Nissan Frontier Forum banner

Question about DT Headers...

2294 Views 10 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  Sanius
I am looking into purchasing a set of the headers and just was wondering, is the check engine light always on, thats what i heard earlier when they first became available, but not sure if it is true, thanks
1 - 11 of 11 Posts
I was told that it would always come on too. But man Ive only had it come on once after doing a fat burnout in the rain one day. I reset it with my reader and it hasnt come on ever since. Had the headers on for a couple of months with no check engine light except that one little time. Dont hold me to it though man, cause some people say theres come on. IDK. Might because I installed mine with all brand new gaskets, the right hardware, and anti-seize on the sensor. The right way. They've been holding up great and I love them. Here's my thread if you didnt see it man.

http://www.clubfrontier.org/forums/f11/my-4-cylinder-performance-thread-custom-intake-doug-thorley-headers-flowmaster-40-a-54714/
Yes, you will get a CEL since the O2 sensors are going to detect the absence of the 1st Cat. How often you get it depends on how you drive. I sometimes I got it after 10 miles of driving, sometimes after 50, sometimes right away after resetting it. There's no decrease in performance from that particular CEL, only the annoying orange light. The truck will continue to work in a normal mode.

Also, there's a pretty easy fix with sparkplug anti-foulers. I did that on my truck an I haven't gotten a CEL ever since.

Hope this helps!
Yes, you will get a CEL since the O2 sensors are going to detect the absence of the 1st Cat. How often you get it depends on how you drive. I sometimes I got it after 10 miles of driving, sometimes after 50, sometimes right away after resetting it. There's no decrease in performance from that particular CEL, only the annoying orange light. The truck will continue to work in a normal mode.

Also, there's a pretty easy fix with sparkplug anti-foulers. I did that on my truck an I haven't gotten a CEL ever since.

Hope this helps!
Well like I just said I never get the CEL and I have the DT headers. Also I dont know what you mean by how you drive depends on it. Cause I red line the sh*t out of my 4 banger and I drive it like crazy. I dont get the CEL? I know slytuna said he never got it either. Maybe its cause we both drive the crap out of our 4 bangers.
I wished I didn't get a CEL, that way I wouldn't have had to do any more modifications afterwards, but I did and most people that remove the cat get it as well.
From what I read some places (and I might be completely wrong), the ECU performs an emissions test after a certain driving pattern such cruising for 55mph for a while and then costing for 10 sec ( I don't know what the pattern for the Frontier is). Anyways, apparently you get the CEL after this test is done. I got the CEL at random intervals so Idk.

Maybe the way you drive your truck did in fact have something to do with it??
man I dont know thats weird. Mean Ive only gotten it that one random time and Ive had the header on there for a long time. I drive it just about every way possible. Sometimes really conservative, most of the time really fast. Freeways, hills, rain, offroad. Not sure why I dont get it. However, I did get it that one time, but just cleared it and never gotten it again. Im glad I dont have to deal with the light though. I like to now when I get a new CEL code for something. I guess its just luck of the draw. Maybe it could be year of the truck or something. Im an 06. Or it could be the fact that I have a custom intake, or that I have custom exhaust piping, or it could be about a million other things. I dont know man. It's weird though.
Also, there's a pretty easy fix with sparkplug anti-foulers. I did that on my truck an I haven't gotten a CEL ever since.

Hope this helps!


how did u get it to fit. on my truck i dont have the room to be able to mount an anti fouler in there the o2 sensor will hit my fire wall
Also, there's a pretty easy fix with sparkplug anti-foulers. I did that on my truck an I haven't gotten a CEL ever since.

Hope this helps!


how did u get it to fit. on my truck i dont have the room to be able to mount an anti fouler in there the o2 sensor will hit my fire wall
I had enough room to use 3 of them. Use the anti-fouler on the 2nd 02 hole, the one after the cat that was removed. The first O2 sensor is for the A/F ratio, you don't want to mess with that.
so your talking about the o2 sensor not connected to the header, the one after the 2nd cat? and that will solve my check engine problem? ALSO should i start with 3 anti foulers or should i start with one and go from there?
so your talking about the o2 sensor not connected to the header, the one after the 2nd cat? and that will solve my check engine problem? ALSO should i start with 3 anti foulers or should i start with one and go from there?
Yes, not the one that is on the header itself but the one right after it.
Start with two 2, that should do the trick.
i just put a hiflow cat bolted on right after the header with an O2 sensor built in the back of it...ever since no check engine light ...
1 - 11 of 11 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top