Post your "professionally tuned" horror stories

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Old Jan 15, 2010 | 10:18 AM
  #136  
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Originally Posted by Overbear
And I disagree with you 1000X.

"Horror stories" about bad shops can help people who might end up using that shop.

Any shop that abuses its customers doesn't deserve "respectful" airing of that. They deserve to have their problems publicly and openly aired so others will know never to use them. That is how you help put said shop out of work, so that others are not screwed over too.

When in the hell did you all turn into a bunch of PC, be nice to everyone hippies? We as a community of like minded car enthusiasts owe it to ourselves and our fellow subie owners to expose the bad shops for what they are.
You can discuss problems in many different ways. Most of the horror stories I read on here are just a bunch of "they said this and did this and the owner is an *******" rants. The poster always leaves out crucial information in order to exaggerate their claims (I think wombatsauce's citing of I<3Subie is a prime example of this). Adults should be able to solve problems in diplomatic manners, a rant/bashing thread is not a diplomatic manner. Also, I didn't say not to share bad experiences, I said you can't ONLY share those, you have to show the good too in order to get an accurate representation of the work a given shop does. A combined "horror stories" thread like this one is like the reality TV of review threads. It just portrays one aspect for entertainment sake. Don't try saying its for valuable information, because why these threads are NOT good evaluation tools has already been covered.

Originally Posted by LICmotorsports
First and foremost, I know I/We are not perfect....we've made mistakes and again I'm not perfect and will continue to (ideally as limited as possible) in the future. What I can say is with each mistake, it has never been repeated <-- this is called learning from it. And we have always done what is right, which is taking care of the customer.

I'd wish I could say I/We are perfect but we aren't. I have never asked anyone to post up positive things about us or our shop, nor have I ever discouraged anyone. Some people you can never please. Some it takes very little to please. And others you work your butt off to do what you can b/c they've been jaded by another shop, experience(s), and aren't willing to entrust what you offer....we've all had our fair share of them.

At the end of the day, I can honestly say....this business (LIC), Me (Noah), and Adam have done everything in our power to do what is right and often times at the expense of our business. Some say for what? I say, it's who we are. Here is an example: I get emails and phone calls all day long about discounting this or that, this shop does this, this shop does that..........all while someone is trying to extract one thing from me...MONEY. <-- is that fair?

This business is a business; we need your money to survive. Although its fun to get on a bash session about this business or that business, think about what you are doing to that person(s) and that business. Obviously the folks who do this for the joy of it, have no b*lls and decide to go on a tirade for pure amusement. The others who jump in and have no face value or firsthand experience are the ones who are really at fault; these are the folks who take out good people/business. And for that I would do anything and everything to defend this business in that circumstance(s).

Long and short...think about what you say

my $0.02

-Noah
That business is kind of your Obsession, but I know devoting that much energy and effort into your shop hurts so good.

Last edited by VRT MBasile; Jan 15, 2010 at 10:48 AM.
Old Jan 15, 2010 | 11:11 AM
  #137  
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Originally Posted by Lowend
I've gotta talk about this from another viewpoint.
As someone who worked at a shop that had chassis dyno tuning there are lots of things the "consumer" does not understand.
Problems that often get blamed on the shop, which just aren't their fault.

1) If you have somthing shady in your engine and it's weak... the dyno will find it. The loads that get put on a car on the dyno maybe be higher than anything the car has actually experienanced before (due to poor traction ect). Sometimes stuff is gonna break it it's not up to snuff
I went through a week where two people had supercharged 5.0 Mustangs blow-up on the dyno during tuning. They were friends and of couse blamed us.
Truth of the matter was that both of these guys had built the same combo, making stupid amounts of boost (20psi) on a stock rotating assembly. In both cases the over-stressed OE connecting rods broke when loaded.
Did we have anything do to with this: No but these two decided to tell their friends it was our fault anyways.

2) If you have anything
Was this during a tuning session? I've had personal experience with two tuners that while tuning caused severe detonation, one continued the dyno pull all the way to redline multiple times. Another caused a complete engine failure. It is a tuners responsibility to recognize these conditions and halt to tuning process immediately to make corrections.
Old Jan 15, 2010 | 11:20 AM
  #138  
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It was during the tuning session, but not due to detonation. The bottom end of the engine just couldn't hold up to the cylinder pressures.
Stock 5.0 Mustang connecting rods are real pieces of crap
Old Jan 15, 2010 | 11:21 AM
  #139  
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[QUOTE=ipozestu;2791834]Was this during a tuning session? I've had personal experience with two tuners that while tuning caused severe detonation, one continued the dyno pull all the way to redline multiple times. Another caused a complete engine failure. It is a tuners responsibility to recognize these conditions and halt to tuning process immediately to make corrections.[/QUOTE

Wow
Old Jan 15, 2010 | 12:22 PM
  #140  
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Originally Posted by Lowend
I've gotta talk about this from another viewpoint.
As someone who worked at a shop that had chassis dyno tuning there are lots of things the "consumer" does not understand.
Problems that often get blamed on the shop, which just aren't their fault.

