034 02 Spacer with Mini Cat no worky

**dennisA4** · 08-03-2015 06:53 AM

Installed it on the Eurocode HFC (the port closer to the rear of the car) and 15 minutes into the first lazy drive the CEL comes on again.
Both the spacer and the 02 sensor are screwed in tight.
Any tips to make it work as advertised? Can't go stage 2 just yet.

**o1turbo30v** · 08-03-2015 07:57 AM

Nope, our ecu's are to smart for sensor spacers, i tried virtually everyone before going stage 2, non of them worked for more than three days. But it seems that it varies between cars, some people have good luck with spacers, i never did.

**?uestion** · 08-03-2015 09:15 AM

http://www.amazon.com/Dorman-42009-S...lug+non+fouler

Drill one out.
Screw on O2 sensor
Screw other on
Screw entire assembly into o2 bung

Works for all Bosh secondary 02 sensors.

8 dollar fix.

**034Motorsport** · 08-03-2015 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by dennisA4

Installed it on the Eurocode HFC (the port closer to the rear of the car) and 15 minutes into the first lazy drive the CEL comes on again.
Both the spacer and the 02 sensor are screwed in tight.
Any tips to make it work as advertised? Can't go stage 2 just yet.

What code(s) are you getting? The spacer with Mini-Cat works much better than a simple spacer due to the built-in catalyst element, and we've had customers use it on B8 A4s with test pipes.

IIRC, usually the catalyst below efficiency code caused by removing the stock cat takes more than 15 minutes of driving to pop up.

**inception** · 08-03-2015 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by dennisA4

Installed it on the Eurocode HFC (the port closer to the rear of the car) and 15 minutes into the first lazy drive the CEL comes on again.
Both the spacer and the 02 sensor are screwed in tight.
Any tips to make it work as advertised? Can't go stage 2 just yet.

I tried everything bro. Never got it to go away. tried many different things. Even the ROC Euro with a a mini cat. i had to go stage 2 until it finally went away.

**dennisA4** · 08-03-2015 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by 034Motorsport

What code(s) are you getting? The spacer with Mini-Cat works much better than a simple spacer due to the built-in catalyst element, and we've had customers use it on B8 A4s with test pipes.

IIRC, usually the catalyst below efficiency code caused by removing the stock cat takes more than 15 minutes of driving to pop up.

Here's the codes from today.

OBD2 - confirmed
P013F 02 sensor delayed response - lean to rich bank 1 sensor 2
P013B 02 sensor slow response - lean to rich bank 1 sensor 2

OBD2 - pending
P013F 02 sensor delayed response - lean to rich bank 1 sensor 2

OBD2 - permanent
P0420 Catalyst system efficiency below threshold bank 1
P013F 02 sensor delayed response - lean to rich bank 1 sensor 2
P013B 02 sensor slow response - lean to rich bank 1 sensor 2

Engine
P39C4
P39BE

And it was right around 15 minutes, but I wasn't timing it. Maybe it was 17 or 18? Point being it was fairly quick on my ride into work this morning.
The spacer was installed yesterday evening but I didn't drive the car afterwards. Just started it, let it run for 30 seconds and then turned it off.

**goreckless** · 08-03-2015 08:05 PM

I don't remember what code I was getting before I got Stage 2 but mine was a result of the spacer being TOO good. I had an ebay 90* spacer and the cat daddy mini-catalyst. There wasn't enough fumes reaching the sensor so it triggered the CEL. I then went Stage 2 and haven't had to deal with it since.

This might be your case if the spacer is working too well. P013E and P013F sound pretty familiar.

**dennisA4** · 08-04-2015 05:26 AM

Originally Posted by goreckless

I don't remember what code I was getting before I got Stage 2 but mine was a result of the spacer being TOO good. I had an ebay 90* spacer and the cat daddy mini-catalyst. There wasn't enough fumes reaching the sensor so it triggered the CEL. I then went Stage 2 and haven't had to deal with it since.

