Pull the bulb?

 

That wouldn't help with smog, and also my car runs different with the CEL on - seems sluggish and doesn't get as good mileage. I want to find a way to make it work with the header and pipe since the stock units are so restrictive.

 

i have borla headers, stromung high flow cat and intermediate pipe. i used the pony express mil eliminator and i believe that the code i am going to be pulling now is a low voltage code. i havent verified that yet, but hopefully once i get my reflash i can have them remove that code. anyways i have the stromung muffler coming in the mail. anyone have any idea how loud this piece is gonna be?? right now i have just a wrx muffler on it and it sounds like a rattle trap. but the muffler had been sitting in my basement for close to 3 years so im sure the insides are settled which is what is causing the sound. comments anyone?

 

Does anyone think that you need to wrap the header in order to help you pass the emission tests? I think they are advertised as being 50-state smog legal but I don't know what the story is. I don't have to take another smog test for quite a while but I'd like to know.

And I can't tell what year RS you have, Wombatsauce, from your profile and I think there are some significant differences (like the earlier RS's from the later ones)?

 

I had my header coated by Swain Tech with their "Thermal Barrier Coating" which I can touch quickly while the car is running. I did this to save the surrounding plastics and keep heat down near the oil filter. I am told this should be about as good as header wrap without the moisture issues.

The header is advertised as being 50 state legal as well as CARB approved on a couple websites however that is INCORRECT. I have an email from Borla confirming that the headers for Subarus are NOT CA smog legal.

Mine is a 2001 Coupe without a MAF. '98 is DOHC/MAF, '99 is SOHC/MAF, '00 is SOHC/MAP and '01 is SOHC/MAP.