How safe are bolt-on mods?

[sfalexi]

Meaning, lets say I wanted to over the next year or 2 do some easy, swap lots of pieces. I've already put in a Cold Air Intake. Now, AFAIK, I've seen people on this board running into problems while messing with their boost or fuel or otherwise messing with the computer's settings. So would my engine or anything else be in trouble (other than bank account) if over the years I just basically decided to do every bolt-on, and more than likely reversible mod? NOT messing with the computer.

So stuff I'd consider might include . . . (not necessarily in this order)

1) Cold Air Intake
2) Turbo Back Exhaust
3) Manifold
4) Fuel Pump
5) FMIC
6) Stuff like that.

Would this stuff require me to really keep a close eye on those famous A/F ratios people keep talking about? Or would these be pretty safe bets if I were to keep boost normal and decide not to mess with computer stuff (like with a XEDE or AP or something like that?)

Alexi

 

[numbnuts22715]

you would need tuning, for sure.
You could keep the boost levels all the same and you should be alright, but then again, with tuning you could also raise it, I dont think it would really matter, as long as you tune it conservatively, and have it tuned by somebody that know's what theyre doing.

 

[redspeed]

If you keep it at stock psi you won't have a problem with those mods.

 

[sfalexi]

Thanks for the info.

 

[BCMSP3]

You will run into issues. I wouldn't do much more than intake and cat-back exhaust without a tuning solution. If you go turbo-back I would be concerned about boost spikes and definite fuel cut. The increased efficiency leads to higher boost levels. Personally, I am waiting for the Cobb Access Port.

 

[Mspeed3]

I/TBE/upgraded TMIC/ accessport/testpipe/dynotune/DP=happy

 

[numbnuts22715]

I/TBE/upgraded TMIC/ accessport/dynotune/=happy

fixed it for you

 

[Sacrilicious]

fixed it for you

haha...ya, i've heard too many people running into CELs with DPs...=/ looks like the testpipe is the only safe and easy bolt-on outside of a CBE.

 

[Sierra117]

haha...ya, i've heard too many people running into CELs with DPs...=/ looks like the testpipe is the only safe and easy bolt-on outside of a CBE.

Is it a lean code CEL or a Emissions CEL?

 

[Sacrilicious]

Is it a lean code CEL or a Emissions CEL?

honestly, i'm not sure if it's the lean code or emissions one. i just noticed a number of people complaining about CELs that showed up because of their downpipe.

 

[udontknowjack]

any kinda modd to your car is unsafe period...

 

[redspeed]

There are other people with most of those mods and no tune. Everybody keep thinking that you need a tune for everything. The stock ecu can compensate for a lot of mods, it won't be the best solution but it works. Ideally you'll use a piggyback to optimize everything and extract the most hp.

 

[staples187]

honestly, i'm not sure if it's the lean code or emissions one. i just noticed a number of people complaining about CELs that showed up because of their downpipe.

I believe it's lack of secondary cat or the ECU can't recognize it because it's not there.

 

[staples187]

any kinda modd to your car is unsafe period...

udontknowjack (eekfu)

Just kidding, depending on the type of mods you're doing. Intake, exhaust, intercooler, those are very safe mods. The issues is when you're fooling with fuel/timing without a wideband.

 

[udontknowjack]

udontknowjack (eekfu)

Just kidding, depending on the type of mods you're doing. Intake, exhaust, intercooler, those are very safe mods. The issues is when you're fooling with fuel/timing without a wideband.

example....i got a bad fuel pump...car been down for a week....unless the car u modding is a secord car....just sitting in the garage waiting for the right part arrive....then you will have no problem(bang)

 

[numbnuts22715]

example....i got a bad fuel pump...car been down for a week....unless the car u modding is a secord car....just sitting in the garage waiting for the right part arrive....then you will have no problem(bang)

couldnt you just install the stock pump for now until you get the new one?
I know exactly what you mean though, just giving you a hard time.
The fuel pump is just a tinny example.
I know when I installed my turbo kit on my integra, I had all sorts of problems. By the time I found everything I needed, my car was down for liek 3 weeks.

 

[numbnuts22715]

haha...ya, i've heard too many people running into CELs with DPs...=/ looks like the testpipe is the only safe and easy bolt-on outside of a CBE.

i was saying that i fixed it because he listed turbo-back exhaust, a downpipe, and a test pipe.
a tbe consists of the entire exhaust, so once you get a tbe, you dont need to upgrade the dp or race pipe

 

[staples187]

example....i got a bad fuel pump...car been down for a week....unless the car u modding is a secord car....just sitting in the garage waiting for the right part arrive....then you will have no problem(bang)

That I couldn't agree with you more on. This is my daily driver so I mod carefully to limit risks of having complications. So far so good.

 

[Sierra117]

I believe it's lack of secondary cat or the ECU can't recognize it because it's not there.

I would lean more towards a lean code or such. My understanding is that the secondary cat isn't even monitered.