This might be your case if the spacer is working too well. P013E and P013F sound pretty familiar.

Interesting.
I got the codes before I installed the spacer, but I don't remember which ones they were. Thought they were the same but not sure.

Hopefully 034 can weigh in if they are familiar with these codes.

**o1turbo30v** · 08-04-2015 05:26 AM

Mine was P0420, and i go that with every possible o2 sensor spacer, roc-euro's, miltek, big daddys garage, etc, none of them worked.

**dennisA4** · 08-04-2015 07:07 AM

Cleared the codes before leaving for work this morning.
CEL was back on 14-15 minutes into the drive. I was purposely babying the car, too.
The P013F and P0420 codes.

**KFizz** · 08-04-2015 11:16 AM

I'm getting a CEL with my Roc-Euro as well. I even tried packing it full of Steel wool to increase the density of the mini-cat. Didn't work.

**dennisA4** · 08-04-2015 01:02 PM

CEL back on on 10 minutes again.
Are these things a scam? If I can't go 10 minutes without a CEL coming on, what's the point?

**o1turbo30v** · 08-04-2015 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by dennisA4

CEL back on on 10 minutes again.
Are these things a scam? If I can't go 10 minutes without a CEL coming on, what's the point?

Yes they are, they do not work well with stock programming.

**dennisA4** · 08-06-2015 07:05 AM

Ok, so last night I removed the spacer and went back to just the 02 sensor.
Drove for over an hour this morning and no CEL.
So what can we deduce from this?
I'm sure it will be back, probably pretty quickly during the next drive, but something is pretty consistent here.
With the spacer (with mini cat) in place, i get a CEL in less than 15 minutes.
Without the spacer, it goes quite a bit longer.
In the grand scheme, both suck. But do you think the cel with mini cat is creating the opposite problem of having no spacer at all? Not enough exhaust gasses or whatever reaching the sensor?

**blbroo** · 08-06-2015 07:10 AM

Originally Posted by dennisA4

Ok, so last night I removed the spacer and went back to just the 02 sensor.
But do you think the cel with mini cat is creating the opposite problem of having no spacer at all? Not enough exhaust gasses or whatever reaching the sensor?

Sounds like a logical answer. Try the spark plug non-fouler or a spacer without a mini-cat.

**dennisA4** · 08-06-2015 07:39 AM

Originally Posted by blbroo

Sounds like a logical answer. Try the spark plug non-fouler or a spacer without a mini-cat.

Yeah, it's cheap so i have the non-fouler coming already.
Will continue to update.

I was hoping to wait for the stage II tune till around xmas, to see if APR runs their sale.
My problem is I have to get my first inspection in October.

So my goal is to try and find a temp solution that can at least get me through an inspection.
And I know it takes a bit of time for the readiness code to clear.

**dennisA4** · 08-07-2015 07:08 AM

Ok so the cel finally came back on last night on the way home.
Had a total of about 1 hour and 20 mins of driving and around 45-50 miles. Reset it last night and again, made it into work this morning... around 50 minutes, 35 miles.
So things seem pretty consistent so far.
When I scanned for the codes last night, this was very interesting... the only code I had was the P0420 Catalyst system efficiency below threshold bank 1. No PO13F or PO13B.
Can anyone deduce anything from that? According the code descriptions I'm not getting any kind of "delayed response" so does that go along with my theory that the spacer with mini-cat is working TOO well?

And the readiness code was reset and ready to go when I scanned. So apparently I had gotten enough driving in between resets.
If I'm able to get things so that I can consistently get at least a couple hours of driving in between CELs, I should be able to pass an inspection, correct?

My non fowlers should come in today so i can mess with that this weekend hopefully.

**goreckless** · 08-07-2015 08:26 AM

Originally Posted by dennisA4

Yeah, it's cheap so i have the non-fouler coming already.
Will continue to update.

