Test Pipe p0420 fix?

[StratJohn]

Tomorrow will not require any code- I'll just be changing the website price directly. As for shipping, I guess I can sweeten the deal- as long as you're stateside and not ordering 300 of them, I'll ship them for $5 flat. For that, we'll use a code: in the notes and instructions box, type "AZ B6 A4 Flat 5" and then ignore the cart price. I'll take care of it.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

[StratJohn]

Sometimes it pays to hesitate. Perfect, now I'm in. Someone post in this thread tomorrow so I get a reminder.

Prices are up til midnight tonight. $25 for either spacer. http://www.stratmosphere.com/category/12

[vteckiller2000]

Ordered.

[DPDISXR4Ti]

Ordered one of each. That way I don't have to decide which one might fit better. :)

Herein concludes my Black Friday shopping. :D

[waldo1324]

Ordered one of each. That way I don't have to decide which one might fit better. :)

Herein concludes my Black Friday shopping. :D

DAM ! i forgot to order one. ill buy whatever one doesnt work.

[DPDISXR4Ti]

DAM ! i forgot to order one. ill buy whatever one doesnt work.

They're still listed at $25. Purchase now before John reads this!

[StratJohn]

I switched the pricing back for cybersexxy monday! get it while it's hot. til 4pm eastern!

[vteckiller2000]

Got my spacer today. I just have to say: John, this is a very big box for this tiny spacer!

[Kevin117s5]

Got my spacer today. I just have to say: John, this is a very big box for this tiny spacer!

got mine yesterday with a big box? was that the flat rate shipping?

[StratJohn]

They were all flat rate- and yeah they're all kinda big boxes. I have had too many issues with UPS losing small boxes. Missed deliveries because the small boxes get stuck in corners?

Nobody puts Boxes in the corner.

[bigdadi]

I can report success on bigdaddiesgarage mini cat for P0421, P0431.
My A6 has 2 Pre-cat & 2 post cat sensors, total of 4. P0421 is for pax side, P0431 is for driver side.
Don't know about P0420 though, are they same?

[old guy]

I can report success on bigdaddiesgarage mini cat for P0421, P0431.
My A6 has 2 Pre-cat & 2 post cat sensors, total of 4. P0421 is for pax side, P0431 is for driver side.
Don't know about P0420 though, are they same?

Yep. If you only have one bank it's a P0420.

[vteckiller2000]

For the record, I have been driving with the spacer for almost two weeks and almost a thousand miles and no code.

I used the 90 degree one.

[DPDISXR4Ti]

For the record, I have been driving with the spacer for almost two weeks and almost a thousand miles and no code.

I used the 90 degree one.

I used the straight mini-cat one and set a code within about 50 miles. Wasn't expecting that as I figured this was the "holy grail" of spacers. I haven't pulled the codes yet - I'm wondering if it might be the one for inadequate flow.

[StratJohn]

I used the straight mini-cat one and set a code within about 50 miles. Wasn't expecting that as I figured this was the "holy grail" of spacers. I haven't pulled the codes yet - I'm wondering if it might be the one for inadequate flow.

Pull that code and check it out when you can!

[waldo1324]

I used the straight mini-cat one and set a code within about 50 miles. Wasn't expecting that as I figured this was the "holy grail" of spacers. I haven't pulled the codes yet - I'm wondering if it might be the one for inadequate flow.

aw man! yah please post the if its the flow.

[DPDISXR4Ti]

I used the straight mini-cat one and set a code within about 50 miles. Wasn't expecting that as I figured this was the "holy grail" of spacers. I haven't pulled the codes yet - I'm wondering if it might be the one for inadequate flow.

I haven't had a chance to pull codes yet - a friend has the VAG-COM and my generic OBD2 reader has gone missing. BUT, driving home yesterday from holiday travel (all off-road of course), I've noticed that my CEL has gone away.

Old codes do stay stored for a bit, right?

Any way, didn't want anyone to think I had left this thread hanging - I will report back with data once I have it.

[waldo1324]

I haven't had a chance to pull codes yet - a friend has the VAG-COM and my generic OBD2 reader has gone missing. BUT, driving home yesterday from holiday travel (all off-road of course), I've noticed that my CEL has gone away.

Old codes do stay stored for a bit, right?

Any way, didn't want anyone to think I had left this thread hanging - I will report back with data once I have it.

they sstay stored forever till you clear, right?
but your CEL wil turn off after x amount of cycles.

autozone will pully pull them little codies for you free.

[n7plus1]

its not an A4, but my wifes beetle, teh cat when out, its a 2.0l and the cat and header is all 1 fucking piece...so, eff that. its an aftermarket cat on it already too, i think vw had problems with them....

anyway. i got a spacer that looks like this and the CEL went right away....just an fyi. i ran a regular plug defouler on my old acura with no issues as well...gl guys



^thats been on since the summer and no CEL since...

[POPO]

I have had problems with the ECU reaching readiness in all areas and have not been able to pass NJ emmisions testing. I just ordered the mini-cat and will give it a shot. Once I have it installed, i'll try to do the emmisions test again and post what happens. Hopefully this is the solution.

[POPO]

I got my 90* mini cat installed, reset the computer, and taking a 100 mi drive to see if the ecu passes the readiness tests. I'm going to get my inspection done again tomoro and will let you all know how I made out.

