Problems with SC

[AlaskaVX]

Well the word on my SC is that the (in not too technical terms) holes where the injectors go are 3/100's too small. So either I need to get it machined or have Alpine send me a new one. I am talking with Phillip at Alpine trying to get this worked out. I believe Alpine should pay for any lost time which is like 6 hours now. I hope this gets resolved soon since I have been without my VX for a week now. My brother went into a ditch yesterday and popped 2 tires so thats another car we don't have. I only have enough money for a 9-hour install and belts/spark plugs/etc. so if Alpine doesn't pay then I'm screwed! Well I'll keep everyone updated on what happens.

later,
Alan

[Dallas4u]

I would agree that any manufacturing error needs to be fixed by the manufacturer... no doubt.

[IsuZOOM]

I would also agree that the extra shop time spent because of their mistake should be covered.

[paultvx]

While it sound logical to have Alpine pay for the extra shop hours... I'd say you'd be damn lucky to get even a new fuel rail out of them.

I wouldn't piss them off if I were you by making demands... for now. See if they'll fedex you a new part in exchange of the old (they can always have it machined correctly and resell.) All else fails (worst scenario)... you may just have to suck it up and take it to small claims court.

[AlaskaVX]

I'm really hoping it won't go that far. Alpine just told me that they will send me a new manifold in exchange for the old, but I haven't discussed the labor that was charged putting the defected manifold on.

[paultvx]

I seriously doubt they will go that far. Chances are they think they're doing you a favor by sending the new part. But it doesn't hurt to ask... I'd hold off the question until the new part is already in transit. That way you come out with your cup half full... at least.

[AlaskaVX]

I'm about to call them and say that they need to pay for next day air shipping for the manifold and all new gaskets since the ones on there have already been torqued down. And I'll tell them that they are paying for all hours that have been used on this defect. I know they are not going to like it but screw them! I will take them to court if this doesn't work the way I want it to! This is a bunch of BS! They told me that they would send me a new manifold "ground service" and if I wanted it sooner then I will have to pay. That isn't going to happen! I'm pissed now! It's war! I tried to be nice but now I am getting angry!

[Dallas4u]

Say! Isn't there a warranty on them there new models? Through all the jibba-jabba about this subject, I can't recall if anything was ever set straight about it.

If there IS a warranty, something's gotta be done! (Probably just the part and not the labor, though).

[AlaskaVX]

Yes it does have a warranty on defected parts, but don't you think if they had any kind of descent customer service that they should pay for what is their fault! I will carry this to the end, I talked to Phillip again and he said that he was close to the shipping deadline for the manifold so he couldn't really talk. I don't believe I am going to get new gaskets. Let this be known that if I have a bad gasket then I should be able to have Alpine repair it for free (at least in my eyes). I asked for the new gaskets and I believe they refused but aren't telling me. Anyway this is speculation I should shut up before I diss Alpine too hard. They seem to be working with me, but it also seems that I am getting screwed at the same time. If Alpine will fix this I will praise them for having great customer service, but if not I might just ruin their name on the internet!

PS I hope Alpine reads this!

[BaM*BaM]

Has anyone else experienced a similar problem? It's highly unlikely that a part that is machine made came out with a very different size on just your particular part... I would maybe get another quality mechanic to varify the problem.

[WyrreJ]

Did you buy it through Tone? I think he posted that he was going to be incommunicado for a while, but it might be worth seeing if you can get in contact with him to help smooth over any problems you are having with Alpine directly. He's certainly responsible for selling a goodly few SCs, so he may have some influence over their customer service. Or not.

[Hotsauce]

I did have to oil my injector O rings to get them into the holes. also, depending on the age and condition of your original rings they may have swelled up. Did anyone measure the hole size? How does it compare to the holes in the stock manifold. be Aware if using replacement O rings on the injectors that top and bottom ring are ever so slightly different size.

Are all the holes too small, or just 1 or 2? I run a machine shop, and when we finish a job the tools for that job get put in a box with the jigs, and become dedicated to that job/customer. Most shops work this way. It would be very unusual in most shops for the wrong reamer to get used for something like this, and if it did, likely that a whole bunch of pieces would get made the wrong size, not just 1.

John C.

[AlaskaVX]

All the holes are too small. The injector will fit in the hole without an o-ring and there is no play at all when its in there. With the o-ring there is no way. The shop showed me that when he put the injector in the stock manifold there was a lot of play and it fit nicely with the o-ring. It was very obvious that the holes were too small.

[Zu4two]

As I recall, those injectors fit quite tightly in the manifold holes. I also would question whether the top and bottom O rings got reversed. I wouldn't sweat the "used" intake gaskets. They're hard plastic and metal and don't deform until the engine gets nice and hot. I would question why the shop didn't follow the assembly procedures from Alpine, which has them installing the injectors and fuel rail on the manifold on the workbench, before it gets mounted on the engine.

Good luck! Your trials make my 14 hour installation look like a cake walk

[AlaskaVX]

The reason they didn't is because they thought that the o-rings were the problem and they were going to do all they could up until they HAD to put them in there. There is no "quite tightly", you wouldn't be able to wrap a small rubberband around it and stick it in, it's that small.