What To Do? (catlees, Custome Tune)

hy_69 · January 20, 2011

ok.. so there may be a lot of threads similar to this one but none cleared my doubt so here it goes... i bought a 99 silverado 4x4, ext cab with the 5.3L... it has k&n CAI, long tube headders, flowmaster catback, 35" tires, and not sure wich gear ratio... i think 4.10 all i know is they arent the stock ones previous owner changed them... i had my cats removes cause they were clogged and i live in mexico so no one cares about cats here! in replacement of the cats the "muffler guy" putted a 3" tube piece (15" in long replacing just the cat leaving everything else the same) in to the current 2.5" y-pipe saying it will have more flow! my SES light came on! with the cats codes... not a surprise... was thinking about getting some o2 sims but the seem like a waste of money i should have my truck tuned.. the guy that sold me the truck told me it has a custom tune! cause it shifts all the way to 6k rpm... but every day after driving for 5-10miles my abs/park brake light comes on! and my speedometer is all mess up! it says im doing 65mph at 2k rpm when i'm actually doing like 58-60 (according to the gps)...ohh and i forgot to mention that after removing the cats! at higher rpms i can feel the truck less restricted = more power... but when launching it.. it feels with less torque...

is it beacuse of the 3" wide pieces?? should i remove them and put some 2.5" or 2.25" or some sort of muffler there to improve compression or something like that??? i dont want to put hi-flow cats... just wondering if there is a way to correctly remove the cats cause i dont think putting a wider tube is the best way to do it....

is there a programmer that can correct my speedo, fix the abs/park brake light, and tune the after cat o2 sensor or do i have to get a custom tune? i hate seeing all the lights on in my cluster (SES, ABS, P.Brake) it gives me the feeling like my truck is about to fail on me! anyway! i live in mexico so having a custom tune is not really much of a choice for me! no where to have one here.. thats why i was thinking maybe a programmer could solve my problems?

trying to have the truck a little modded with a little extra power running like it should with no problems or SES ligths!! so... what to do with the y-pipe? get a programmer? light some matches into the gas tank? ...any help at all about what to do... i'll really appreciate it... thanks in advance!

EDIT: oohh btw my truck has 119k miles... i installed new plugs and fuel filter... dont know how old the wires and the o2 sensors are.. maybe they're 119k miles old! should i replace them???

Wingnut · January 20, 2011

I wouldn't worry about the wiring to the 02's unless that's the reason you're getting a failed code.

I don't know much about handheld tuners, but I don't think you can tune out the rear 02's with them...You might be stuck with a mail order tune.

It sounds like the guy either didn't have a tune, or he pulled it out, because the ABS lighting up can be caused by the tire/gear/etc changes if I'm not mistaken.

Sounds to me like you might be a good candidate for the Autocal stuff from Blackbear.

hy_69 · January 20, 2011

I wouldn't worry about the wiring to the 02's unless that's the reason you're getting a failed code.

I don't know much about handheld tuners, but I don't think you can tune out the rear 02's with them...You might be stuck with a mail order tune.

It sounds like the guy either didn't have a tune, or he pulled it out, because the ABS lighting up can be caused by the tire/gear/etc changes if I'm not mistaken.

Sounds to me like you might be a good candidate for the Autocal stuff from Blackbear.

yes! i'm pretty sure that my abs/p.brake comes on because of the tire/gears.... ok so it sounds like autocal is what i need to do to get rid of all my cluster's lights! a little expensive tho... so if i am going to spend that amount of money! i gotta make sure exactly what gears does my truck has right? is there a simple, not having to dissemble anything, not having to spend money, way to do that?

and what about the muffler thing they did to it? does the 3" tube replacing the cat in a 2.5" tube affects it negatively? do i change the 3" piece for a 2.5" or put a smaller one to help engines compression?? any suggestions about that? cause that can be a cheap and quick fix i can do this week.. getting the autocal will take me a while but i think it is definitely worth the money!

hy_69 · January 20, 2011

I wouldn't worry about the wiring to the 02's unless that's the reason you're getting a failed code.

