Gale Banks Talks Back

[HeberRam]

Kat... the one you missed was "South Bend Clutch"

 

[Sled Puller]

Awful quiet out here????????

Where are all the complainers?



I Can't believe Mr. Banks is only 58.





Maybe Dr. P will start posting next, I predict those will be very colorful, and lots of locks!!!



Gene

 

[CrewCabDiesel]

Gale,

Thanks for getting involved, that is a rare thing to see a CEO from a large company still go into the trenches. Your customer service has addressed my problem with "tom's" little words of wisdom and I had a great chat with Colin as well(he's got a lot on the ball ). After getting things straighten out, I ordered a Banks intercooler for my 91 Cummins and will be installing it tomorrow. Its too bad that some of the TDR members who claim they were done wrong, don’t take you up on your offer. I for one, have had my complaint taken seriously by Banks, and it has been dealt with to my satisfaction. And as a bonus, I would like to think has opened the door between TDR members and Banks a little wider. I will be sure to post how my installation with the Banks intercooler goes and how my Cummins performs with the upgrade.

Kyle Hoover

Muskegon, MI

 

[tobaccogrower]

i blew my output shaft a month ago:

DC denied my warantee because they saw my high ram intake. as all can see by my sig below,banks alone wasn't the cause for failure. to make a long story short,i called the salesman who sold me my banks stuff and left him a detailed message and requested he call me back. all i wanted was a copy of the magnussen-moss act. think i got a call back?NO. if i had called in regards to ordering somthing ,do any of you think i would get a call back?????i love my powerpack!!i wish i could say the same for the company who makes it. i think its great that Gale joined and adressed this issue so many of us have been griping over. it's also a shame that dis-staified costomers is what it took for banks to reconize they have a service problem... ... . James R Kent, Suffield,Conn.

 

[WOWZY]

Will customer service get any better? I sure hope so for our members sake that purchased these products. Let's see how coopporative they are in 6 months. I bet you'll see the same ole arrogance.

I was gonna buy a powerpack kit before I took delivery of my truck till I said something wrong about ford to one of Gale's pro-ford techs. I got a pro-ford speech from the tech (Very stupid on his part) and he caused Banks to loose a sale. Did it hurt Banks? No Did the tech's arrogance help me? Yes It actually helped me to not make a big mistake price wise and performance wise.



Gale 2 things you need to do:



1) Forget about the "We stand behind you on your warranty issue" BS. Stand up like a man with a "This product may void your warranty" disclaimer like the other products so that we will all know that we are our own warranty station and if anything fails we already know that we will either take the items off and hope that DC covers the failures under warrantee or we'll do the work ourselves and not have a problem with it.

The problem with your company is, you give people a false sense of a security blanket being around them and if they have a break down, they get turned down on the warranty work because they thought they would be safe at keeping the products on their truck in plain view. I myself have no problem in knowing that up front like when I purchased my HotEdge. People think they can justify your high prices with your false security blanket and that's just plain wrong in my book. My salesman at the local dealership told me that if I need to bring my truck in for any warranty work to make sure that I remove any power enhancements whether it be Banks products or anyone else products to prevent the risk of voiding my warranty.





2) Wake up and realize that your products are not the king of Cummins power enhancements and get your prices back down to Earth to go with what little bit of hp that they offer. I hate to be so blunt, but I know this for a fact by beating the pants off of a few with your powerpack.



Good post Gale I hope you mean what you say!



Jamie

Personal Cummins Warranty Station

 

[KatDiesel]

Originally posted by WOWZY

Will customer service get any better? I sure hope so for our members sake that purchased these products. Let's see how coopporative they are in 6 months. I bet you'll see the same ole arrogance.

So far it seems to have improved based on my experience. Was even "impressed" enough to buy the High Ram Intake (for reasons listed above).



So every so often just to check up on things, I'll create a new email address and send in a question or two and see how it goes. Could be a week from now, could be two months from now before i do it.



