KOOK "2" header install causing serious issue?

MP3BOOSTED · 09-25-2017, 04:52 AM

Exactly 3:30 AM and I am just at a lost, just looking for feedback and areas to check so when I get up in the morning (if I can sleep) I can look around.

So today I installed the KOOK "2" inch headers with off road connection pipes, driver side I needed to remove the steering wheel shaft, didn't remove spark plugs but removed the wires, with the skid plate removed the header went in perfectly. I believe I disconnected just one hose from the top of the engine bay (can't recall it was for) I ended up leaving the valve covers off (both driver and passenger side). I tightened and hooked everything up on driver side, and went on to the passenger side which ended up needing me to remove the starter and radiator overflow tank. Their was also this bracket zip tied to some hoses I ended up just pulling that out as it was just not letting me put that bolt back in the block. Also think it was absolutely useless after I cut those zip ties. Was a pain to get the starter back in with the headers right in the way as well as the dipstick... literally took WAY LONGER then expected to get those two things in their.

Either way to make this short I plugged everything up made sure it was torqued, did my first cold start, other then the car not turning on the first try (happens when the battery is disconnected and reconnected) it started up just fine, I let it run for maybe 15 minutes like that then turned it off and back on and got (SERVICE REAR AXLE) never touched the rear axle.

I also noticed when I was turning the a/c higher I didn't get that display bar when doing so, so I ended up unpplugging battery and waiting 20 seconds then trying it again. Didn't get "service rear axle" went for a drive around the block, I stepped on the gas just a little bit and noticed the headlights flickered twice but at the same time the engine lost power had a quit cut so I stopped in front of my parents house (did the install their as they have a flat driveway and yes this was on (Jackstands) and turned off the car and started it back up, got thenserive rear axle light again, decided to leave it be and take the 30+ minute drive home but as soon as I got in a straight road I stepped on it about 60% at about to 4500-5000 RPMs and lost power and regained it back immediately, when I say lost power I mean like the whole dash and lights in car turned off the car did a little sputter / felt like an engine cut and came back on. Decided to cruise the rest of the way home as I was just waiting for the check engine light to come on. When I got closer to my house I stepped on the gas again and same thing, just get. A huge loss of power.

Trying to keep this as detailed as can be didn't think I was going to write this much. I go in the garage and check the harness to see if it's touching the headers but it appears on my 2017 1LE it's tied up the the body of the car so it's not near the headers. I pushed the plug wires back in on all sides and heard a few more clicks on the driver side so maybe it just didn't have that right connection for the spark??? IDK? I'd start it right now but damn I'd wake the whole neighborhood up, MUCH LOUDER then I thought the car would be.

Car has CAI, MBRP race exhaust, KOOK headers. Only the headers were installed today as the exhaust was installed like 2-3 months ago.

Can't think of anything else right now, by no means am I an expert, just looking for some feedback and ideas anyone might have, rambled on a bit but with me not being able to sleep no only because these dang allergies acting up but this whole car fiasco I'm just pretty dang curious on what the heck is going on....

**** after a good 30-40 minute drive home the check engine light still hasn't came on, fully expecting it to do so but even after this whole hiccup it's not on******

MP3BOOSTED · 09-25-2017, 05:15 AM

Also wanted to note counting from bottom up on passenger side that the second spark plug wire at the end where it's connecting to the spark plug the rubber peice doe BARELY touch the headers, they haven't melted or anything but it does barely touch.

MP3BOOSTED · 09-25-2017, 05:19 AM

One more thing, the kook headers came with two 02 sensor extensions, said 10 inch fro top sensor and 8 inch for bottom sensor, I didn't install the extender to the bottom one because it would of made the sensor pretty dang long.. I also didn't use this crap clamp they gave for the passenger side as it just wouldn't close, so I kept the one that came with the exhaust.

AndyUK · 09-25-2017, 05:23 AM

2" headers and a race exhaust and you didn't realise it was going to be loud?

your post is a bit long but if I am understanding this right you've installed 2" headers without a tune and are confused as to why its not running well at high revs/throttle?

BradfordCamaro · 09-25-2017, 05:48 AM

Sorry. No answer from me.
But I got crap happening too.
O2 code, coolant sensor, rev match stopped working.....