ohh i didn't mean the o2 wires.. i meant the plugs wires.... and the o2 sensor.. i've read that with time the o2 sensors get like lazy and don't work as they should but not enough to throw a code!

renegadeking · January 22, 2011

I wouldn't worry about the wiring to the 02's unless that's the reason you're getting a failed code.

ohh i didn't mean the o2 wires.. i meant the plugs wires.... and the o2 sensor.. i've read that with time the o2 sensors get like lazy and don't work as they should but not enough to throw a code!

i believe the 3'' is stock. thats what size the cats are. you did not lose torque because of the cats. you lost the torque because of the long tube headers. i have LT headers on mine and i lost torque but i regained most of it with the custom tune. with cats out and LT headers you need a custom tune. the handheld programers won't get rid of the cat senors. they got rid of that a long time ago. For custom tunes black bear makes great tunes. Diablew (you need the predator of trinity handheld) makes great tunes thats what i have. very quick and painless system he has. i know there are others like Wheatly or wait4me and others that i can't remember right now. diablew tune you go buy there handheld programmer and then you email data logs and he emails you a new tune. you can calibrate you speedo, clusters, tires, gears with the handheld before you get the tune.

as far as the gears go, i believe the only way to figure out is ask the previous owner, if he doesn't know pull out the wrenches.

hope this helps

hy_69 · January 22, 2011

yeah i think i'm going to buy an autocal black bear... as soon as i come up with the money and the gears ill find out in about 10 days.. cause my diff is making a weird noise every time my truck starts moving :S i hope its nothing serious! i took it to a shop today to see where the sound is coming from! and its from inside the diff! the guy told me that the truck has too much lift! so the diff rotates or something like that! he told me i need to install some kind of bars that go from the chassis to the axle to prevent the diff from rotating, but they look so damn ugly and mess up all the ground clearance! :S so who knows! first ill fix the differential lets see how that goes! and find out what gears i'm i running.. i'm pretty sure they're 4.10.. then i'll start saving some money to get an autocal black bear! or something similar but cheaper! to fix all my other problems! and of course your comment helps! thanks! any comments are appreciated! i'll check out the diablew programmer! and compare it with black bear! price/functionality and see which one is better for my truck...

renegadeking · January 22, 2011

yeah i think i'm going to buy an autocal black bear... as soon as i come up with the money and the gears ill find out in about 10 days.. cause my diff is making a weird noise every time my truck starts moving :S i hope its nothing serious! i took it to a shop today to see where the sound is coming from! and its from inside the diff! the guy told me that the truck has too much lift! so the diff rotates or something like that! he told me i need to install some kind of bars that go from the chassis to the axle to prevent the diff from rotating, but they look so damn ugly and mess up all the ground clearance! :S so who knows! first ill fix the differential lets see how that goes! and find out what gears i'm i running.. i'm pretty sure they're 4.10.. then i'll start saving some money to get an autocal black bear! or something similar but cheaper! to fix all my other problems! and of course your comment helps! thanks! any comments are appreciated! i'll check out the diablew programmer! and compare it with black bear! price/functionality and see which one is better for my truck...

for the diablew tune you have to buy the diablo handheld programer and then buy the tune. tune in $105 dollars and im not sure about the programmer. 06montecarloSS (lew) is diablew. he is a great guy.

does you diff sound like a clunk as soon as you move. or a wine, its probably about $1000 dollar bill. i don't now what is wrong but my friends 2002 did it and it cost him about $1000 bucks.

