Dyno run

[NASSTY]

What can be overlooked is the timeframe of a cobra build. On average it's probably 3 yrs going onto five. Most don't get built in 12 months; perhaps unless you've done it before.

That's probably part of the problem here. The tune was ordered 3.5 yrs ago but most things have a 12 month warrantee. So long after you start driving the cobra the warrantee has expired. Some suppliers understand this, some won't.

Also, despite there only a small difference between the tunes, which at WOT is going to be hard to feel those extra kws, that's not perhaps the biggest problem. As an ICV the vehicle needs to pass an emissions test. If it's running rich at idle and part throttle it won't pass.

[Rebel1]

Originally Posted by NASSTY

What can be overlooked is the timeframe of a cobra build. On average it's probably 3 yrs going onto five. Most don't get built in 12 months; perhaps unless you've done it before.

That's probably part of the problem here. The tune was ordered 3.5 yrs ago but most things have a 12 month warrantee. So long after you start driving the cobra the warrantee has expired. Some suppliers understand this, some won't.

Also, despite there only a small difference between the tunes, which at WOT is going to be hard to feel those extra kws, that's not perhaps the biggest problem. As an ICV the vehicle needs to pass an emissions test. If it's running rich at idle and part throttle it won't pass.

I totally agree Al except I don't agree the build time has any bearing.

I feel that common sense on behalf of this supplier was lacking.

Firstly he was dealing with some-one 2000Klm away in woop woop, with little chance of dropping in for a retune at the suppliers shop.

Secondly, the car in question was not a "off the showroom" GMH model

It was a cobra which for all the reasons mentioned previously strongly suggests the car will end up on a dyno for a retune.

These three points alone suggest that the supplier should have had a reasonable expectation that an unlocked PCM was required.

Very poor service in my opinion.

[Rebel1]

Gawd, who voted me to be the consumer advocate here?

[Doubledip]

Originally Posted by NASSTY

What can be overlooked is the timeframe of a cobra build. On average it's probably 3 yrs going onto five. Most don't get built in 12 months; perhaps unless you've done it before.

That's probably part of the problem here. The tune was ordered 3.5 yrs ago but most things have a 12 month warrantee. So long after you start driving the cobra the warrantee has expired. Some suppliers understand this, some won't.

Also, despite there only a small difference between the tunes, which at WOT is going to be hard to feel those extra kws, that's not perhaps the biggest problem. As an ICV the vehicle needs to pass an emissions test. If it's running rich at idle and part throttle it won't pass.

this here is not a dig but just a comment for others to read for the engineering side of things. In general if you have a ICV and as we know has to be engineered and now go through emissions testing then you need to fit a late model engine and all the accessories it ran in the production vehicle. This would mean a MAF so for starters the mafless tune would be no good boxhead recieved... so then regardless the tune running rich wont pass..

It would be better for those that are going through this stage at the time to get in contact with the end tuner and say once i have passed engineering , emissions blah blah blah and i am driving it i will be in for a Dyno tune. Then ask them to supply the standard tune in the ecu that the factory car had (all be it for VATS and fan temps and speedo ), but still retain the MAf O2,s etc... This way the engineer will be happy and so will the RTA/emissions testers.

Also i would feel it is best that these sorts of things are left right till the time they are needed... as earlier pointed out warranty runs out on a lot of things when building a ICV (a computer wont stop you building the car), so why help it by buying a computer and tune when you know it wont be used till 2.5 years down the track at the earliest.. the tuner could have even gone out of business before you first get to turn the key.

As I said this is just a warning for all not a dig at what Nasty has said.

[NASSTY]

Originally Posted by Doubledip

As I said this is just a warning for all not a dig at what Nasty has said.

None taken. As builders it is natural to get caught up in the emotion of building a Cobra. Personally I had a lot of major components way before I needed them, mainly because I didn't won't suppliers stuffing me around, which did happen but I planned for that. A case of get the sale and deal with producing said product later. We're all busy people, builders and suppliers at the end of the day.

I've had one component fail to date after having the car registered for 10 months and the supplier at first gave the the line, "I sold you that 2 yrs ago" to which I said, "It's been registered for only 6 months". He understood and fixed the problem.

[Doubledip]

Originally Posted by NASSTY

I've had one component fail to date after having the car registered for 10 months and the supplier at first gave the the line, "I sold you that 2 yrs ago" to which I said, "It's been registered for only 6 months". He understood and fixed the problem.

yes and i know that we have had that in the past and warranted it as well.. it all comes down to the attitude of one person to the other as to what will come out of it... now i am sure you approached the supplier and told him it was faulty and when he said it was sold over 2 years ago i bet you didnt call him every name under the sun.. you in a professional and courteous manner told him the situation and it was resolved... but you cant expect a supplier to come to the party after having their business drapped across 2 forums and 4 threads basically saying i didnt get what i want when i asked for it 3.5 years ago with all the carry on this has had.

I am glad yours was sorted and if people (both client and supplier) can think rationally and put themselves in the other persons shoes (like you obviously did) before they shoot their thoughts off then there would be alot more happy customers and suppliers than there are, with the same happy outcome you got to.

[Tenrocca]

Just a few thoughts.....

On this cobra forum and in the cobra community in general, the concept of sharing ideas and offering help to benefits a fellow cobra owner and not yourself is at the heart of what we are about (its the vibe...its mabo...its...the vibe). This forum, particularly the Australian side is not driven by sponsors, and not there to benefit sponsors - its for us. I am very sceptical about the whole tuner thing - locking tune, the hiding of tunes or of cam specs. IMO, anyone who comes into the "cobra community" with these BS "I know something you dont know" attitudes is not going to endear themselves to the community as a whole.

When i visit the LS1 forum I am constantly amazed at how excited theses guys get about a friggin commodore. eg. The post pictures of your ride forum....Heres my...wait for it...new VE SS COMMODORE. Whoop di f**kin do.... And all the other commodore nerd jump in pissing in his pocket saying what a "sweet ride" it is or whatever. What a load of self indulgent crap. If I want to see a picture of a VE SS commodore I can go and get a brocure from the local dealer - these arent special cars.

Cobras, IMHO, are special. These cars have our heart, our time, our hard earned and a good deal of our lives tied up in them. Many cobra owners may be pretty well off - and to them $800 is a drop in the ocean. To me and to the majority of builders, we build because that is the only way they can afford to own a car like this - or at least convince the better half of that (lets face it - is we all had the means to buy a complete kirkham or csx car, we would).

I know David, and I trust him. David is part of the cobra community, and has built a reputation within here of being a straight talking no BS sort of guy. If David said he told the tuner his situation, and that he will be needing to have his tune "touched up" on a dyno locally to him, I believe him.

Buinesses should be about cutomer service. The customer may not be always right, but they should be treated as they are. Justin - your attitude to fixing problems and ensuring the cutomer is satisfied is commendable, and is the attitude all business owners should have. (In my dealings with you, you would realise I live by the same philosophy). I dont think chipmaster, in this instance at least, has.

There was certain operator in the LS1 community that if a few more people had spoken up about earlier on, a lot less people wouldnt have been burnt to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars (search LS1.com or google for "Derek Hocking" - An extreme case to illustrate my point). I see nothing wrong with advising potential customers of your dealings with a supplier, whether they be good or bad.

Cheers


PS. Les - you have my vote for CC Australia poster of the year.