Headers are supposed to be hassle free.

7WSM · 09-25-2017, 07:38 AM

I have seen this once before when a performance shop brought me a car that was getting a bunch of lights only on hard acceleration. Turned out it was a wiring harness on the passenger side touching the header when the motor torque.

bhillakaiceberg · 09-25-2017, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7WSM

I have seen this once before when a performance shop brought me a car that was getting a bunch of lights only on hard acceleration. Turned out it was a wiring harness on the passenger side touching the header when the motor torque.

^^^THIS. Check that harness! Make sure it is tied away from the header.

MP3BOOSTED · 09-25-2017, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyUK

2" headers and a race exhaust and you didn't realise it was going to be loud?

your post is a bit long but if I am understanding this right you've installed 2" headers without a tune and are confused as to why its not running well at high revs/throttle?

Of course I knew it was going to be loud, and yes it's very long, basically I step on the gas and the car dies on me..

AndyUK · 09-25-2017, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MP3BOOSTED

Of course I knew it was going to be loud, and yes it's very long, basically I step on the gas and the car dies on me..

have you loaded a new tune?

If not you need to.

MP3BOOSTED · 09-25-2017, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7WSM

I have seen this once before when a performance shop brought me a car that was getting a bunch of lights only on hard acceleration. Turned out it was a wiring harness on the passenger side touching the header when the motor torque.

I'm going to pull the radiator tank off right now but from what I can see right now the harness is tucked away / zip tied to the body, checking right now

DFW1LE · 09-25-2017, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MP3BOOSTED

I'm going to pull the radiator tank off right now but from what I can see right now the harness is tucked away / zip tied to the body, checking right now

Burning through the black taped wiring bundle on the passenger side is one of the most common problems reported after a header installation. Secure it out of the way and wrap with some thermal foil.

DrkPhx · 09-25-2017, 11:06 AM

I would still hook a scan tool to see if there are any pending codes. I would also double check the spark plugs. I'm surprised you (or anyone for that matter) would install headers and not remove the plugs. It makes it harder and greatly increases the chances of damaging one which causes misfires.

MP3BOOSTED · 09-25-2017, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyUK

have you loaded a new tune?

If not you need to.

No I haven't got it tuned, was thinking about just buying the SCT module as a lot of tuners are booked for a while. But If it's just a tune rather have it one the right now, kind of an obvious thing to, I mean at least I hope it just be a tune?

MP3BOOSTED · 09-25-2017, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DFW1LE

Burning through the black taped wiring bundle on the passenger side is one of the most common problems reported after a header installation. Secure it out of the way and wrap with some thermal foil.

The black taped wiring is already tip tied, the middle part is about 2-3 inches from the header, not nearly as close as the other car on the thread from pictures I have seen.

