CT5-V Corsa cat-back exhaust installation tips & pointers, along with my thoughts/review (short video included)

[BlackwingSwanny23]

I wouldn't think it would lessen the value

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[Savethemanuals]

I have Nick's BW now and I must be getting old because the Corsa catback is too much noise for me. If there is someone in NorCal with OEM cat back that wants to work out a trade/sale please PM me. I have a truck and can take care of the transport.

Wish you were on the east coast!

 

[dtuna42]

This was one of the best How To write-ups I've seen yet!
Are the valve actuator's only opening one outlet on each side, or do they open valves in all 4 outlets?

 

[5VBW Nick]

This was one of the best How To write-ups I've seen yet!
Are the valve actuator's only opening one outlet on each side, or do they open valves in all 4 outlets?

Thank you There are only 2 valves, 2 of the pipes don't have them.

 

[Dishonor]

So was anyone able to clear it? I can't seem to relearn and clear the CEL on my Autel MK808.

 

[SdBeerManDave]

@5VBW Nick - thank you for the detailed notes. Installed the Corsa cat back on my 25 5BW today in about 2 1/2 hours. No issues, sounds great, no CEL

 

[Chawumba]

Recently installed the axle back Corsa Exhaust on my CT5BW, thought I'd add my 2 cents for anyone contemplating one of the corsa systems that may be reading this thread. Take it for what its worth, just trying to be helpful.

The good:
1) Installation was not terribly difficult, about as expected. If you follow the directions, you'll get the valve spring position correct and no CEL
2) Sound - quite a big difference, more presence of sound than I expected from watching videos. As others have said, you will now notice more difference between sound level settings in the various modes. If/when you want stock levels of quiet, program "my mode" to have sound at lowest level, at it will be much like stock exhaust was in its quiet settings, except perhaps the initial cold startup growl is a bit louder.

The not so good:
1) The system is heavy, the box for the axle back system was 60lbs. The tips weigh 1.5 lbs each, its like they didn't even try to keep weight down.
2) UGLY. The round tips don't look right in the the openings, and if you don't shorten the system a little bit as you go, the tips stick out too far and look cheap/silly. Making things worse, the "CORSA" printing is not removable and shows prominently - I would much prefer to not see that. And finally, the muffler sections sit a bit cockeye and hang just a bit lower than the stock setup - not a problem, but its noticable from behind the car, just looks kinda cheap. I ended up spraying mine with black super high temp paint, we'll see if it lasts.

So, to sum up, sound is pretty good I'll give it an A-, but appearance and weight are both bad, and I give it a D. They seem to have an option where you could reuse factory tips on the 4BW, but apparently not for the CT5BW. Too bad because fixing that and rotating the muffler cans to horizontal would help a great deal to make the system look less aftermarket/cheap. Just my 2 cents, YMMV.

 

[flipray]

Recently installed the axle back Corsa Exhaust on my CT5BW, thought I'd add my 2 cents for anyone contemplating one of the corsa systems that may be reading this thread. Take it for what its worth, just trying to be helpful.

The good:
1) Installation was not terribly difficult, about as expected. If you follow the directions, you'll get the valve spring position correct and no CEL
2) Sound - quite a big difference, more presence of sound than I expected from watching videos. As others have said, you will now notice more difference between sound level settings in the various modes. If/when you want stock levels of quiet, program "my mode" to have sound at lowest level, at it will be much like stock exhaust was in its quiet settings, except perhaps the initial cold startup growl is a bit louder.

The not so good:
1) The system is heavy, the box for the axle back system was 60lbs. The tips weigh 1.5 lbs each, its like they didn't even try to keep weight down.
2) UGLY. The round tips don't look right in the the openings, and if you don't shorten the system a little bit as you go, the tips stick out too far and look cheap/silly. Making things worse, the "CORSA" printing is not removable and shows prominently - I would much prefer to not see that. And finally, the muffler sections sit a bit cockeye and hang just a bit lower than the stock setup - not a problem, but its noticable from behind the car, just looks kinda cheap. I ended up spraying mine with black super high temp paint, we'll see if it lasts.

So, to sum up, sound is pretty good I'll give it an A-, but appearance and weight are both bad, and I give it a D. They seem to have an option where you could reuse factory tips on the 4BW, but apparently not for the CT5BW. Too bad because fixing that and rotating the muffler cans to horizontal would help a great deal to make the system look less aftermarket/cheap. Just my 2 cents, YMMV.

Tucking the tips in more makes them not stick out as a sore thumb as much. That’s the only beauty of the slip on connection, you can push them pretty far in. But, that means you’d have to play with aligning the 4 tips again and you know how much fun that is.

 

[flipray]

Also, when installing the valves in, if your clip falls off, test fitting it in first and flip the clip orientation 180°. One way will long the bolt holes for the screws more than the other. Think one reasoning people are having exhaust CEL is because of that. Or the clip fell off, stuck in the housing and not opening the valves.