[POPO]

Well, I failed again due to the "catalytic converter" not passing the readiness test.

[DPDISXR4Ti]

I used the straight mini-cat one and set a code within about 50 miles. Wasn't expecting that as I figured this was the "holy grail" of spacers. I haven't pulled the codes yet - I'm wondering if it might be the one for inadequate flow.

Finally got a chance to pull codes and indeed it's the P0420. The CEL had actually gone off for several weeks but then came back again a couple days ago. It would seem I'm on the ragged edge of pass/fail with the straight mini-cat. Maybe I should switch over to the 90-degree.

The other thing I've read is that the dealer can re-flash the PCM, and it sounds like perhaps there's a little more efficiency latitude with the later factory tune - can anyone confirm or deny that's the case?

[north door]

I installed the optional spacer available with the 034 HFC (year ago?). This goes on the second o2 sensor. Tonight I checked codes and the P0420 pops up. Is the 90 deg spacer more likely to eliminate this code?

[vteckiller2000]

Mine did.

[DPDISXR4Ti]

Tonight I checked codes and the P0420 pops up. Is the 90 deg spacer more likely to eliminate this code?

There seems to be some evidence suggesting that the 90-degree spacer might be more effective than the straight one, but if you look ^^^ up a couple posts you'll see that someone was still getting a code with the 90-degree mini cat. I suppose another option is using one of those spacers along with the mini cat.

[StratJohn]

DPDISXR4Ti, I'm not sure about the later tunes personally.

north door, it seems that the sensors are situationally effective- I am wondering if this has to do with test pipe layout, HFC layout, like the position and construction of the sensor bungs themselves.

Since the 90* has two adjustments (depth, and angle), it effectively has way more room for install error. Not calling anyone out, I'm simply stating that the simplicity of the straight pretty much means that it'll work, or not work. With the 90*, we've seen some that were not tight enough at the joints, thus leaked, thus threw codes. But the other thing to keep in mind is the position of the 90* piece- ideally, it should be oriented vertically, or at least have some vertical "tip" to it, to prevent condensation from forming in there. That'll skew the results as well. I popped one apart the other day on a car that we had no performed the install on, and liquid came out of the O2 sensor.. that ain't good. That being said, I've openly stated and requested to hear of any issues, so that we can help narrow down which sensor works best for which applications. Also, anyone wanting to swap can drop me a line, if they think the other style spacer would work better

What's everyone's set up?

[waldo1324]

Im trying to pirate my buddies lift so i can get my damn tp in finally...im thinking ill try the 90 or the straight w/ a nonfouler spacer. Who wants to sell me their extra mini-cat???

[DPDISXR4Ti]

What's everyone's set up?

I'm pretty much bone stock early '02 (Dec '01 build) 5-speed Quattro. I cleared codes yesterday and drove about 40 miles today - no CEL. I suspect it will return ...and then go away again ...rinse, lather, repeat. I'll get a better baseline of data before trying the angled one.

[tyroneshoelaces]

I bought the straight one from Strat, in a 3 inch ECS test pipe. Around 2 months in and no code P0420. All good here!

[DPDISXR4Ti]

My CEL has been staying lit most of the time so yesterday I decided to replace my straight mini-cat spacer with the 90-degree one. Codes cleared; I'll report back once I've got some miles on this configuration.

[igo4uga0586]

What if you relocated the rear o2 sensor up into the air box? This would let it receive clean air and should read a value lower than that of the front o2 sensor?

[DPDISXR4Ti]

What if you relocated the rear o2 sensor up into the air box? This would let it receive clean air and should read a value lower than that of the front o2 sensor?

I guess that would address the flow requirement, but I suspect the PCM would recognize intake air as being "too clean"; cleaner than a catalyst could possibly make it.

[igo4uga0586]

I guess that would address the flow requirement, but I suspect the PCM would recognize intake air as being "too clean"; cleaner than a catalyst could possibly make it.

I wonder this... anyone know?

[old guy]

I wonder this... anyone know?

Nope. There is more to it than just measuring "clean air". The ECM monitors both sensors and based upon changes in the front sensor reading it "expects" to see certain reactions from the downstream sensor. For example: under certain conditions the ECM will intentionally change the A/F mixture as part of a test on the cat as well as the rear O2 sensor performance.

[igo4uga0586]

Sneaky sneak ecm. So since it does this testing how does it not always throw a light when using a j bung since there is no cat there?

[old guy]

By getting it out of the direct stream it's still getting the heat and some of the exhaust gas mix. Usually but not always it's enough to "fool" the ECM.

[DPDISXR4Ti]

So far no CEL, but I've only got one ~25 mile trip on the car since making the change.

On a somewhat related note, does anyone know what happened to stratmosphere? I sent a PM to John with no response and the web-site is down.

[daihashi]

I run the RAI spacer.. No codes since I installed it many months ago.

Only went test pipe because I had a completely dead/plugged cat and was broke. If I had the chance to do it again I'd go HFC. My car doesn't stink like some report but I do have soot on my exhaust tips.

Sent while taking an "on the clock dump" using Tapatalk 2.

[old guy]

So far no CEL, but I've only got one ~25 mile trip on the car since making the change.

On a somewhat related note, does anyone know what happened to stratmosphere? I sent a PM to John with no response and the web-site is down.

They shut down several months ago.