Well, we are still in a holding pattern folks. Had to have a few computer things checked/ran and am waiting for results. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about you all. Once again, if it wasn't for Ralph, this situation would have pushed me to insanity.
Well, Vortech is dancing around this problem. A very trusted friend and competent mechanic even spoke to them. I'm not going all doom and gloom, but if the following statement that was made to me by a Vortech employee named Jamie Rabago is any indication, you know where our beloved Vortech is telling me to go. I called up there and described everything to them ad naseum, what happened, etc. including the mysterious leaking hose. This is one response I got during the course of a 10 minute or so discussion: "well, usually, if a blower causes engine failure its because the blower itself broke apart and pieces of the blower got forced into the engine" That is a quote folks. OK, maybe I didn't punctuate 100% correctly, but that's what the guy told me. I don't know crap about cars, but being around you all and our cars in general, I get the feeling that's mostly BS. So... we shall see. Either way, I loaned them my car (got a sweet deal on a blower) then that same blower or a component of that same blower shit canned my engine, somehow, and Vortech is stepping backwards with statements like the one I just typed/quoted. Sure, I could have done steps a-z to insure the safety of the engine, but Vortech sold me (and many others) a package they claim is safe as is; I was foolish enough to believe the hype, apparently. BTW: The same guy also told me that Ryan's engine blew because Ryan had an outside source RE-TUNE his engine. Ryan's engine blew because of the physical failure of a belt tensioner and overheated (or so I surmise)... I see Ryan EVERDAY at work and we talk cars all the time. He never mentioned a retune to me, and when I told him of this accusation, he blatantly said that he never had the car tuned other than by Vortech at install. Ryan is a doofus, but he's an honest doofus. They claim to have seen Ryan's car on this tuner's website... Ryan denies that too. So... you, the jury decide... I'm mearly presenting the facts as I get them; and as my car sits idle for over a month. I'm not bashing anyone yet. Just providing the info folks. Rest assurred, if I get bent over and screwed in my jailhouse wallet like I think I will... well, then... game on ("Strange Brew", 1983). Either way, what you all think my car is worth? 18,000 miles on it. EDIT: You all have no idea how badly I miss driving my car.... maybe I'm being harsh or jumping the gun, but that Mopar is my one inanimate pride and joy... and now, I'm looking at having to sell it or God knows what else. This is all just unfreakin real. If I can't figure out a solution, I'll be paying on a dead car for 2 years. I know Ralph is helping, but if that falls through by means he has no control over, then I'm fucked.
That's some bullshit Jason. I surely hope that Vortec steps up and does it real soon. Or thier forum rep is about to take a major nose dive.
Damn Jason, very sorry to hear of the issues you are having with Vortech. Question, didn't they give you guys their 3/36 warranty? And I know both you and Ryan well enough to know that you two have NO ROOM for lies. As for the Quote. That is the DUMMEST statement I have ever heard. Hell, even GSM never used a line like that. lol Hang in there buddy as things will turn around for you. I need you to call me though. I have some info to give you and a point of contact. Ron
Ron, surpisingly enough, I'm at work until midnight... and this is an early night compared to my 0300 ordeal Monday! I will call, not tonight however. Ralph is a champ, no doubt, but not even "THE SHOW" can control everything. So, I need to keep my options (all of them) open. I figured that statement was horseshit. BTW: R&D cars did not get the warranty. However, considering they tinkered on my car for a month and created a product based off of that time, you'd think they may want to help out one of their biggest cheerleaders who has promoted their product to anyone who would listen.
This is the ol' installation was done correctly on our perfectly designed parts but you got some bad gas story. Pisses me off to see a fellow enthusiast getting raked. Time to man up Vortech.
Well... yes, if your blower disintegrates and chunks of metal get sucked into the cylinders it will cause failure. No doubt about that. In your case (seeing as your blower doesn't appear to have disintegrated), I'd think the most probable causes would be the tune or that it overheated.
