TRD/ Magnuson 4.0 Supercharger Tips, Tricks, and Mods

Alright guys, I really need your help and or opinions on this situation.

I just picked up the Taco from the shop its been at since mid October. They quoted me $1500 for them to diagnose my disappearing s/c coolant, tear apart the blower, fix the stripped bolts on the intercooler (add Helicoils or the like), replace all the seals and O-Rings, do a complete inspection, and cut out my rear cats and weld in new piping for a full cat delete.

I paid 50% up front when I dropped it off, with a estimated turn around of a couple weeks. Well, 2 weeks turned into almost 2 months. The issues were "The seals on our lift went out, we're waiting for parts".. OK.. no problem. Next issue was "We found the coolant issue, damaged O ring, but Toyota sent the wrong seals and gaskets, so we're waiting for those"... OK.. glad its getting resolved, no biggie. Next issue was "S/C is all sealed up and fixed, we added helicoils, we're just waiting for an opening on the lift to do the exhaust".. ooookay... starting to take a while.

Got the call that it was done yesterday, so I got the remainder of the balance out in cash, and went today to pick it up. Talked to the owner, who has been great this entire time, I didnt have any ill feelings about him or his shop. They were highly rated afterall. He explained that he fixed the stripped bolts, showed me the insert he used, said that he didnt do all of them because not all of them needed to be repaired. He did mention how raspy the exhaust was now though due to deleting the cats. I expected some change, but still had a Borla and Magnaflow, so wasnt too concerned. He said it seemed to drive much better, have better response, AFR readings were better, etc, etc. At no point was a part list, sheet, PO, etc shown. All I've had this entire time is the (rough) quote, and the communications over the phone about what they were doing and replacing, parts they were waiting for, etc.

Driving home, I immediately realized there was an issue with the exhaust first of all. I'm not dumb.. I know what an exhaust leak sounds like. I could clearly hear it right under my feet. I had a damn good feeling it was a leak, but waited till I got home before passing judgement. I got home, popped the hood and started poking around. I immediately found missing hardware which made the factory intake box loose and floppy. I started just quickly checking what bolts on the Lid I could by hand.. and instantly found one that was loose. I grabbed my Ratchet and started going around the ones I could get to. 1 loose, 2 loose, 1 tight, 2 tight, 1 STRIPPED, 2 STRIPPED, another loose. I crawled under the truck to hopefully find in fact an exhaust leak at this point... and what I found blew my mind. I'm not a welder, but I've stuck some projects together enough to know garbage. The welds were straight boogers, slag, and sure as shit... on the top side.. AT LEAST an 1/8"-1/4" gap on both sides. I took video of it all.

I lost my shit at this point, tried calling, but they were closed already. I honestly feel like I was scammed and I have zero confidence anything was in fact fixed. All the things I checked point to no. The exhaust just blows my mind, especially since the owner, passed off on it! Maybe he took his employee's word on it that it was done, and done right and of good quality? Well, it is faaaar from that. I paid in cash, and only have my estimate for proof of work and materials (which there are none listed).

What do I do guys. I'm obviously going back tomorrow with it and explaining and showing them/the owner. But.. what if I'm SOL because I paid cash and didnt get a materials list, etc. How do I go about either A) getting my money back, or B) having them make it right. which.. at this point.. I dont trust them with it at all. Am I screwed? I guess its a lesson for me to stop being so nice, trustworthy, and naive. I've never had an issue like this with anything. I dont know where to start (minus going back to them and raising hell).

 

Still taken from the video I took of all the issues...



The owner did reply to a message I sent him. He immediately agreed the exhaust is unacceptable. He said he would personally take care of everything and go back over all the bolts, seals, etc.

Do I even let them? I told him I appreciate him responding, and would like to make it right, that I'm not here to slander them or anything, and just want what I paid for. I added that I'd like an itemized list of parts and materials actually used as well.

I'll find out more tomorrow when I go back.

 

Tell the owner that you lost all respect for them and don’t believe them and want some money back. I wouldn’t have them “fix it”. You should leave happy and the business should
Take car of.

 

I mean if youre wanting to part ways..send me a pm

 

Not sure why you took it somewhere to begin with? I barely trust myself enough to do a thorough job on my stuff, let alone a stranger

 

im not sure on the codes. but if you have long crank times a check valve could be a solution to at least one situation.

 

i wanted to like... but i dont. looks like you got hosed brother. what is now is you doccumenting what you do. pics, records, and moving forward. shit shop wont do a thing. lets keep you rolling on the path of success. maybe black list that shop.

 

i failed to read your whole message. let him offer a fix. dont accept anything less than awesome.

 

Sometimes it's better to leave it to the "professionals".. which is where I thought I took it. I've done everything else on my own. Motor work isn't my specialty.

He has been in contact.. and he does want to make it right. Im willing to give them that chance. He ended with asking me to bring it back and he will make sure it's taken care of and wants to make sure I get what I wanted and am satisfied.

I would want the same thing if a customer wasn't satisfied with a part we made for them at the shop. Come to me first and explain, let me try and fix it. I wouldn't want my name on garbage either.

 

glad you have the potential to get squared brother.

 

I hope so. I'd like to plan for the worst though. Say round 2 doesn't go well either.. at that point I just ask for my money back. But do I have any leg to stand on? He did say he'll have a list of materials used too.

 

What did you use to press the bearing?

 

a hammer

 

Damn bro you like to muscle em up

 

I just used a hammer and a socket to put them in, all dry. Hahaha. It goes out easy and it goes in easy as well.

 

I also used a hammer and socket on mine. Wasnt hard at all to get them snug into place

 

im running the AFE momentum GT intake.
ill try that tune you sent me and get some logs.
thanks

 

ok thanks guys, sounds like easy job. I got my rubber mallet ready

 

Little antiseize makes it easier to get them in as well. I just cleaned up the insides of the pullies pretty good. Mine had a little corrosion for some reason on the inside of the pullies

 

learning the hard way. for those of you with a csf radiator and an afe intake. if you want the front inake scoop it wont work without modifications if it does at all. @JuanitoBunito i thought you were searching for this. wanted to tell you. no bueno.