06MonteSS · January 22, 2011

you can get the diablosport Predator brand new, for $279 from marylandspeed.com... and the pc interface kit (usb cable and power adapter) is $30.... so the total would be $309... and they offer free shipping.....

hy_69 · January 22, 2011

yeah i think i'm going to buy an autocal black bear... as soon as i come up with the money and the gears ill find out in about 10 days.. cause my diff is making a weird noise every time my truck starts moving :S i hope its nothing serious! i took it to a shop today to see where the sound is coming from! and its from inside the diff! the guy told me that the truck has too much lift! so the diff rotates or something like that! he told me i need to install some kind of bars that go from the chassis to the axle to prevent the diff from rotating, but they look so damn ugly and mess up all the ground clearance! :S so who knows! first ill fix the differential lets see how that goes! and find out what gears i'm i running.. i'm pretty sure they're 4.10.. then i'll start saving some money to get an autocal black bear! or something similar but cheaper! to fix all my other problems! and of course your comment helps! thanks! any comments are appreciated! i'll check out the diablew programmer! and compare it with black bear! price/functionality and see which one is better for my truck...

for the diablew tune you have to buy the diablo handheld programer and then buy the tune. tune in $105 dollars and im not sure about the programmer. 06montecarloSS (lew) is diablew. he is a great guy.

does you diff sound like a clunk as soon as you move. or a wine, its probably about $1000 dollar bill. i don't now what is wrong but my friends 2002 did it and it cost him about $1000 bucks.

:O $1000 bill? OMG! it is more like a clunk as soon as i move! firs the guy thought it was the joints between the diff and the driveshaft! but then when shifting into D and R he saw that the driveshaft spins more than it should! since the truck isn't moving! and when giving it gas! it makes that "clunk"! and he said its from inside the diff! :S does this means i'll have to get a new diff or something like that? :S

[email protected] · January 22, 2011

If the diff rotates like the mechanic said when you put it in gear, then you have serious axle wrap and you need to lower it some or get some track bars like he suggested or you will cause serious damage.My guess is if you've had axle wrap that long you've worn out the u joint and it should replaced right away before it lets go and slings the driveshaft potentially ruining the tranny.

Wingnut · January 25, 2011

yeah i think i'm going to buy an autocal black bear... as soon as i come up with the money and the gears ill find out in about 10 days.. cause my diff is making a weird noise every time my truck starts moving :S i hope its nothing serious! i took it to a shop today to see where the sound is coming from! and its from inside the diff! the guy told me that the truck has too much lift! so the diff rotates or something like that! he told me i need to install some kind of bars that go from the chassis to the axle to prevent the diff from rotating, but they look so damn ugly and mess up all the ground clearance! :S so who knows! first ill fix the differential lets see how that goes! and find out what gears i'm i running.. i'm pretty sure they're 4.10.. then i'll start saving some money to get an autocal black bear! or something similar but cheaper! to fix all my other problems! and of course your comment helps! thanks! any comments are appreciated! i'll check out the diablew programmer! and compare it with black bear! price/functionality and see which one is better for my truck...

for the diablew tune you have to buy the diablo handheld programer and then buy the tune. tune in $105 dollars and im not sure about the programmer. 06montecarloSS (lew) is diablew. he is a great guy.

does you diff sound like a clunk as soon as you move. or a wine, its probably about $1000 dollar bill. i don't now what is wrong but my friends 2002 did it and it cost him about $1000 bucks.

:O $1000 bill? OMG! it is more like a clunk as soon as i move! firs the guy thought it was the joints between the diff and the driveshaft! but then when shifting into D and R he saw that the driveshaft spins more than it should! since the truck isn't moving! and when giving it gas! it makes that "clunk"! and he said its from inside the diff! :S does this means i'll have to get a new diff or something like that? :S

You might just have a slip-yoke binding problem. Grease your slip-yoke and I bet it goes away.

matsrat · February 4, 2011

to get around having no cats. buy some sparkplug foulers. basically you drill out the fouler to .500inch so the o2 just fits insidethe fouler. what it does is give the o2 very little exhaust input cause it moves it out of the exhaust flow. try googling it. will explain better than i can. can be bought at napa or any auto parts store.http://www.amazon.com/Dorman-HELP-42006-Spark-Non-Fouler/dp/B000BYEQZ0 what it looks like.