No we didn't. We got a service contract when they installed and for the upgrades. No warranty regarding engine failure brother. I'm learning that now. BTW: Get your car back to stock before you get hosed Drew. I'm not saying this out of spite, but because I don't want you in this position... nor even to have your engine go bad. Sell the blower and get some other performance parts and a good tune. Or spend the money on the upgrades for the FI system. Seriously. I don't want to see your gem fucked up. It overheated. That was the cause of failure. What caused the overheating? I doubt it was my stock radiator. This is a simple matter of deduction. Taking a bunch of facts and coming to one conclusion. Reason dictates that the blower or its associated parts/tune caused the overheating. SERIOUS QUESTION: how many non-FI, stock 6.1L SRT8's have had this issue? To the point where the friggin' plug gaps get crushed?!?! Seriously I don't know. I'm getting progressively more fired up over this. I've remained patient... I would've lost my mind much sooner if Ralph hadn't been around... but now I'm feeling sort of slighted by Vortech. I championed their product, and they are likely not going to help me. Goes to show I suppose. BTW: Anyone checked out the 540 HP 2010 GT500? LOL Threre are a lot of "what ifs" and I now know FI isn't for the novice, but I trusted them with the "very safe" package they supplied... now I know I'm screwed as far as them helping. *** If they were going to help, they'd have been more than helpful from the get go, and not giving me the run around and the BS excuses and false claims.
Well... hold on. Let's try to keep it objective. I really don't have any opinion at this point because I don't have anything to go on... Has anyone torn it down to determine the actual cause? flat plug is a symptom and not the cause. If a piece of blower got in there it would flatten the plug. If a ring land broke it could flatten the plug. I'm assuming there are a lot of causes that could flatten a plug. Do you know that it overheated? If it overheated was it the air charge? or the engine (coolant). Was it the intercooler? Was it timing or running lean that caused it and nothing to do with a coolant failure? I haven't heard any of that yet.
Well ive kept my opinion out of this cause i know to many involved...I think that the tech decided to take your car for a spin and check it out...he didnt know that Vortechs tune at 1/2 to 3/4 throttle would not adjust for the boost and was most likely seeing 3-5psi with 14.7 afr and 18-20 degrees of timing...that being said anyone want to chime in with what happens to ANY motor with boost,timing and an afr like that...thats right they pop. I personally told Vortechs tuner within a week of having my car back about this. I have the data logs and the emails still to prove this. I am really sorry to hear they arent helping you out and its even more unfortunate that the only person that remembers giving me the offer for our 6 cars to have the warranty is not with them any more...Wish i would have recorded that conversation. As far as value with a blown motor id guess 18 grand or so. Sorry man
jason, just find a lawyer to start drawing up a lawsuit. i ran around with vortech for years with one of my cars. i will never give them slack again, that slack caused me to lose interest, thus cut my loses and they kept my blower. granted, i only lost about 3k on the deal but dude, you are in a much better legal position than i was.
John, what tech are you referring to? That confused me. Also, if youre speaking of the Dealer tech, they had no reason to drive the car, as the work they did was cosmetic up until the last day when they replaced the intercooler... even then, they didn't drive it to my knowledge. No need to. Maybe start it up. Well, essentially, what I have is a product that came without a warranty, that blew my engine. Isnt that more of a sold as is type of deal?
Not necessarily. but you'd have to ask a lawyer about that. And I'm pretty sure you'd have to find out what broke and why.
not at all, they sold a product they guaranteed would run flawlessly on a stock block. you have many witnesses to attest to that in a court of law. a lawyer would be much better than i to point out specific chinks in their armor though. dave is def right, you cant go into court not knowing EXACTLY what failed and why. just make sure you document the shit out of the diagnostic and get it done by a professional shop....not just a buddy who can wrench.
They might not have had a reason to drive it but who says the tech didnt want to and did it anyways...dont you find it funny you drove your car in at 100% and then you drive it home and its busted...I know I check my mileage to the .0 when i drop my car anywhere...I also look at the gas level and MPG reading in the dash...this lets me know if they idled the car a long time, made passes or just drove it normally... Steve...do you know how hard it is to post while staring at your sig
John, roger that... however, the car's fascia was taken off and the only day it was fully reassembled was when the cooler was installed... so, essentially, they'd have had to driven it with no front end and a known leaking cooler... I doubt that would have occurred, but who knows. Plus, I didn't notice a diagnostic on the charge when I got the bill, so all indications point to them not having done much other than the specified work, because we know damn well they'd have charge my insurance for EVERYTHING... blood suckers that they are.
