Header Cars With Check Engine Light On. Are We Losing Power? What's The Fix? (NT)

[ACR Joe]

Header Cars With Check Engine Light On. Are We Losing Power? What\'s The Fix? (NT)

NT

 

[treynor]

Re: Header Cars With Check Engine Light On. Are We Losing Power? What\'s The Fix? (NT)

For a 2001 car, the fix is apparently TSB 18-011-01 -- your dealer should have the TSB on file within the next week. For 2000 cars, the fix is to use the MOPAR ECU.

When I get the 'check engine' light on my '01, I also see with the A/F meter that the engine runs rich at WOT. I haven't tried dynoing it in this condition, but it's a fair assumption that you're losing some power.

 

[unclgreggy]

Re: Header Cars With Check Engine Light On. Are We Losing Power? What\'s The Fix? (NT)

I actually have a quewstion in response to what I read. My check engine light is on but I assumed it was because i have no cats. could I have a problem?

 

[treynor]

Re: Header Cars With Check Engine Light On. Are We Losing Power? What\'s The Fix? (NT)

The trouble with driving around with a 'check engine' light is that you won't know when you have a real problem. You could solve your check engine light with a MOPAR ECU or (unconfirmed) with Hennessey's O2 sims.

You may or may not be losing any power from the code from the rear O2s which results from removing the rear cats. There's a different code we '00+ cars get for having headers, having to do with the front O2 sensor, and that one appears to change the mixture and thus costs power.

 

[Rich Carlson]

Re: Header Cars With Check Engine Light On. Are We Losing Power? What\'s The Fix? (NT)

Originally posted by treynor:
For a 2001 car, the fix is apparently TSB 18-011-01 -- your dealer should have the TSB on file within the next week. For 2000 cars, the fix is to use the MOPAR ECU.

I have posted this before, but I will do it again. This bulletin is for JTEC controllers, which includes trucks and Vipers. One part of the bulletin involves the Viper when it does a OBD II test for the O2 sensor heater performance. The problem is the controller sensitivity is wrong. So it will turn on the MIL light to quick. A reflash of the controller fixes the problem, nothing more.

 

[HogWhisperer]

Re: Header Cars With Check Engine Light On. Are We Losing Power? What\'s The Fix? (NT)

Rich,

What code would one expect in that instance? Could it manifest as a Rear O2 (Left & Right) bank code(s)?

Thanks!

 

[Steve 00RT/10]

Re: Header Cars With Check Engine Light On. Are We Losing Power? What\'s The Fix? (NT)

Rich,
Do 2000 Vipers have the JTEC controller? What is the correct procedure for re-flashing the controller?


Thanks-Steve

 

[Rich Carlson]

Re: Header Cars With Check Engine Light On. Are We Losing Power? What\'s The Fix? (NT)

I will answer Pauls and Steves question at the same time. From 1992 to 1995 all Vipers are equipped with a SBEC/VIC controller or PCM if you wish. An SBEC (single board enine controller) comes off the shelf from engineering for pass car and truck. Only one problem, it only has enough driver circuits for a maximum of 8 cylinders. So enter the VIC (Viper ignition controller) which allows the two controllers to handle 10 cylinders via data link circuits. Next phase change came in 1996 for Viper. The truck side of town had designed a new controller for the all ready released V-10 truck package called JTEC (Jeep Truck engine controller). Soooo, because in 1996 OBD II was to be released, and the complexity of the programs and the 10 cylinders could be handled by one controller, the switch was made. All reflashing of conrollers is done via the DRB II or DRB III. The main reason a reflash is done, is because of an emission or driveability issue.
Such is TSB 18-11-01 which is generating code P0141 for the O2 heater performance. Rear O2 codes could be P0151, P0152, P0153, P0154, P0155, P0157, P0158, P0159, P0160, P0161 depending if it the right/left O2 and what test it fails. Hope this helps.