09-25-2017, 04:52 AM	#1
MP3BOOSTED Drives: 2017 Camaro SS 1LE (F1A-94 FBO H/C) Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: San Antonio Texas Posts: 844	KOOK "2" header install causing serious issue? Exactly 3:30 AM and I am just at a lost, just looking for feedback and areas to check so when I get up in the morning (if I can sleep) I can look around. So today I installed the KOOK "2" inch headers with off road connection pipes, driver side I needed to remove the steering wheel shaft, didn't remove spark plugs but removed the wires, with the skid plate removed the header went in perfectly. I believe I disconnected just one hose from the top of the engine bay (can't recall it was for) I ended up leaving the valve covers off (both driver and passenger side). I tightened and hooked everything up on driver side, and went on to the passenger side which ended up needing me to remove the starter and radiator overflow tank. Their was also this bracket zip tied to some hoses I ended up just pulling that out as it was just not letting me put that bolt back in the block. Also think it was absolutely useless after I cut those zip ties. Was a pain to get the starter back in with the headers right in the way as well as the dipstick... literally took WAY LONGER then expected to get those two things in their. Either way to make this short I plugged everything up made sure it was torqued, did my first cold start, other then the car not turning on the first try (happens when the battery is disconnected and reconnected) it started up just fine, I let it run for maybe 15 minutes like that then turned it off and back on and got (SERVICE REAR AXLE) never touched the rear axle. I also noticed when I was turning the a/c higher I didn't get that display bar when doing so, so I ended up unpplugging battery and waiting 20 seconds then trying it again. Didn't get "service rear axle" went for a drive around the block, I stepped on the gas just a little bit and noticed the headlights flickered twice but at the same time the engine lost power had a quit cut so I stopped in front of my parents house (did the install their as they have a flat driveway and yes this was on (Jackstands) and turned off the car and started it back up, got thenserive rear axle light again, decided to leave it be and take the 30+ minute drive home but as soon as I got in a straight road I stepped on it about 60% at about to 4500-5000 RPMs and lost power and regained it back immediately, when I say lost power I mean like the whole dash and lights in car turned off the car did a little sputter / felt like an engine cut and came back on. Decided to cruise the rest of the way home as I was just waiting for the check engine light to come on. When I got closer to my house I stepped on the gas again and same thing, just get. A huge loss of power. Trying to keep this as detailed as can be didn't think I was going to write this much. I go in the garage and check the harness to see if it's touching the headers but it appears on my 2017 1LE it's tied up the the body of the car so it's not near the headers. I pushed the plug wires back in on all sides and heard a few more clicks on the driver side so maybe it just didn't have that right connection for the spark??? IDK? I'd start it right now but damn I'd wake the whole neighborhood up, MUCH LOUDER then I thought the car would be. Car has CAI, MBRP race exhaust, KOOK headers. Only the headers were installed today as the exhaust was installed like 2-3 months ago. Can't think of anything else right now, by no means am I an expert, just looking for some feedback and ideas anyone might have, rambled on a bit but with me not being able to sleep no only because these dang allergies acting up but this whole car fiasco I'm just pretty dang curious on what the heck is going on.... ** after a good 30-40 minute drive home the check engine light still hasn't came on, fully expecting it to do so but even after this whole hiccup it's not on****

09-25-2017, 05:48 AM	#5
BradfordCamaro SABIO Drives: 2016 CAMARO 1SS Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Bradford, ON Posts: 5,012	Sorry. No answer from me. But I got crap happening too. O2 code, coolant sensor, rev match stopped working..... Headers are supposed to be hassle free. __________________

09-25-2017, 05:15 AM	#2
MP3BOOSTED Drives: 2017 Camaro SS 1LE (F1A-94 FBO H/C) Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: San Antonio Texas Posts: 844	Also wanted to note counting from bottom up on passenger side that the second spark plug wire at the end where it's connecting to the spark plug the rubber peice doe BARELY touch the headers, they haven't melted or anything but it does barely touch.

09-25-2017, 05:19 AM	#3
MP3BOOSTED Drives: 2017 Camaro SS 1LE (F1A-94 FBO H/C) Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: San Antonio Texas Posts: 844	One more thing, the kook headers came with two 02 sensor extensions, said 10 inch fro top sensor and 8 inch for bottom sensor, I didn't install the extender to the bottom one because it would of made the sensor pretty dang long.. I also didn't use this crap clamp they gave for the passenger side as it just wouldn't close, so I kept the one that came with the exhaust.

09-25-2017, 05:23 AM	#4
AndyUK Drives: 2017 Camaro SS Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: UK Posts: 334	2" headers and a race exhaust and you didn't realise it was going to be loud? your post is a bit long but if I am understanding this right you've installed 2" headers without a tune and are confused as to why its not running well at high revs/throttle?

09-25-2017, 07:38 AM	#6
7WSM Drives: 2017 ZL1 A10 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Pearland, TX Posts: 465	I have seen this once before when a performance shop brought me a car that was getting a bunch of lights only on hard acceleration. Turned out it was a wiring harness on the passenger side touching the header when the motor torque.

09-25-2017, 11:06 AM	#12
DrkPhx Drives: 2013 Triple Black ZL1 / 2006 TB SS Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: MN Posts: 2,250	I would still hook a scan tool to see if there are any pending codes. I would also double check the spark plugs. I'm surprised you (or anyone for that matter) would install headers and not remove the plugs. It makes it harder and greatly increases the chances of damaging one which causes misfires.

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