Why you shouldn't buy anything from RVM (long)
05-12-2003, 08:00 AM
#1
Why you shouldn't buy anything from RVM (long)
I ordered a pulley from RVM about two months ago. I just had the thing put on the weekend before last. After paying $60 to have it put on, the car was having trouble starting and I got a CEL for a crankshaft position sensor. I called RVM and they told me that it was a faulty timing ring and they would send me a new one. I got the new one and put it on myself last Thursday. The car ran like absolute crap. It would start to misfire around 2000 rpm’s and hit intermittently everywhere else in the RPM range. The car would misfire (possibly detonate), buck, and shake. (I was very careful to put the new timing ring on in the same exact position as the old one) I figured that the pulley alone could not be causing this problem so I called my local dealer on Friday morning. They said they could fit me in Monday morning. So yesterday (Sunday), I removed the RVM pulley and installed the stock one so that the dealer wouldn’t give me any trouble with the RVM pulley voiding my warranty. Well to my surprise, the car ran fine with the stock pulley in. No problems whatsoever.
Here is the fun part. I called RVM this morning and politely told them that I would like to get my money back for the pulley. The employee asked why and I started to explain how the pulley affected the car’s performance. In the middle of my sentence the guy interrupted me and interjected that there was no way this could happen. He then told me that they don’t issue refunds but they would inspect my pulley and issue me a new one IF mine was found to be defective. I explained that I don’t want to do that and I just want my money back. He stated again that they don’t issue refunds. I explained to him how I had this pulley installed once for $60 and then did it twice myself and that this $75 pulley has realistically cost me $135 (pulley + paid installation) and theoretically cost me $255 (pulley + 1X paid installation + 2X unpaid self –installations) He is unwilling to budge. My only resort is to send this pulley into RVM and hope that they send me a new pulley that works properly. After installing the new one, my hypothetical cost of a $75 pulley will be $305. $75 pulley + 1X paid installation @ $60 + 3X unpaid self-installations @ $60 a piece.
Cliff notes: RVM pulley doesn’t work. They have terrible customer service. Buy definitive or UR.
Here is the fun part. I called RVM this morning and politely told them that I would like to get my money back for the pulley. The employee asked why and I started to explain how the pulley affected the car’s performance. In the middle of my sentence the guy interrupted me and interjected that there was no way this could happen. He then told me that they don’t issue refunds but they would inspect my pulley and issue me a new one IF mine was found to be defective. I explained that I don’t want to do that and I just want my money back. He stated again that they don’t issue refunds. I explained to him how I had this pulley installed once for $60 and then did it twice myself and that this $75 pulley has realistically cost me $135 (pulley + paid installation) and theoretically cost me $255 (pulley + 1X paid installation + 2X unpaid self –installations) He is unwilling to budge. My only resort is to send this pulley into RVM and hope that they send me a new pulley that works properly. After installing the new one, my hypothetical cost of a $75 pulley will be $305. $75 pulley + 1X paid installation @ $60 + 3X unpaid self-installations @ $60 a piece.
Cliff notes: RVM pulley doesn’t work. They have terrible customer service. Buy definitive or UR.
05-12-2003, 08:32 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,422
i know i havent had any problems and i have my pulley on very long.... i also know that ny96max has one and i see him everyday and nothing wrong with his, Qnpark has one on his turbomax and he has no problems... all of ours were installed CORRECTLY and work perfect with great gains,,,, alot of people that have installed their own pullies have either forgot something or installed the pulley worng ...off the top of my head i can think of 10 people with nothing but posotive feedback about RVM...
05-12-2003, 09:01 AM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 594
Originally posted by DaThrillr
i know i havent had any problems and i have my pulley on very long.... i also know that ny96max has one and i see him everyday and nothing wrong with his, Qnpark has one on his turbomax and he has no problems... all of ours were installed CORRECTLY and work perfect with great gains,,,, alot of people that have installed their own pullies have either forgot something or installed the pulley worng ...off the top of my head i can think of 10 people with nothing but posotive feedback about RVM...
i know i havent had any problems and i have my pulley on very long.... i also know that ny96max has one and i see him everyday and nothing wrong with his, Qnpark has one on his turbomax and he has no problems... all of ours were installed CORRECTLY and work perfect with great gains,,,, alot of people that have installed their own pullies have either forgot something or installed the pulley worng ...off the top of my head i can think of 10 people with nothing but posotive feedback about RVM...