1) If you have somthing shady in your engine and it's weak... the dyno will find it. The loads that get put on a car on the dyno maybe be higher than anything the car has actually experienanced before (due to poor traction ect). Sometimes stuff is gonna break it it's not up to snuff
I went through a week where two people had supercharged 5.0 Mustangs blow-up on the dyno during tuning. They were friends and of couse blamed us.
Truth of the matter was that both of these guys had built the same combo, making stupid amounts of boost (20psi) on a stock rotating assembly. In both cases the over-stressed OE connecting rods broke when loaded.
Did we have anything do to with this: No but these two decided to tell their friends it was our fault anyways.

2) If you have anything
Yeah, people are so quick to blame others regardless of previous issues. Then they go and post about it and the tuner is pretty much wanted dead or alive.
Old Jan 15, 2010 | 12:38 PM
  #141  
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Originally Posted by VRT MBasile
Yeah, people are so quick to blame others regardless of previous issues. Then they go and post about it and the tuner is pretty much wanted dead or alive.
We're Not Gonna Take It?
Old Jan 15, 2010 | 12:51 PM
  #142  
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Originally Posted by rau
We're Not Gonna Take It?
that one's been used already, so don't go thinking you're back in the saddle again.
Old Jan 15, 2010 | 01:07 PM
  #143  
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Originally Posted by ipozestu
that one's been used already, so don't go thinking you're back in the saddle again.
well then, My Anaconda Dont Want None Unless You Got Buns Hun
Old Jan 15, 2010 | 01:27 PM
  #144  
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Originally Posted by rau
well then, My Anaconda Dont Want None Unless You Got Buns Hun
All this drama has got me rollin..... In my 5.0 with my drop top down so my hair can blow.
Old Jan 15, 2010 | 01:31 PM
  #145  
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I have consumed alcohol with Sir Mix-a-lot, et al.

Customers need to take responsibility for their role in any failure.

I can't tell you the number of cars that have been turned away due to ****ty workmanship by the owner.

The best one was a 2.2 swapped WRX that seized up on the dyno; the lower end had 300k on it, had sat outside for a few monthseven though another shop said it was fine.

Is it my fault that the engine failed?
No.

I had another customer that took 8 months to tune his car, because every time it was strapped to the dyno, another problem would show up.

And then his motor blew up.
Old Jan 15, 2010 | 01:32 PM
  #146  
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Originally Posted by wombatsauce
All this drama has got me rollin..... In my 5.0 with my drop top down so my hair can blow.
Yes,but are you headed to A1A..Beach front avenue?
Old Jan 15, 2010 | 01:50 PM
  #147  
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Originally Posted by Paul@dbtuned
Customers need to take responsibility for their role in any failure.

I can't tell you the number of cars that have been turned away due to ****ty workmanship by the owner.
I'd say that's completely fair. Customers shouldn't expect more in these circumstances. I mean really... I doubt there's any business out there that completely goes by the mantra: If there was a problem, Yo, I'll solve it.

Btw, have we expanded to early 90s already? Cuz Mr. Van Winkle didn't blow up til summer 1990, right? Just sayin'...
Old Jan 15, 2010 | 01:53 PM
  #148  
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Originally Posted by boardoholic
I'd say that's completely fair. Customers shouldn't expect more in these circumstances. I mean really... I doubt there's any business out there that completely goes by the mantra: If there was a problem, Yo, I'll solve it.

Btw, have we expanded to early 90s already? Cuz Mr. Van Winkle didn't blow up til summer 1990, right? Just sayin'...


Yes, but 1990 is the last year of the '80s.
Old Jan 15, 2010 | 01:54 PM
  #149  
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Originally Posted by ipozestu
that one's been used already, so don't go thinking you're back in the saddle again.
Oh look at you acting all tough, like you're some sort of street fighting man.
Old Jan 15, 2010 | 01:55 PM
  #150  
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Originally Posted by Paul@dbtuned


Yes, but 1990 is the last year of the '80s.
Then why are we gonna party like its 1999?



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