Still surprised not many are speaking out on this thread? Anyone with a previous problem contacted Banks yet? Very interested in the out come of those situations.

 

[Howard Durand]

I'll put in my 2 cents worth.



I am not going to try to defend nor put down the Banks systems.

I am using one and am satisfied that it does what I originally wanted it to do. I know nothing about their customer service as I have never had a need for their help or advice. The truck has never been on a dyno to see if it does what Banks suggested it could do.

I have learned that any advertising claims for a product must be viewed with a certain amount of caution. The same goes for much of the advice given here on these forums.

I do know that I can get my EGT too high real quick if I don't pay attention to my driving. A warning to that effect is in the Banks installation manual. I understood at the time that if I was going to enhance the capability of the truck, I was assuming responsibility for any damage I might cause using that added power unwisely. That is why the BD tourque converter and valve body were purchased and installed. That is also why the gauges are provided with the Banks kit.



As to the enhanced power having the capability of destroying a transmission, It can't do that without the driver's help.

When I was having my torque converter installed, I spent a good part of the day visiting with another Dodge owner who was having the same thing done after he had toasted his transmission trying to pull a 14,000 pound fifth wheel trailer up a 14% grade. The truck and transmission were both stock.

The contributing component to that disaster was the famous plastic transmission line connectors. The real problem was the driver.



As long as we are bashing folks, I might ask why some of the businesses, Banks among them, have a "Contact Us" feature on their WEB site but don't reply to questions?

Maybe I just ask dumb questions.

Piers must not think so as he responded immediately to my first e-mail. Consequently, I intend to work with him, listen to his advice and make some added improvements to my truck.



I must take care of this truck as my wife informed me when we bought it that it would be the last one I could have and would probably become my coffin.

I guess cruising into the hereafter with a Cummins TD would be just fine.

 

[Joe G.]

I was not going to comment on this thread because I don't use Banks products and don't intend to. However, I think a lot of us are waiting to see if Gail Banks responds to Bill K's accusations about deceptive advertising. I have seen the "does not cause warrenty problems" statement quoted many times in Banks bashing. It appears that many people buy the products thinking they are safe from warranty hassles and later find out that is not the case at all.



BTW. The "contact us" stuff on most web sites is for comments about the web site or problems with the web site. Nothing to do with the product. I've found that a lot of web sites are into sales and advertising while they are set up so you can't get thru to the company for support or questions on a bet.

 

[Brandon]

Well we have a boy in lodi with an 00 auto and he ROASTED the turbo last night at the pulls... ..... We were at the Turlock pulls and he was gonna pull untill I showed hin the shaft had about a 1/2 of endplay... ... ... he he he... ... ... ... .....



so ATTN banks we have a truck blown up in california, in lodi.....



what do you want to do about it ... ... ... look at it, write it off, or what..... I know you can find out who has your stuff, i gave you the town and the year, what can you do with the rest.....



ps we feel he drove with a roasted turbo and also did other damage

this story is no BS it can be verified by csutton... cummnzpwr... . ljthawk, and bigbaddodge



I am not knocking the stufff, or mad or saying anything bad, I am just letting everyone know that there is an opportunity RIGHT NOW for us to see what banks does to follow up with there customers... ...

thanks B... ... ... ... .

 

[illflem]

Come-on Brandon no one will warranty a truck used for pulls, if you want to do that you're on your own. Could of tried saying it happened towing an empty motorcycle trailer, but now Banks knows.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Perhaps I'm missing something here but I don't see where this is Banks problem. What do you think Banks did that would cause a turbo to have endplay? I would be MUCH more inclined to say that it was a bad turbo from Holset. I know I for one (any MANY MANY others do as well) peg my 1500 degree EGT gauge many times a day, my turbo is yellowed from high EGT's while running on a dyno, and I have 80,000 on it now with no problem with the turbo (it'll probably blow up tomorrow morning now ). Is this guy using the TLC part of the ottomind computer and either way what's the max EGT's he has seen? Is everything else stock (injectors and no other boxes) other than the banks kit? How long was the banks kit installed for and are you sure that the turbo didn't have the endplay before he installed the kit? You mention he was going to pull with it - has he pulled with it before?