hy_69 · February 4, 2011

to get around having no cats. buy some sparkplug foulers. basically you drill out the fouler to .500inch so the o2 just fits insidethe fouler. what it does is give the o2 very little exhaust input cause it moves it out of the exhaust flow. try googling it. will explain better than i can. can be bought at napa or any auto parts store.http://www.amazon.com/Dorman-HELP-42006-Spark-Non-Fouler/dp/B000BYEQZ0 what it looks like.

so do i do that to the first o2 sensor (the one in the headder before the cat) or the 2nd o2 sensor (the one after the cat) ??? cause i googled it and i read a thread about doing this to the first sensor the one in the exhaust manifold to "improve" throttle response and mpg... but my guess is i have to do this to the 2nd one to prevent the SES light! right? or am i getting this wrong?

EDIT: nevermind my question! kept reading and find out that it goes after the cat... went in the morning to autozone bought the sparkplugs non foulers... did the installation... reseted my SES light... waiting to see what happens next... this is a good way to avoid the annoying SES light just for a while until i save up for a blackbear autocal.. was going to order one this week but last weekend i found out that i had to rebuilt my transmission so i spent like $700dlls on that! got my truck back yesterday! so i have to start saving up some money again to get the blackbear autocal

hy_69 · February 5, 2011

to get around having no cats. buy some sparkplug foulers. basically you drill out the fouler to .500inch so the o2 just fits insidethe fouler. what it does is give the o2 very little exhaust input cause it moves it out of the exhaust flow. try googling it. will explain better than i can. can be bought at napa or any auto parts store.http://www.amazon.com/Dorman-HELP-42006-Spark-Non-Fouler/dp/B000BYEQZ0 what it looks like.

so do i do that to the first o2 sensor (the one in the headder before the cat) or the 2nd o2 sensor (the one after the cat) ??? cause i googled it and i read a thread about doing this to the first sensor the one in the exhaust manifold to "improve" throttle response and mpg... but my guess is i have to do this to the 2nd one to prevent the SES light! right? or am i getting this wrong?

EDIT: nevermind my question! kept reading and find out that it goes after the cat... went in the morning to autozone bought the sparkplugs non foulers... did the installation... reseted my SES light... waiting to see what happens next... this is a good way to avoid the annoying SES light just for a while until i save up for a blackbear autocal.. was going to order one this week but last weekend i found out that i had to rebuilt my transmission so i spent like $700dlls on that! got my truck back yesterday! so i have to start saving up some money again to get the blackbear autocal

uhmm no luck with the non foulers... :S just got my SES light on! i'm pretty sure its because of the o2 sensors... tomorrow ill go and verify it....

renegadeking · February 6, 2011

to get around having no cats. buy some sparkplug foulers. basically you drill out the fouler to .500inch so the o2 just fits insidethe fouler. what it does is give the o2 very little exhaust input cause it moves it out of the exhaust flow. try googling it. will explain better than i can. can be bought at napa or any auto parts store.http://www.amazon.com/Dorman-HELP-42006-Spark-Non-Fouler/dp/B000BYEQZ0 what it looks like.

so do i do that to the first o2 sensor (the one in the headder before the cat) or the 2nd o2 sensor (the one after the cat) ??? cause i googled it and i read a thread about doing this to the first sensor the one in the exhaust manifold to "improve" throttle response and mpg... but my guess is i have to do this to the 2nd one to prevent the SES light! right? or am i getting this wrong?

EDIT: nevermind my question! kept reading and find out that it goes after the cat... went in the morning to autozone bought the sparkplugs non foulers... did the installation... reseted my SES light... waiting to see what happens next... this is a good way to avoid the annoying SES light just for a while until i save up for a blackbear autocal.. was going to order one this week but last weekend i found out that i had to rebuilt my transmission so i spent like $700dlls on that! got my truck back yesterday! so i have to start saving up some money again to get the blackbear autocal

uhmm no luck with the non foulers... :S just got my SES light on! i'm pretty sure its because of the o2 sensors... tomorrow ill go and verify it....

those foulers only work sometimes. i know some people that were successful but i put them on my truck and no luck. a tune will probably be the only way out for you.