Venom VCN-2000 Nitrous
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Venom VCN-2000 Nitrous
System |
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The contents of my final letter to the company
follow: September 21, 2004
Heather O'Connor Ms. O'Connor, In late 2003, I purchased a Venom VCN-2000 system for my 1992 Saturn SC from Custom Rim.com. Even though this system is sold as being specifically for my year/model of car, I began to experience problems with it right away. Since my date of purchase, I've been in contact with Jose Osornio in your tech department regularly. As of May 7, 2004, the unit and various other parts of the system have been back to you several times for testing/repair. To this day, the system has never worked properly and I have not yet been able to use it. Because of the amount of troubleshooting and testing I've done and the conversations I've had with Jose, I've come the point where I need to ask for your assistance. A great deal of time has passed since I've spent quite a bit of money on this system due to several reasons - the largest of which is probably frustration on my part. I'm no longer able to continue putting time and energy into trying to make this system work, or to continue trying to determine why it is not working. Again, especially when one takes into consideration that this system was specifically made for this vehicle. My first call to you was on June 1, 2004, where I stated my situation and briefly described the most recent problem. At that time, you let me know that a discussion of my situation with your tech area would take place and I would be contacted after that occurred. I've attempted to follow up with you several times since then, where each time I was told by the person answering the phone that you'd be returning my call. My last attempt to speak to you directly was June 22, 2004. My first letter to you was sent on June 2. I have waited several months for a response. How much additional time do you feel it will take for a consultation with your tech department and a return phone call? There is nothing I would like more to have this system work on my car, but unfortunately, it's difficult to have patience after I've spent more than a thousand dollars on a system so long ago that has not yet worked properly. I am looking forward to any reasonable testing and/or fixes I can attempt to make this system operate. But if these final efforts are not successful, we need to discuss what the next step will be. Enclosed with this letter are copies of the tech support sheets from each time I've sent the unit back to your tech department. I've also included specifics on the car and details of the installation and testing/troubleshooting I've already done for the current and most recent problem I'm experiencing. I can be reached at xxx-xxx-xxxx on weekdays after 2pm Pacific time. If I'm not able to answer, please leave a message and I will return your call within 24 hours. I look forward to hearing from you soon. As the saying goes, "A satisfied customer may tell one person, but an unsatisfied customer tells ten." Even if this system will not work for me, I still want to end up a customer that is satisfied with the resolution. But whether or not that happens is up to you. Thank you, Lane Vehicle Specifics 1992 Saturn SC External motor modifications include no catalytic converter (vehicle is not street driven), less-restrictive exhaust system, aftermarket intake & filter. Plug wires and ignition coils have been replaced with non-OEM aftermarket parts, but are not a high-performance or otherwise esoteric design. No modifications have been made to the PCM or ignition system. No add-on modules or aftermarket piggyback computers are used. An MPSI Pro Link model 9000 computer is used when required to monitor engine sensors and PCM operation. I've also got a full set of Saturn Factory Service manuals that are normally used by Saturn technicians which I can refer to for detailed technical information. I'm able to solicit information from several technicians employed by a local Saturn retailer, as well as an engineer employed by General Motors who has been directly involved in the design and engineering of the Saturn line. System was purchased new from Custom Rim.com Problems/Troubleshooting Mid-2003 - Phoned your tech support area and spoke with Jose for the first time. I was considering purchase of the VCN-2000 system but had questions about its operation. But most importantly, I wanted to confirm that an application was available for Saturn. I also had questions about problems experienced by a fellow Saturn owner whose account I'd stumbled across on the Internet. I was assured that you had sold numerous Saturn kits and that owners were using them without any notable issues. Shortly after, I purchased my system from Custom Rim.com. I've read the system installation manual and supplemental notes numerous times, being careful to follow instructions to the letter. Exceptional care was taken to ensure solid wiring connections by using connectors supplied with the kit, as well as the proper terminals where required. All system wiring, routing, and connections have been triple-checked. A multimeter has been used to verify continuity, resistance, grounds, etc. All wiring codes listed in the system documentation have also been verified in Saturn factory service manuals. All stock sensor output has been verified to be within the proper range as specified in the Saturn factory service manuals. 10/2003 - Reported during initial installation that RPM displayed by the unit's display was approximately double what actual engine RPM was. The car's ignition system uses DIS waste spark, which I set in the main unit's program settings. Was instructed by Jose to change software setting for type of ignition system to one of the other choices. After making this change, RPM was read and displayed properly. 10/21/2003 - Reported that injector pulsewidth display reads '00' and does not change (while all other parameters displayed properly). Was instructed to send in the main unit. Problem persisted after unit returned. Jose then reported that original developer/engineer information leads him to believe that display of injector pulsewidth on this particular car is not supported due to speed or level of the injector signal (or something similar, the details of which I do not recall). After unit was returned to me, it would no longer accept programming. 12/9/2003 - Reported that unit no longer accepts programming after being returned to me. Instructed by Jose to open and change 9v battery, but had no effect. Instructed to send in the main unit and cable. 1/9/2004 - Received unit back. Cannot program it since cable I sent in was not returned. Called Jose and waited for cable to be returned. 5/7/2004 - Reported that unit displays "Active" on display, main solenoid under hood clicks, but nitrous is not sprayed. This behavior was observed by having the line and nozzle aimed upward near the cowl (and not into the intake/motor). Was instructed to send in the unit. Received unit back. Since then, I've performed approximately 15 test runs where nozzle was still aimed where it could be seen. These problems were observed: * Display read
'active' and nitrous sprayed - twice. An MPSI Pro Link model 9000 was used to monitor the engine sensors and PCM. Oxygen sensor readings were within the normal expected range. The oxygen sensor was swapped out twice for a replacement during the runs above with no change in operation/behavior of the system or readings observed on the Pro Link. The Saturn PCM goes into open loop mode at WOT where it uses a rich mixture (ignoring its internal fuel tables). When this occurs, it is visible on the Pro Link. This ensures that lean condition is not occurring. Fuel pressure at WOT also shows to be within the factory specifications. Oxygen sensor is OEM residing in the original factory manifold. As this is an OBD1 vehicle, there is no rear oxygen sensor after the catalytic converter. |
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