Got Screwed out of $500! Avoid my fate.
09-13-2007, 10:43 PM
#1
Got Screwed out of $500! Avoid my fate. (this is reguarding an LS1 specific Alternator so it fits here)
Short Story: Do not buy products from RushPowerSystems.com They do not stand behind their product, their warranty is worthless and they are not honest in their repairs. Their owner is rude and personifies poor customer service.
Long story:
I purchased a 200amp alternator for $475 from rushpowersystems.com in February after designing a sound system for my car. Last week the alternator gave out while driving. After talking with Darren Flint (owner of Rush power systems) he told me I could send it back for warranty repairs. I was reluctant to do this because my car is my only vehicle.
After receiving the alternator, Darren said that the unit overheated and could be fixed by replacing components that were destroyed. He also suggested some sort of coating that would cool the alternator. I informed him that this car was my daily driver and he said he could put a rush on the work required. I was fine with this assuming that it was under the lifetime warranty offered by rush power systems on their alternators. See link:
(http://rushpowersystems.com/toppage1.htm)
After talking with him he said it would be another week before he could get the alternator back to me and that it would cost $150 to fix and that the lifetime warranty only covered labor…total warranty only lasted for 3 months. I’m suspicious that the unit itself was faulty because it failed so quickly and I shouldn’t be responsible for repairs to it. Darren claims that my system is causing the alternator to work excessively and is causing the overheating.
The alternator I purchased was described as follows according to Darren in the emails I sent asking him about his product:
“ …another problem whit your stock alternator design is there is not enough venting to dissipate the heat, the newer alternator solves that problem”
(alternator specs)
engine idle (700 to1000 rpm) 80 / 120 amps
part throttle cruse (1500 to 2500 rpms) 140 / 180 amps
power mode (2500 to 4500 rpms) 150 / 225 amps
(regarding clutch pulley option which I requested)
“I wold also recommend our clutch pulley. with the clutch pulley when you stop at a light the alternator "freewheels" at the same speed it was turning when you were at cruse speed. this will give you a soother power curve, as well as the ability to produce a proximally 150 amps at an idle whit no power loss on the top end. this option would add $75.00 to your total.”
I’ve only had this unit since mid February and have put less than 500 miles on the car since it was installed.
The System power demands were as follows:
Peak power:
JL 500/1 – 50 amp fuse
(2) Alpine MRP F250 amps – 2x 15amp
(total of all amp fuses) 110
I have my gains set conservatively: The JL is set at 50% and Alpines are set at 70%. I have yet to have my volume level above 50%. This means the current draw shouldn’t exceed 50 amps even during a musical peak. I also have the “big 3” using Knukoncepts KOL4 awg wire.
…. Over a month after sending it off
After enduring many rude emails, I put the $150 “repair charge” on my credit card and it’s a good thing too. When I received the unit, it still did not work. I’m currently disputing the repair charge on my credit card. I would have disputed the original $475 but it was past the 180 days my credit card allows for disputes. I’m also out $25 for shipping back the broken alternator when it failed.
I’m planning on having a local alternator specialist rebuild the one I received. For those of you wondering why I didn’t buy an alternator locally, the OEM replacement is near $500 because of the unique chassis dimensions.
Short Story: Do not buy products from RushPowerSystems.com They do not stand behind their product, their warranty is worthless and they are not honest in their repairs. Their owner is rude and personifies poor customer service.
Long story:
I purchased a 200amp alternator for $475 from rushpowersystems.com in February after designing a sound system for my car. Last week the alternator gave out while driving. After talking with Darren Flint (owner of Rush power systems) he told me I could send it back for warranty repairs. I was reluctant to do this because my car is my only vehicle.
After receiving the alternator, Darren said that the unit overheated and could be fixed by replacing components that were destroyed. He also suggested some sort of coating that would cool the alternator. I informed him that this car was my daily driver and he said he could put a rush on the work required. I was fine with this assuming that it was under the lifetime warranty offered by rush power systems on their alternators. See link:
(http://rushpowersystems.com/toppage1.htm)
After talking with him he said it would be another week before he could get the alternator back to me and that it would cost $150 to fix and that the lifetime warranty only covered labor…total warranty only lasted for 3 months. I’m suspicious that the unit itself was faulty because it failed so quickly and I shouldn’t be responsible for repairs to it. Darren claims that my system is causing the alternator to work excessively and is causing the overheating.
The alternator I purchased was described as follows according to Darren in the emails I sent asking him about his product:
“ …another problem whit your stock alternator design is there is not enough venting to dissipate the heat, the newer alternator solves that problem”
(alternator specs)
engine idle (700 to1000 rpm) 80 / 120 amps
part throttle cruse (1500 to 2500 rpms) 140 / 180 amps
power mode (2500 to 4500 rpms) 150 / 225 amps
(regarding clutch pulley option which I requested)
“I wold also recommend our clutch pulley. with the clutch pulley when you stop at a light the alternator "freewheels" at the same speed it was turning when you were at cruse speed. this will give you a soother power curve, as well as the ability to produce a proximally 150 amps at an idle whit no power loss on the top end. this option would add $75.00 to your total.”
I’ve only had this unit since mid February and have put less than 500 miles on the car since it was installed.
The System power demands were as follows:
Peak power:
JL 500/1 – 50 amp fuse
(2) Alpine MRP F250 amps – 2x 15amp
(total of all amp fuses) 110
I have my gains set conservatively: The JL is set at 50% and Alpines are set at 70%. I have yet to have my volume level above 50%. This means the current draw shouldn’t exceed 50 amps even during a musical peak. I also have the “big 3” using Knukoncepts KOL4 awg wire.
…. Over a month after sending it off
After enduring many rude emails, I put the $150 “repair charge” on my credit card and it’s a good thing too. When I received the unit, it still did not work. I’m currently disputing the repair charge on my credit card. I would have disputed the original $475 but it was past the 180 days my credit card allows for disputes. I’m also out $25 for shipping back the broken alternator when it failed.
I’m planning on having a local alternator specialist rebuild the one I received. For those of you wondering why I didn’t buy an alternator locally, the OEM replacement is near $500 because of the unique chassis dimensions.
09-13-2007, 11:20 PM
#2
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,080
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ouch. that sucks. Looks like Ill avoid these guys. If it happens to one it will happen again to someone else. Not me. Thanks, Im in the middle of a alt. situation right now too. Sorry to hear the BS they presented
09-13-2007, 11:37 PM
#3
Originally Posted by Smokin00WS6
Ouch. that sucks. Looks like Ill avoid these guys. If it happens to one it will happen again to someone else. Not me. Thanks, Im in the middle of a alt. situation right now too. Sorry to hear the BS they presented