P.S. - Just a footnote I have an RVM pulley sitting in my room which i will never install. So since you know so many people that don't have problems with their pulleys i have one sitting here if they want to buy it for $50 plus shipping.
05-12-2003, 09:12 AM
#5
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,362
So in addition to the problem with the Oil seal abrading the Aluminum because of the lack of a steel sleeve there are two problems with the timing ring --
1. Ring is miscut on first batch of pulleys and one of the 'tabs' is 1/8" off.
2. Ring is non Magnetic (on all RVM pullys?) so the crankshaft position sensor does not pick it up properly.
Where all the timing rings made of the same material? How is it some have no problems with the crankshaft position sensor and others get a CEL/hard starting/or even worse like Bluebird?
IMO you guys with the RVM pulley should cut your losses and go with the Definitive or Unorthodox Pulleys and try to get a refund through Pay-Pal or your credit card company. Pay-pal and most credit card companys have a time limit on when you can ask for a refund so I would say the sooner the better, even if you don't have problems yet. My CC company wanted a 'profesional opinion' on why the product was defective (if the complaint was about a new product), perhaps you guys could get a letter from Unorthodox stating that a crankshaft pulley requires a steel sleeve.
Maybe you could buy just a timing ring from Unorthodox (if it fit) to solve the problem with the timing ring but you would still have the problem with the lack of a crankshaft seal. I feel bad for you guys, particularly the ones who paid for profesional installation
1. Ring is miscut on first batch of pulleys and one of the 'tabs' is 1/8" off.
2. Ring is non Magnetic (on all RVM pullys?) so the crankshaft position sensor does not pick it up properly.
Where all the timing rings made of the same material? How is it some have no problems with the crankshaft position sensor and others get a CEL/hard starting/or even worse like Bluebird?
IMO you guys with the RVM pulley should cut your losses and go with the Definitive or Unorthodox Pulleys and try to get a refund through Pay-Pal or your credit card company. Pay-pal and most credit card companys have a time limit on when you can ask for a refund so I would say the sooner the better, even if you don't have problems yet. My CC company wanted a 'profesional opinion' on why the product was defective (if the complaint was about a new product), perhaps you guys could get a letter from Unorthodox stating that a crankshaft pulley requires a steel sleeve.
Maybe you could buy just a timing ring from Unorthodox (if it fit) to solve the problem with the timing ring but you would still have the problem with the lack of a crankshaft seal. I feel bad for you guys, particularly the ones who paid for profesional installation
05-12-2003, 09:59 AM
#6
Did you compare the old/new timing rings? Did you compare the position of the timing "magnets" (oem vs the 2 from RVM)? Just curious. Not doubting or anything like that. If the magnets were indeed 1/8" off like Anachronism
said, that would REALLY screw up the car's timing maps.
said, that would REALLY screw up the car's timing maps.
05-12-2003, 10:26 AM
#7
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: City of the Fallen Angel, CA
Posts: 4,728
Originally posted by Anachronism
Maybe you could buy just a timing ring from Unorthodox (if it fit) to solve the problem with the timing ring but you would still have the problem with the lack of a crankshaft seal.
Maybe you could buy just a timing ring from Unorthodox (if it fit) to solve the problem with the timing ring but you would still have the problem with the lack of a crankshaft seal.
FYI, my RVM UDP does NOT leak oil yet. But I purchased a UR UDP as a backup. If the RVM UDP develops an oil leak, I'll replace it with the UR UDP. If it doesn't, I'll sell the UR UDP when I get rid of my Maxima in approximately 2006.
05-12-2003, 12:44 PM
#9
Originally posted by Jeff92se
Did you compare the old/new timing rings? Did you compare the position of the timing "magnets" (oem vs the 2 from RVM)? Just curious. Not doubting or anything like that. If the magnets were indeed 1/8" off like Anachronism
said, that would REALLY screw up the car's timing maps.
Did you compare the old/new timing rings? Did you compare the position of the timing "magnets" (oem vs the 2 from RVM)? Just curious. Not doubting or anything like that. If the magnets were indeed 1/8" off like Anachronism
said, that would REALLY screw up the car's timing maps.
Here's a potential theory: The first timing ring's tabs were in the wrong position but since they were not able to have a magnetic charge the crankshaft position sensor was not able to read the tabs. The second rings tabs were able to be read but were in the wrong position causing the car to fire in VERY inappropriate times. I mean, what if this pully was telling the sensor to have my ignition fire when my pistons were on their way back up. This could have been the demise of my car's engine.
