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Power Fc Install

Johnny

By Johnny,
in Engines & Forced Induction

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Johnny Veteran

Johnny

Posted
Posted

Hey guys,

I need some opinions before i overreact here.

Story: Had my power fc installed and tuned on wednesday 2nd july by a reputable tuner. This is how my car was left

post-4266-1215412543_thumb.jpg

Now i was told that the standard factory frame which holds the stock ecu would not fit the power fc and i should just go home and use some double sided tape to stick it in position and cover with the black plastic cover.

Now is this right or have i been the victim of lies and dodgy workmanship from yet another tuner?

Please let me know so i can evaluate the shops business ethics and know whether to be a returning customer.

-Johnny

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https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/227070-power-fc-install/
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Revhead Grand Master

Revhead

Posted
Posted

Well with my old PFC (S1 R33 if it helps) the bolt holes on the bracket didn't line up (I compared the stock ECU to the PFC and the holes were, indeed, in different places) so I just drilled some holes through the brackets to make it fit. I also needed to cut a small notch out of the bracket to allow the plug for the hand controller to fit in place, the bracket partially covered that hole. If you do it neatly it looks like a factory job :woot: Probably still not perfect but IMHO much better than sticky tape.

I've never compared the 34GTR ecu with a PFC but they should be externally the same size, so I'd imagine the above would work for you too. If I were running a workshop I'd suggest ways to mount it properly - to me, mounting an ECU directly to the car's body with double sided tape is a bit bodgy?

STATUS Grand Master

STATUS

Posted
Posted

yeah use the std ecu backing plate, it should have been done but maybe they spent more time doing a killer tune and ran out of time to fit it... ? who knows..... important question is is the tune neater than the install :woot: kidding.

R31Nismoid Grand Master

R31Nismoid

Posted
Posted

If i had a 34GTR and it was left like that, id be a tad annoyed to be honest when its little effort to get it back in.

But then having said that, mine was left on the floor. Mainly because my car is a shitbox and it doesnt have mounts for ECU's that small... and i couldn't care less because its a shitbox so if it wasnt on the floor there would be something wrong, oh... and there is more tuning to come still... so ye... horses for courses :woot:

Johnny Veteran

Johnny

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks so much for the replies so far guys.

and jst so there is no confusion, i am/was a very polite customer. I even payed in cash so they could avoid declaring it (no tax etc)

and there is some damage on my front bumper which i noticed only a few days ago; coincidence? dont think so considering my car has never been parked in a lot before and has been in my garage ever since.

Business is not about ripping the customer off and performing less than decent work, its about doing the job right and hopefully have a returning customer. I would have spent thousands over the next few months but now i will have to find another tuner/mechanic whom treats me like a friend. :-(

-Johnny

ps: i checked the brackets and they do in fact fit the power fc, everything lines up.

GeeTR Grand Master

GeeTR

Posted
Posted (edited)

They should have mentioned the mounting issue when you picked it up, though being fair...

...not that i know the tuner you went to, but I know a few who wouldn't think its their job to drill holes and mount the ECU :D

He's most likely skilled in tuning and is payed for his experience, not mounting things in your kick panels IMO.

.... hopefully an "installation cost" didn't appear on your work receipt? haha

Edited by GeeTR
Johnny Veteran

Johnny

Posted
  • Author
Posted
They should have mentioned the mounting issue when you picked it up, though being fair...

...not that i know the tuner you went to, but I know a few who wouldn't think its their job to drill holes and mount the ECU :blush:

He's most likely skilled in tuning and is payed for his experience, not mounting things in your kick panels IMO.

.... hopefully an "installation cost" didn't appear on your work receipt? haha

Hey mate, they mentioned the mounting with stickytape and thats it. The pic displayed is how the car was left.

The tuner's job was to install the power fc and tune it on the all-wheel-drive dyno so it wasnt just a dyno run.

The factory ecu was removed and should have been replaced in the stock position with the stock mounts/frame. A 5minute job was not completed, i was lied to and now they have lost a customer.

jeffworld2 Veteran

jeffworld2

Posted
Posted

or he didnt wantr to charge you labour to do somthing simple?? i know a lot of tuners who are happy to stay off the tools like gteer said. they are for using dynos and computers, and having a vast knowledge of how engines work under load etc., not working out how to stickytape something 'solidly'

its like asking your boss to fetch lunch

also, had they taped it, and you found it one day, im sure you would think how dodgy they were installing your fc.

for the recod, mine is not stuck in at all, it just has the kick panel holding t in. has been so for years

tridentt150v Grand Master

tridentt150v

Posted
Posted

When i brought my Hilux with the V8 motor in it, the holden ecu was wrapped in rags and behind the kick panel. The rags were wet and moldy. When the shop that did the conversion rewired they punched through the firewall grommet and tore the crap out of it, so it leaked. The guy I brought it off had been driving it like that for over 12 months..........son of rajab knows how the ecu was still working, it had condensation inside the cover.

And I won't talk about the wiring under the dash I found, I reckon if the interior wasn't so wet, it would have shorted out and caught fire..........lol.

Johnny Veteran

Johnny

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Looks like they tuned your car and couldn't be bothered finishing the job. Bit piss poor I reckon

Exactly right

or he didnt wantr to charge you labour to do somthing simple?? i know a lot of tuners who are happy to stay off the tools like gteer said. they are for using dynos and computers, and having a vast knowledge of how engines work under load etc., not working out how to stickytape something 'solidly'

its like asking your boss to fetch lunch

also, had they taped it, and you found it one day, im sure you would think how dodgy they were installing your fc.

for the recod, mine is not stuck in at all, it just has the kick panel holding t in. has been so for years

I never said 'save me money' and the thing is, the power fc is meant to be mounted in the stock position, in the stock frame.

I dont want any stickytape in my car!

When i brought my Hilux with the V8 motor in it, the holden ecu was wrapped in rags and behind the kick panel. The rags were wet and moldy. When the shop that did the conversion rewired they punched through the firewall grommet and tore the crap out of it, so it leaked. The guy I brought it off had been driving it like that for over 12 months..........son of rajab knows how the ecu was still working, it had condensation inside the cover.

And I won't talk about the wiring under the dash I found, I reckon if the interior wasn't so wet, it would have shorted out and caught fire..........lol.

Now that is baaaaad! dude i feel for you here.

R32Abuser Mentor

R32Abuser

Posted
Posted

being a tuner, its about doing the job rite for the customer-you know the saying, the customer is always rite

Here i would consider this a below par installation and i wouldnt be taking my car back there. If you want it done properly i would take it back there and let them know how you want the job finished. Or just finish it yourself and dont go back there.

i2icho Enthusiast

i2icho

Posted
Posted

Yeah man if i had a R34 GTR i wouldn't be happy either and you have every right not to be!!!

(drools over r34 GTR)

You pay good money for a install like that and they cant even do it right i feel for ya.

I'd be going back if i was you and asking them to do it properly!

Forget about being nice, you have been stooged.

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