

your probably right about it not fitting in just 1 non fouler.. so what do i do at this point cause theres no way it will clear the floor board. and heres another question.. my secondary o2 sensor is not actually after the cat.. its right before the cat.. could that be another reason im throwin a code? the secondary o2 sensor is like maybe a foot away from the upstream one, then its followed by the cat.. the cat that's on there i believe is a universal one with a 3 inch pipe inlet welded to it for the header to fit..

 

thats your problem, the secondary o2 is seeing the same thing as the primary so the ecu thinks that your cat is not working. you need to either use the defouler, get an o2 bung welded on after the cat, or remove the secondary o2 from the exaust (leave it plugged in)
and tie it up to the chassis somewhere

 

I did this, except i didnt wrap it. It worked for a while then it threw code P0139 Secondary Heated Oxygen Sensor (Secondary HO2S) Slow Response. So i did the fowler trick, just a little different.

I was concerned about the same thing so i just used one fowler (part #42002 @ checkers). Heres some pics.


i cut that shield off the sensor.



then the fowler fit without drilling it.


slapped it right on nice and snug. The sensor does not exceed the fowler either and it fit under my chasis without it touching.

Hope this helps. Oh yea. The p0420 code came back once and i cleared it but 200 milez later no code.

 

Just did the non fouler trick on my civic. No more engine light.

 

Engine light came back on. Took off the non-foulers and put on new O2 sensor. So far so good.

 

i believe this just solved my problem... i had 2 new o2 sensors and a brand new cat.. new header gasket, header, header dounut, changed the plugs, and the next thing i heard could send a false signal if its not reading correctly is the engine temp thermostat. a guy referred me to that saying that even if the gauge is reading correctly on the dash, it can still be screweed up electronically and could send a false signal which would be the p0420. from what i hear, the code usually comes on between 30-70 miles and im at 76 right now. havent seen the check engine light off for more then 60 miles in the past 3 years. to hell with the damn p0420!