Cel p0436

[The Radium King]

ok. boxsters have three sections to the exhaust:

1 - headers
2 - mid-pipes
3 - muffler

boxsters also have two sets of 02 sensors:

1 - located on headers before any catalytic converters to monitor air/fuel mix and control engine
2- located after catalytic converters to monitor emissions (ie, to confirm cats are there and working); these produce a cel if the cats are gone of have stopped working.

97 to 99 cars have 1 set of cats located on the mid-pipes.
2000 + cars have 2 sets of cats; one set on the headers and one set on the mid-pipes.

so, on 2000 + cars you can delete the cats on the mid-pipes by putting 'test pipes' on and still have functioning cats on the headers; you will reduce the amount of restriction in your exhaust flow and not get a cel. these test pipes are just really expensive pipes with flanges. you can get this fabbed at a muffler shop no problem.

on a 97 to 99 car test pipes will cause a cel (they delete all cats in the system). in order to avoid a cel on these cars when deleting the cats you have to fool the o2 sensor or fool the computer.

note that the fvd product you link to is for 97-04 cars, so there is some mixed messaging in their ad content.

you can fool the o2 sensor by:

- just tywrapping it up under the car; it will sense clean air and think cats are working. this soln doesn't work for everyone, however.
- distancing them from the exhaust flow. there is a $150 product for this on the fvd website, or just use some spark plug anti-foulers for $8. again, this soln doesn't work for everyone.
- mini-cats. these are little cats just for the o2 sensor. very expensive and don't always work.

you can fool the ecu by:

- using a pst2 or piwis to push a euro (rest of world or 'row') flash onto your car. these flashes don't check for emissions.
- getting an aftermarket tune. expensive, $600+.