FABSPEED - Cuda911's Cat Replacement Thread
08-11-2014, 11:56 PM
#46
Unbelievable. Scratch Fabspeed off my list of options. That response was so off topic and unrelated to the situation at hand that I had a hard time sifting through it.
Good luck to you Mike- you might have to chalk this one up to a Loss. These guys are so out of touch it hurts!
Good luck to you Mike- you might have to chalk this one up to a Loss. These guys are so out of touch it hurts!
FWIW, I've been happy with Speedtech(speedtechexhausts.com) parts and service. I think they are also sponsors on here or used to be at one point.
08-12-2014, 10:06 AM
#49
Rennlist Member
Moreover, all of the aftermarket exhaust manufacturers should be more upfront in telling customers that there product will not pass a California visual, and that a high flow cat will trigger a MIL lamp for cat efficiency. It is also funny that they all claim a 15-25 HP increase with there systems, I say bull****. The Cat extenders will most likely stop the MIL light from triggering, Nicely polished stainless is masking an inferior product. There is a reason that the OEM cats are so expensive, they are a lot higher quality. And there warranty policy is nuts, Just send you two new cats, it will cure the problem for a year or so, and they can send the old ones back to there top tier supplier for reimbursement. Defiantly poor customer service
08-12-2014, 10:09 AM
#50
Three Wheelin'
So, why doesn't everyone here just slap on some extenders to pass smog? Or is that something the smog techs will look for right away?
In CA now, if you get a notice from DMV that you have to take your car to a "STAR-certified" smog inspection shop, they go out of their way to fail you. STAR-certified shops get to charge three times as much for running the exact same tests as non-STAR shops.
Re: "If Fabspeed cat converters work..." Yeah, that's my concern though. There is no way for me to know if they are working or not.
My mechanic claims that Fabspeed's guy (I don't know which one... I assume Mickey, since that's who he deals with the most there) told him to ask me if I had run high octane gas, thus ruining the cats.
In my entire life, I have never gotten so much run-around for a clear warranty issue. Sears will take back a 30-year old tool and exchange it, no questions asked.
I also don't understand why I was under the impression that my cats had been sent back to Fabspeed, when, in fact, Fabspeed told my mechanic to not send them in, since they were going to send the extenders.
At least a tiny shred of communication would have been good. Everyone involved has my name, address, email, and cell phone number.
Can someone from Fabspeed please answer, in this thread, the issues regarding using an O2 extender as a fix?
Pluses? Minuses? Potential issues? Is it really a "fix" or is it a "band-aid"?
I do not have the background to understand this issue from a technical standpoint, so hopefully an engineering type guy can educate me.
Thanks!
In CA now, if you get a notice from DMV that you have to take your car to a "STAR-certified" smog inspection shop, they go out of their way to fail you. STAR-certified shops get to charge three times as much for running the exact same tests as non-STAR shops.
Re: "If Fabspeed cat converters work..." Yeah, that's my concern though. There is no way for me to know if they are working or not.
My mechanic claims that Fabspeed's guy (I don't know which one... I assume Mickey, since that's who he deals with the most there) told him to ask me if I had run high octane gas, thus ruining the cats.
In my entire life, I have never gotten so much run-around for a clear warranty issue. Sears will take back a 30-year old tool and exchange it, no questions asked.
I also don't understand why I was under the impression that my cats had been sent back to Fabspeed, when, in fact, Fabspeed told my mechanic to not send them in, since they were going to send the extenders.
At least a tiny shred of communication would have been good. Everyone involved has my name, address, email, and cell phone number.
Can someone from Fabspeed please answer, in this thread, the issues regarding using an O2 extender as a fix?
Pluses? Minuses? Potential issues? Is it really a "fix" or is it a "band-aid"?
I do not have the background to understand this issue from a technical standpoint, so hopefully an engineering type guy can educate me.
Thanks!
