Air fuel ratio controller - Honda Prelude Forum

Pshrod · 12-08-2011, 12:17 PM

Hey everyone, I have a 5th gem prelude base, and she's running rich. I live in California, and smogging this thing is becoming a big hassle!! I was wondering if I could get a air fuel ratio controller like the apexi safc to correct the normally rich running situation? She's not burning all the fuel from the intake charge. I know that adding a controller might make it not pass the visual Smog inspection, but thank god I have a very close friend who owns a smog shop, and is willing to skip the visual inspection all together. So that's not a problem. I have a cai and a skunk2 cat back. My main reason for doing this is smog reasons, but also to have the adjustability I need when I add more mods. Any info on this would be great! Point me in the right direction please...

TypeT · 12-08-2011, 01:06 PM

youre not fixing the cause, youre fixing the outcome

with catback and cai your car is supposed to run ok without no smogging problems?

have you ever changed your
- distributor cap
- plugs & wires

does your distributor itself is ok? ever checked your valves? if theres still problems after those, get a new cat and clean your injectors

Rycon · 12-08-2011, 01:46 PM

If you put a SAFC to CORRECT a problem you will blow up your engine. Inspection needs to be your last concern.

FIX THE PROBLEM FIRST.

Pshrod · 12-08-2011, 01:53 PM

What could be the problem? What info do you need from me to help me find the problem? I have 2 trouble codes, p0420 and p0401, and I know what both mean. I have a code reader and that's all she's telling me. I know my valve need to be adjusted, they are kinda noisy. I have just recently replaced the cap, rotor, plugs, wires, pcv, and cleaned the k&n filter. I also run injector cleaner all the time too. I do keep up on regular maintenance. And inspection is my first concern, because if the car is not running right, it won't pass emissions inspection.

TypeT · 12-08-2011, 02:30 PM

injectors need to be ultrasound washed if you wanna do it properly

do that valve adjustment and get new cat and o2 sensor

P0420 - renew catalytic converter
p0401 - clean EGR

those first, if you have still problems lets think something else

minilogoguy18 · 12-08-2011, 03:12 PM

Both of those codes will make the car run like garbage and fail emissions, fix those before wasting money on a air/fuel controller.

Pshrod · 12-09-2011, 04:05 PM

Ok, thank you! I'm going to clean out the egr system sometime within the next day or so. I got all the port plugs and I have new injector seals coming in today. While I'm in there, I might as well clean out the injectors and replace the seals too.

minilogoguy18 · 12-09-2011, 05:46 PM

I wouldn't take all that apart, if you run 93 most of the fuel system should be pretty clean, maybe just a little build up on the tips caused by the PCV system in which case a bit of TB cleaner can knock off.

Pshrod · 12-09-2011, 10:56 PM

I checked my injectors, and they are squirting like a super soaker water gun! I'm sure that's not right! Aren't they supposed to mist?

Pshrod · 12-09-2011, 11:00 PM

I'm also having one hell of a time getting these darn egr port plugs out!!! Is there some sort of trick to these?

Kronn 98SH · 12-10-2011, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pshrod

I'm also having one hell of a time getting these darn egr port plugs out!!! Is there some sort of trick to these?

slide hammer.

minilogoguy18 · 12-10-2011, 12:06 PM

Fix the CEL's then check the injectors, the car is running rich right now.

Rycon · 12-10-2011, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pshrod

I'm also having one hell of a time getting these darn egr port plugs out!!! Is there some sort of trick to these?

EGR port cleaning

Pshrod · 12-11-2011, 09:13 AM

Got it, I had to make a DIY slide hammer. The plugs came right out! And bye bye cel p0401!!!

minilogoguy18 · 12-11-2011, 11:37 AM

Make sure you clean the valve itself too since it only takes a minute. Good to see how it's done in those write ups since I've yet to do one at work on a 4 cylinder and my Euro R IM has all the EGR blocked off.

Now take care of that other CEL and you should see a big jump in MPG. BTW, I thought that VAFC's, SAFC's and AFC's were an illegal mod in Cali?

Pshrod · 12-12-2011, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minilogoguy18

Make sure you clean the valve itself too since it only takes a minute. Good to see how it's done in those write ups since I've yet to do one at work on a 4 cylinder and my Euro R IM has all the EGR blocked off.

Now take care of that other CEL and you should see a big jump in MPG. BTW, I thought that VAFC's, SAFC's and AFC's were an illegal mod in Cali?

Yeh I cleaned the whole egr system, valve and all. Now it's time to replace the cat. From what I've read, everything is illegal in Cali! But the controllers would only make it run better in my opinion. Which would make lower emissions with a stock motor. And the only thing I can see a controller making it fail, is the visual inspection. Just hide it good enough and they will never know, As long as the car docent have any illegal mods. Which mine docent. Eventually after I replace the cat, I would like to try a air/fuel controller to correct the cars normally rich running habits. 2013 Cali smog laws are changing again! Which will probably mean even strickter emissions laws. And most of our ludes barley pass smog as it is now. 2013, everyone in Cali is going to need to install a air/fuel controller just to make there stock Lude motors pass smog! Of course this is just speculation, but cali smog laws are changing again in 2013! So get ready for it!!!!