I am really starting to understand everyones frustration now. Sent my powerloader back over two monthes ago now for reprogramming of the torque converter and 3.42's. Had the work done three weeks ago and the car has been sitting in the garage since then. Funny thing is that they cashed my check (TTS) well over a month ago and figured I would be seeing the unit soon but no such luck. Three phone calls, two emails, and no promised response from Steve and I am ready to give up as it looks like they keep adjusting a promised delivery time.

Sooo, looks like it may be time to give Fast chips a try. Does anyone have instructions or pictures on how to remove the computer? I'm a little worried about trying this myself but not sure what else to do now.

Any help or recommendation greatly appreciated. Just can't wait anymore for something that may never show up. :confused:

 

Welcome to the long list of disgruntled Steve Cole PL customers. I think its been about a year now since I sent mine to Cole. Finally, went the LS1edit route and haven't looked back. The et and trap speed in sig is with a PCM tunned with LS1edit...and in 95 degree Alabama heat...11s are on the way as fall comes.

 

I've never heard of Fast chips, but when I am ready to go to reprogramming I am going to try Superchips. I've heard a lot of good things about them on the Forum. Why not check them out?

 

I finally got fed up with Steve Cole and his empty promises. He has had my Powerloader since last OCTOBER. The typical story, Oh your's will be in the next batch. I called the other day and told the secretary to send my Powerloader back because I was fed up and disgusted.
She said, sure not problem and wanted to know how I was going to pay for the return shipping. Talk about adding insult to injury!! If I lived closer I would pay him a visit, and it sure wouldn't be a pleasant one. So your wait of two months, maybe sometime next year you might find out something. Good luck, I know what you are going through.
Terry

 

I'm having The Vettewrench do an LS1Edit :yesnod: We waited months for a Powerloader and then gave up and cancelled it. I like that the tune can be customized at any time :cheers:

 

Hey,

A lot of us are in the same shoes. I've been trying to get in touch with Steve for a reprogram for well over a month now with phone calls and emails, and have yet to receive a response. Now, I'm just going to get my own copy of LS1Edit so I can tune at will as I add more mods and don't have to rely on any 3rd party. Put yourself in control, get LS1Edit :yesnod:

 

LS1Edit sounds like the way to go, but as I looked into it, I realized I don't have the expertise I need to use it properly. LS1.com had some good threads, and I have the service manuals, but I could use more sources of information for learning.

 

Steve has had my Powerloader for about 4 months. He has personally told me on 4 occasions that he is "doing the reprograms this weekend". Never happens. I am concerned that he has some "block" against reprogramming? I mean this is to the point of being weird (?).

 

It never ends! You really gotta wonder what he's(SC) thinkin' about... :confused: Totally frustrating for everyone invoved with this guy...especially his secretary Judy! Really sad :( :( :(

 

Steve is such a great guy in person as I have had the opportunity to talk to him a couple times now. I dropped of my PL to his shop 4 months ago and like the others just empty promises of next week, next week, next week. Such a great product and such a flake as a shop owner!! I'll be taking my car over to MMS for a dyno tune as soon as I can get my trans issue fixed. Good strategy on Steves part, sell new ones and let the cheap reprograms sit until the owners get tired of waiting and he doesn't have to do it!! :mad

 

:( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :(

 

that's what I've been leaning towards :cheers:

 

Buckmaster,

Thought you have given up on Cole? He has had mine for a year now. :crazy: Can anyone take a wild guess why the major tunners don't use cole? :conehead

 

[QUOTE]Actually I have given up. I do send him an e-mail every month or so to see what happens. honestly I would like to have his program and compare it to Ed Wright's. I am going to buy another PCM and load it and do some comparisons :D Buckmaster,

Thats actually a great idea! I may have to do the same as my reprogram is already paid for and you would assume it will show up someday. Who has the best price on a new PCM? Are there any special tricks to switching back and forth or can you just throw in the new one and upload the program like usual (powerloader)?

 

Steves programming SUCKS anyway!!!!!! Had me running WAY lean. and never got it back from a reprogram. Went ARE with ls1 edit. Now I'm seeing 292rwhp on my A4!!!!!!
Steve Cole is very very UNprofessional and so is his buisness.

 

Would HIGHLY recommend Ed Wright at Fastchip. He reprogrammed my 98 vert 2 months ago, best money I've ever spent! Feels like I gained 50 HP, although Ed says probably closer to 20 HP at the rear wheels. Took my car to him, but you can send your PCM to him, turn around is usually a couple of days. Have read on previous post PCM removal is pretty easy, located in pass side front wheel well. Good Luck! PS Ed's phone is 918-446-3019 or online http://www.fastchip.com :reddevil

 

You have another disgruntled customer here as well, and I haven't even sent it back for my reprogram yet!! I was waiting to figure out all my mods and have since figured out the TC and Gears at a minimum and maybe a CAM.

I am to the point that I have to come to the realization that I wasted $450 and will never get my Powerloader back in a reasonable time, IF I send it back to TTS for my mods. Judy the secratary is great, too bad she has to deal with all this stuff. I mean waiting 1 year or 6 months even for that matter, what the **** is that all about??? I was really not wanting to spend another $500 on programming. It just isn't fair at all. I am sure SC is a nice guy, but who really cares how nice he is if he basically rips off his customers.

My choices are to send in my powerloader and wait 4-12 months to get it back while I WAIT to have my mods installed, by the time I get the Powerloader back the C6 will be out and tghe mods I wanted to do will be obsolete.

LS1 Edit seems to be good. I have a shop here locally, but they charge like $695 or something for the tuning (LS1 Edit and dyno tuning). I don't know if that means you own the software or what???????????????

Ed Wright seems to be a good choice and very reliable from all the forum posts. What does Ed Wright charge for new mods to his existing program if you have to send it back in later????

It really pisses me off that I have to WASTE my current programing for just a Gear and TC change. It is total BS. There is no way I am sending my Powerloader back with all these reports now! If I heard some positive reports by ANYONE that might change, but there seems to be No Light at the end of the Tunnel, unless of course you spend $500 for a new one. In that case you will get it in 4 weeks! :mad :eek: :eek: :bs Does this seem unfair to anyone else? Amazing how that works isn't it!!???

I am almost glad I waitied to send in my PL, because I will save myself the headaches. I guess I just have to bite the bullet and pay up if I want to get my car running right with the new mods.


The Bandit...............

 

I'm (was) in the same boat... Chalked up my losses and went with Ed Wright, took two days.

 

July 7 will be the second month waiting on my powerloader retune. :mad

 

The new name is....AL.....aggravation loader :mad If anyone has any doubts about that....see me or any of the above customers.

:( SC is in the business to sell cookie cutter PCM programs and fast, but if you want a reprogram, you probably wont live long enough to get it back.