Blubyu2K2 - Right on!
Anachronism - thanks for the sympathy.
96Max5spd - Nice
05-12-2003, 12:51 PM
#10
Originally posted by Jeff92se
Did you compare the old/new timing rings? Did you compare the position of the timing "magnets" (oem vs the 2 from RVM)? Just curious. Not doubting or anything like that. If the magnets were indeed 1/8" off like Anachronism
said, that would REALLY screw up the car's timing maps.
Did you compare the old/new timing rings? Did you compare the position of the timing "magnets" (oem vs the 2 from RVM)? Just curious. Not doubting or anything like that. If the magnets were indeed 1/8" off like Anachronism
said, that would REALLY screw up the car's timing maps.
Here's a potential theory: The first timing ring's tabs were in the wrong position but since they were not able to have a magnetic charge the crankshaft position sensor was not able to read the tabs. The second rings tabs were able to be read but were in the wrong position causing the car to fire in VERY inappropriate times. I mean, what if this pully was telling the sensor to have my ignition fire when my pistons were on their way back up. This could have been the demise of my car's engine.
Blubyu2K2 - Right on!
Anachronism - thanks for the sympathy.
96Max5spd - Nice
05-12-2003, 01:43 PM
#11
when you say you compared the two timing rings and they were in the same position, are you talking about two RVM rings, or one RVM ring to the stock pulley?
I had a hard time starting (having to tow my car home twice!!!) I decided to take my pulley off. when I got the RVM pulley off I unscrewed the timing ring and placed it over my stock pulley and the tabs are indeed off. the single tabs line up, but the double tabs are off by 1/8".
I put my stock pulley on and car ran like a champ. i called and emailed RVM. they said to send the ring back and they would send me a new ring and refund my shipping. I got another ring (but no refund for my shipping costs) but it was exactly the same as the old ring. 1/8" off. and by this time, other people have been saying that the steel in the rings may not be magnetically reactive. sure enough a refrigerator magnet cannot tell the difference between this ss ring and a piece of cardboard. so there are two problems with the ring. and in the meantime others are experiencing problems with oil leaks. i haven't gotten a leak since mine was on for only 3 days, but after emailing RVM and threatening to have my CC charge it back he says to send it back for a refund. I hope he actually sticks to his word and refunds my money.
I had a hard time starting (having to tow my car home twice!!!) I decided to take my pulley off. when I got the RVM pulley off I unscrewed the timing ring and placed it over my stock pulley and the tabs are indeed off. the single tabs line up, but the double tabs are off by 1/8".
I put my stock pulley on and car ran like a champ. i called and emailed RVM. they said to send the ring back and they would send me a new ring and refund my shipping. I got another ring (but no refund for my shipping costs) but it was exactly the same as the old ring. 1/8" off. and by this time, other people have been saying that the steel in the rings may not be magnetically reactive. sure enough a refrigerator magnet cannot tell the difference between this ss ring and a piece of cardboard. so there are two problems with the ring. and in the meantime others are experiencing problems with oil leaks. i haven't gotten a leak since mine was on for only 3 days, but after emailing RVM and threatening to have my CC charge it back he says to send it back for a refund. I hope he actually sticks to his word and refunds my money.
05-12-2003, 01:56 PM
#12
Originally posted by Kanaka
when you say you compared the two timing rings and they were in the same position, are you talking about two RVM rings, or one RVM ring to the stock pulley?
when you say you compared the two timing rings and they were in the same position, are you talking about two RVM rings, or one RVM ring to the stock pulley?
I never even thought about comparing the RVM's to the stock.
05-12-2003, 03:38 PM
#13
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money back. good luck. i just wanted new one so that i can try to fix the problem with oil leak but they won't even exchange mine.
like most people said just take this as learning experience and never again will i buy from them
like most people said just take this as learning experience and never again will i buy from them
05-21-2003, 11:30 AM
#16
Turtle turtle... Moderator
iTrader: (25)
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: San Bruno, Petaluma, SF Bay area
Posts: 4,857
ive installed 2 RVM pullies on 2 different Maximas. First one was when they first came out and after install the Maxima worked fine. (96 Max) then about a month ago i did another RVM on a 00 Max and it has the check engine light/bad starting issues that ive seen alot of people have.
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