In AZ, OBD 2 cars don't have to do the sniffer or visual test. You pull up to the station, they connect their OBD 2 scanner to the car; if no faults present, you are GTG. So using the extenders in AZ to eliminate the CEL is a viable solution; in CA not so much.
08-12-2014, 10:29 AM
#51
Still plays with cars.
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
I have had factory cats fail on my 04 GT3 and my 09 C4S. So even factory cats are not perfect. Never used anything but 94 octane fuel. Rumor has it that some 94 octane contains more than 10 percent ethanol which will eventually kill cats. Dunno if true, in any case my cats were replaced under warranty. The suspect gas station changed suppliers and there have been many fewer dead cats recently.
08-12-2014, 10:32 AM
#52
08-12-2014, 01:40 PM
#53
Race Director
Thread Starter
Moreover, all of the aftermarket exhaust manufacturers should be more upfront in telling customers that there product will not pass a California visual. And there warranty policy is nuts, Just send you two new cats, it will cure the problem for a year or so, and they can send the old ones back to there top tier supplier for reimbursement. Defiantly poor customer service
Alex at Fabspeed at one point told me that he wasn't aware that Fabspeed cats weren't CA compliant!
Why is Fabspeed acting like it would put them out of business to just replace the cats? Insane.
Originally Posted by Joe@Fabspeed
mike cuda car will be handled as all our other customers.
mike cuda car will be handled as all our other customers.
.
08-12-2014, 11:07 PM
#54
Rennlist Member
Update (August 11, 2014):
Well, no response or reply from Fabspeed.
I picked up my car today. The mechanic told me that Fabspeed insisted on having them install the O2 sensor extenders, rather than replacing the cats. He said that he would not been at all satisfied with this "fix" if it were his car.
I don't consider myself very satisfied with this "resolution" either.
Well, no response or reply from Fabspeed.
I picked up my car today. The mechanic told me that Fabspeed insisted on having them install the O2 sensor extenders, rather than replacing the cats. He said that he would not been at all satisfied with this "fix" if it were his car.
I don't consider myself very satisfied with this "resolution" either.
If only you had a Cayman, read post#8 in this thread:
https://rennlist.com/forums/porsche-...uld-i-get.html
08-13-2014, 02:30 PM
#56
Crickets....unbelievable
Bob, you have a PM
Mike, sorry for your troubles and lo$$! After following this thread, I contacted a friend, to advise him against a Fabspeed system for his 964. Hope they rectify the problems with your system.
Best,
Dwane
I have had factory cats fail on my 04 GT3 and my 09 C4S. So even factory cats are not perfect. Never used anything but 94 octane fuel. Rumor has it that some 94 octane contains more than 10 percent ethanol which will eventually kill cats. Dunno if true, in any case my cats were replaced under warranty. The suspect gas station changed suppliers and there have been many fewer dead cats recently.
A rather expensive loss, at that. I spent nearly $6,000 on the Fabspeed Performance Package. Not exactly chump change.
With two kid's college tuitions that I am paying, rather painful.
I have received numerous PM's from guys telling me that they considered Fabspeed equipment, but after reading this have crossed Fabspeed off of their list.
I can't understand why any business would torpedo itself this way.
With two kid's college tuitions that I am paying, rather painful.
I have received numerous PM's from guys telling me that they considered Fabspeed equipment, but after reading this have crossed Fabspeed off of their list.
I can't understand why any business would torpedo itself this way.
Best,
Dwane
08-13-2014, 04:24 PM
#57
Racer
Currently happy with my Fisters. If I ever make the jump to performance exhaust I will no longer consider Fabspeed as an option based on Mike's experience as I am a CA resident in San Diego.
08-13-2014, 05:11 PM
#59
08-13-2014, 06:18 PM
#60
Burning Brakes
For what it would have cost them to just send you a new cat I bet they have already lost 100x more of potential profit. With so many options available at your fingertips keeping customers happy is the key to stay in business for a long time.