I was hoping to wait for the stage II tune till around xmas, to see if APR runs their sale.
My problem is I have to get my first inspection in October.

So my goal is to try and find a temp solution that can at least get me through an inspection.
And I know it takes a bit of time for the readiness code to clear.

What year is the car? I know the first year of inspections in NY are just safety checks and they don't look at emissions.

**dennisA4** · 08-07-2015 08:43 AM

2014. This will be my first inspection after the initial 2 year run.
Pretty sure they check emissions here in Houston regardless.

**dennisA4** · 08-11-2015 07:11 AM

So I received the non-foulers. Used a 1/2" drill bit to drill out one of them, although I think I may need to try a slightly larger bit, as the 02 sensor wouldn't thread in very far.
But I installed them on the HFC and I ended up with the same exact codes in the same amount of time as the original mini-cat spacer. About 14 minutes in to the first drive.

Then I pulled off the second non-fouler and just ran the one. This setup seems to give me the exact same results as running no spacer.
A little over an hour of driving and just the one P0420 code.

This morning I cleared it all, drove to work, no cel but checked for codes anyway.
Apparently, P0420 is a "PERMANENT CODE". I saw that below the temp P0420 codes but never re-checked after clearing.
All the other codes will clear but this permanent code is still there after rechecking.
Is there any way to clear this???

Next I want to try the regular Bosch style spacer with no mini-cat just to see what happens.

**Lockon_B7** · 08-11-2015 09:12 AM

I've had a bosch style spacer from 034 on my high flow for a week now with no issues.

**goreckless** · 08-11-2015 11:02 AM

Originally Posted by dennisA4

So I received the non-foulers. Used a 1/2" drill bit to drill out one of them, although I think I may need to try a slightly larger bit, as the 02 sensor wouldn't thread in very far.
But I installed them on the HFC and I ended up with the same exact codes in the same amount of time as the original mini-cat spacer. About 14 minutes in to the first drive.

Then I pulled off the second non-fouler and just ran the one. This setup seems to give me the exact same results as running no spacer.
A little over an hour of driving and just the one P0420 code.

This morning I cleared it all, drove to work, no cel but checked for codes anyway.
Apparently, P0420 is a "PERMANENT CODE". I saw that below the temp P0420 codes but never re-checked after clearing.
All the other codes will clear but this permanent code is still there after rechecking.
Is there any way to clear this???

Next I want to try the regular Bosch style spacer with no mini-cat just to see what happens.

Don't quote me but don't be alarmed. This code will probably clear when the ECU eventually sees everything as working correctly again.

Honestly I think you should just get the stage 2 tune. It is worth every penny to me and puts a smile on my face every time I hit the gas.

**inception** · 08-11-2015 02:17 PM

Originally Posted by dennisA4

So I received the non-foulers. Used a 1/2" drill bit to drill out one of them, although I think I may need to try a slightly larger bit, as the 02 sensor wouldn't thread in very far.
But I installed them on the HFC and I ended up with the same exact codes in the same amount of time as the original mini-cat spacer. About 14 minutes in to the first drive.

Then I pulled off the second non-fouler and just ran the one. This setup seems to give me the exact same results as running no spacer.
A little over an hour of driving and just the one P0420 code.

This morning I cleared it all, drove to work, no cel but checked for codes anyway.
Apparently, P0420 is a "PERMANENT CODE". I saw that below the temp P0420 codes but never re-checked after clearing.
All the other codes will clear but this permanent code is still there after rechecking.
Is there any way to clear this???

Next I want to try the regular Bosch style spacer with no mini-cat just to see what happens.

I tried everything bro. I could not get my CEL to clear. I had to get the stage 2. In my case they did not even have a tune for my car. i had to wait a year to get my tune and APR was the first to come up with a tune. Trust me some cars the mini cat , spacer or fouler works and for some it does not.I got tried and gave up.