I installed the hotshot headers on my car several days ago, and I have a leak from one of the gaskets that goes between the manifold and the head. I am absolutely sure everything was clean and lined up right. I have checked the torque on the bolts twice now, with no progress. Is this a common issue ? It looks like I am going to have to tear it all out and use oem gaskets in place of the ones that were supplied.

Second, when I check my vafc throttle percentages, it never goes past 65% even when floored. I followed a schematic from Jime that I found here on the org. I have connected to pin 73, and all connections are soldered. Any suggestions.

Thanks all,
Paulb

 

I had no problems with my hotshot gaskets.

 

I believe there is a calibration needed for throttle positioin on the AFC. IIRC it's just a simple closed and open calibration

 

I had the same leak on mine, just double up the gaskets by using the stock one as well as the one provided by hotshot. By the way did you extend your
o2 or did you use the o2 simulator?

 

Yeah I would recommend against using the generic gaskets that hotshots sends in the kit and just use the stock ones. I bought new nissan gaskets just to be sure and the old ones were totally fine. Of course I installed the new nissan gaskets and no leaks of anykind have came up.

As far as the VAFC-II the throttle pin 83 a white wire is what I used based on what I heard from orgers this was better for the 02-03 Max for getting 100% throttle opening.

 

As far as the VAFC-II the throttle pin 83 a white wire is what I used based on what I heard from orgers this was better for the 02-03 Max for getting 100% throttle opening.[/QUOTE]

Sweet. I actually bought new oem gaskets when I ordered the headers not knowing that they came with them. As for pin 83, I will try that out.

Thanks,
Paulb

 

I use pin 73 and I get 100% throttle reading. But I had to do the gas pedal and throttle valve reset procedures for that to happen:

http://forums.maxima.org/showpost.ph...9&postcount=20

As for gaskets, I have Cattman headers and I'm using the OEM gaskets, and as far as I know, I've no leaks.

 

Btw, how did you check for the leak? Can you hear it or can you feel it somewhere?

 

Yeah, I thought I had a leak too. Exactly what kind of noise are you hearing and where from?

 

I cannot actually feel a leak, but I believe that I hear one on each side from where the headers bolt to the heads. It is pretty quiet, but I am pretty sure it is there. Maybe I spent too many hours under the car and now I am starting to imagine things....

Paulb

 

I actually thinking I'm hearing a hiss from the rear bank when I let off the gas...

 

If you guys still suspect a leak I would listen at idle using a long cut waterhose or something similar, holding one end to your ear and the other to identify the area. If you are still unsure get one of those extenda mirror things using a flashlight and check for sooty deposits. A exhaust leak is sure to show these blackened areas if there is a leak.
Good Luck.

 

That is exactly what I am hearing....

Paulb

 

i got hotshot headers and i think i hear a leak as well. but id hate to take them all off again. i am using just stock gaskets which i paid an arm and a leg for. do you guys recommended getting a VAFC-II after installing the headers? how much more gain would i be looking to get?

 

Seafoam the car and see where the smoke comes out of, it should help find a leak.

 

Second ditto. Mine is coming from that location as well, rear bank. Since it seems multiple have this, I wonder if it is common or really a leak.
I remember someone saying sometimes you can hear a hiss after letting off the gas from the flex section of your y-pipe.
Would really put my mind at ease if this problem turns out to be a natural side-effect of aftermarket header installs.
Anyone?

 

Get a dyno with A/F first...


Hmmm....

 

Maybe you should ride in my car next meet. I get a hissing noise when i let off the gas but i kno i don't have a leak.

 

gotta ? does anyone else having problems with the tach on the vafc2 being off?

 

what im doing is getting all my leaks welded.... i heard its the best way to make sure that your gaskets arent leaking and cheapest b/c you dont have to take the whole manifold off to put on a new gasket and your not 100% sure that it will stop leaking with stock gaskets....

im also installing my vafc II and dynoing it next week! so ill be asking a lot of questions soon....

 

Drive the car for a week, then use the spray on copper gasket (on top of the supplied gaskets).

Re torque the bolts.
????
Profit

 

Sweetness. Thanks

Paulb

 

Its the tach in your car thats off, not the vafc-ii

 

Got the exhaust checked out yesterday. There were no leaks at all. It must be the different sounds that the headers make vs. the cast oem manifolds.

Paulb

 

possibly...but are you running a full exhaust and intake setup? i'm thinking with all bolt ons, the car will drastically change once headers are slapped on....i mean i had intake, test pipe, catback...then slapped on headers and it made it SUPER LOUD...

even if your stock, you should still hear a throatier growl than stock...right now i'm running stock airbox and cattman headers (no other mods)...and you can still tell, that something along your exhaust is modified, when driving

 

I am running the berk intake with the hotshot headers and stock cat-back. Exhaust is raspy as all hell. The IM has been bored out, and so has the tb, I am also running 17* timing. I was going to take it in to get it dyno tuned via my vafcII, but I am beginning to lose hope with this thing.

On another note, what happened to all of your other mods? Are you losing hope on yours too?

 

naw, i actually dynoed pretty well with my maxima...i'm just parting out my car (lost interest in her)

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=460022

this was all done with a stock muffler...i know i coulda pulled off probably a 250whp if i had the cattman muffler and further fine tuning...

 

The hiss from the rear bank when letting off the throttle is normal with the headers. Mine does it and there are no leaks. I did an install with another Org members car a few weeks ago and his made the exact same sound.

An exhaust leak will usually make noise when accelerating and disapear when letting off.

The sound has actually gotten quieter over time. I think it has somrthing to do with air rushing past the PCV line in the intake. If you pinch off the PCV hose and have someone rev the car the noise goes away. Very strange.

 

So it seems I am getting the same noise. At first I thought the noise was cool since it sounded like a BOV during shifts but then a friend heard my car close by and said that it might be a leak. We put a towel over the opening of the muffler and I revved it and it made a leaking noise from the area of the y-pipe. I took the car to an exhaust shop and they said I needed new gaskets on the front pipe(??) Since Hotshot went out of business I was looking around Courtesy Nissan Parts for OEM replacements but could not find what I needed? What are the part numbers for these gaskets and will I need to modify them to fit the different diameter of the hotshot headers tubes?

I am still wondering if this noise is normal from the above post, or I do need to change the gaskets???

thanks for the info.

 

Re-tourqing is key and I'm a huge fan of the permetex spray on copper gasket, that stuff is BOMB.