 

[BigBrett]

Also, when installing the valves in, if your clip falls off, test fitting it in first and flip the clip orientation 180°. One way will long the bolt holes for the screws more than the other. Think one reasoning people are having exhaust CEL is because of that. Or the clip fell off, stuck in the housing and not opening the valves.

That is not true, i had CEL light soon as i started the car, Corsa claimed all kinds of stuff, none fixed it, then another member here said get a scanner and re learn the valves, that did not work!
So i called Corsa said send me return boxes and labels, this stuff is coming back, well then all of a sudden they had new muffler with different valve design, put them on and started car CEL light gone, codes in car gone, the codes were 3 different codes
all exhaust gas codes? so Corsa does know there could and is an issue with the valves and they have new ones available now

 

[1Evil55]

That is not true, i had CEL light soon as i started the car, Corsa claimed all kinds of stuff, none fixed it, then another member here said get a scanner and re learn the valves, that did not work!
So i called Corsa said send me return boxes and labels, this stuff is coming back, well then all of a sudden they had new muffler with different valve design, put them on and started car CEL light gone, codes in car gone, the codes were 3 different codes
all exhaust gas codes? so Corsa does know there could and is an issue with the valves and they have new ones available now

That's great customer service. The problem was noticed and rectified.

 

[BigBrett]

That's great customer service. The problem was noticed and rectified.

I would not say all that, they ran me around for over 2 months, try this try that. I can honestly thank Tapout tunning
Scott was really instrumental in getting it figured out and them to get me the correct parts.
It all worked out and that is the best result but is was not a fun experience. With Scanner etc. I have an extra $400.00 plus dollars out of my pocket and my time

 

[TX_RJ]

Has anyone attempted to weld the OEM tips to the Corsa pipes, or have thoughts on if it's even possible? The exhaust sounds awesome but the round tips and low hanging mufflers are just too much for me personally. If the OEM tips or even aftermarket tips with a similar profile could be fitted to it, I'd be sold no question. I can live with the mufflers, spray em black and pray for no Texas sized speed bumps.

 

[MeGoFast]

My Corsa shows up tomorrow. Looking forward to the install and the sound. V Mode ALWAYS.

 

[flipray]

Has anyone attempted to weld the OEM tips to the Corsa pipes, or have thoughts on if it's even possible? The exhaust sounds awesome but the round tips and low hanging mufflers are just too much for me personally. If the OEM tips or even aftermarket tips with a similar profile could be fitted to it, I'd be sold no question. I can live with the mufflers, spray em black and pray for no Texas sized speed bumps.

Nah, but Crest Performance just made axlebacks with valves and using stock tips.

Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing Retro-Slip Axleback | OEM Tips | TIG-Welded Performance

 

[Champale]

Nah, but Crest Performance just made axlebacks with valves and using stock tips.

Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing Retro-Slip Axleback | OEM Tips | TIG-Welded Performance

Wow awesome! Thank you for posting that!

 

[LongGrayLine16]

If anyone ever needs help returning to stock, let me know. Not worth a full write up here, but can provide some helpful tips if ever wanted!

I just went through the process.

 

[MeGoFast]

My Corsa goes on this Saturday!

 

[MeGoFast]

So I got the Corsa installed and here's my experience:

1) It had an engine light immediately. I took it to my mechanic who put the car in service mode and had to do an "Exhaust valve re-learn". This fixed the engine light.
2) My birthday was yesterday and so the prior week I attempted to get emissions done and it failed because the computer kept saying "Computer not ready". This means that since it was in service mode, it clears all the emissions data so the car can't "confirm" for the emissions testers that the engine light wasn't reset 10 minutes earlier and brought for emissions.

THe process to get the computer ready for emissions was interesting. There are a number of things you need to do. The 3 things I did off of an extensive list though:
1) Drive the car 300 miles (I kept driving it just to see if this helps, some people say 10 to 15 mins, some say 200 miles.
2) On a cold start let the car idle with the AC on and rear defrost (this one is actually in some GM document I found). Let it run for 3 to 5 minutes, I did 10.
3) Drive at highway speeds, 55 to 65 for 10 to 15 minutes (this contributed to the 300 miles)
4) Drive in stop and go normal city traffic for like 30 minutes, I commuted so this one was easy to do. (this contributed to the 300 miles)
5) Get up to 65 mph and let the car coast down to 30 mph without hitting the brakes. (I don't remember doing this one but some people say it's also in the GM docs about getting the computer back to normal).

Anyway, it was a pain in the ass, I know that tuners can make an edit that just put the computer in "always ready" mode. But the 4th time I took it by emissions to get it done, after having done all this stuff, that finally worked.

Exhaust sounds MEAN. I freaking love it. And quiet mode is still "neighbor tolerable".