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I've used this forum a lot, but this is my first post as a member so thanks for any help. A few months ago my 2001 lx with 144,000 miles started a sputtering noise in the exhaust. Once on a long trip on an uphill grade at full throttle, the car lost 80% of power and was severely bogged down, "limp mode". It started up and ran fine after about half hr. I had it diagnosed and it came up as a throttle position sensor and a cat issue. They also found a crack in the manifold, which I have found is not uncommon for this year. I shopped out parts and ordered them up. Same thing happened on one last trip back home to get it inspected to pass emissions. It did pass lucky, then it was time to do the work.

I had the whole exhaust replaced at once. Megan Racing header for LX model, Magnaflow high flow cat (universal) and full cat back system, also a Tsudo 90degree o2 spacer to try and fend off the dang CEL light I have read so much about. The stock primary and secondary o2 sensors were both reused. They were BOTH put in the header, which had 2 o2 bungs. The secondary had the 90degree spacer installed on it. It should have been within the cat or after the cat, but they said it didn't reach and it could not be switched with a longer one due to resistance issues and other ECU issues.
Initially the work seemed fine, sounded good, idled more smoothly.

Drove home fine, but on a hilly test drive, SAD PART, I got limp mode again. 5 minute wait and it went away, drove home lightly, but fine, stopped at Autozone to pull code P1361 TDC Sensor Intermittent Interruption?
Do poeple have any insight or experience? Cam shaft related all of a sudden? Or more likely related to the exhaust swap? I just cleaned the air filter and got new denso iridium plugs. And limp mode showed up on a hard acceleration up hill...I had to test it out...it was sounding so good and smooth. ???

 
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i have heard that alot of the times the cam sensor will crap out and that will give you that problem...you got alot of miles on that so that maybe the problem...it sux to change the sensor but thats what i would do....also heard the crank sensor has that same problem

 
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The front sensor measures the air outside and the exhaust gases then trims fuel accordingly. This sensor should oscillate from rich to lean. While the second sensor measures how well the cat is working. This sensor DOES NOT oscillate. I bet your rear sensor is oscillating because it isn't behind the cat.

*The mechanic is gonna charge you $$$ to check that TDC sensor as you have to take off the head cover gasket and the top timing belt cover. I would get a quote before I let him check.