 

[Brandon]

oh well, figures this is the way it would go... ... screw it the kid is gonna fix the truck and go on with life. I just wanted to see the interest in this and the direction. yes it had tlc, and just got DDIII that day and never hit more than 35 psi.



I just wanted to see if any one would take interest in it i will leave the post up for a couple of days, I dont care what happens with this. its gonna get fixed no matter what anyway

 

[redram]

direct info on the Magnuson Moss Act

Here is a direct link to the government site



Titled "Understanding the Magnuson Moss Act".



This may help someone like Brandon to determine if he would / should be covered under a warranty from Dodge or Banks.



Hope it helps.



http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/buspubs/warranty/undermag.htm

 

[Bill Kondolay]

This is a section out of the act,



"Deceptive Warranty Terms

Obviously, warranties must not contain deceptive or misleading terms. You cannot offer a warranty that appears to provide coverage but, in fact, provides none. For example, a warranty covering only "moving parts" on an electronic product that has no moving parts would be deceptive and unlawful. Similarly, a warranty that promised service that the warrantor had no intention of providing or could not provide would be deceptive and unlawful. "



Since Gale Banks sells engine performance products it is fair to assume that the products are going to affect the engine and the transmission not your stereo, power windows, headlights ect.



If Chrysler and Cummins based on your power enhancements voids your warranty on the engine and the transmission, but not your stereo or your power windows,headlights ect. technically speaking your Chrysler warranty is still somewhat in tact .



However since the Gale Banks Power enhancements literature and FAQ clearly state that the products do not void the mfg. warranty which is in direct conflict with Chrysler and Cummins where does that leave you, the consumer?





I am not a legal expert , but i do know that we have some among our membership, hopefully they can share their expert opinons .

 

[redram]

Warranty

Dodge / Chrysler are not supposed to beable to arbitarily void a warranty just because an aftermarket part is installed. They would have to be able to substantiate that the aftermarket part was the cuase of the failure (in other words, the failure occurred due to the use of the aftermarket part).

In the real world, the fear of the OEM is huge in most cases by the general public. Hence, the reason for the Fair Trade Act.



In my opinion, Dodge / Chrysler are in violation of the Fair Trade Act with the label that they installed on my NV 4500 transmission. It states something to the effect that if any other fluid other than the Mopar or Castrol Syntrans is used, the warranty will be void. By this wording, the fluid should be free for the length of the warranty, in this case 100,000 miles. But Dodge gets away with it and look at how many end users bite the bullet and pay DC 26 / Quart for the Mopar labelled product.

Being in the lubricant industry, a manufacturer can get an exemption for a lubricant like Castrol IF they can prove that the unit will not work with any other fluid. The US government has YET to grant such an exemption for any lubricants.



In Brandon's case, I would believe that if he could prove that the Gale Banks modification were the sole reason that the part failed, then it would be Banks that should / might provide assistance in repairing / replacing that part. However, Brandon, if I'm recalling his post, has many other mods in addition to just the Banks mods and it would be unjust to only single out one after market part supplier / mfg and not the others.



Additionally, most car manufacturer's have a statement in their warranty books supplied with each vehicle that 'racing' or 'competition events' will void a warranty. I think we would all agree that a 'pull' is a 'competition event' and would void even a stock truck's factory warranty.



Life's sometimes a bi#$$ when you want to have fun. Hopefully, most can accept the consequences of their own actions (modifications).



Again, I would like to believe that if a truck had only Bank's modifications to it, and a problem arose that was related to the increased power mod itself, (not tire wear, or u-joint failures, or some other driveline wear component such as the clutch or torque convertor) that the Bank's company would assist the end user with fighting the OEM. This does not mean representing them in a legal case in court, this is up to the individual to fight. I mean supplying information that would be relevant to keeping the warranty in place so that if the client wanted to fight the OEM he would have the pertinent information and accurate information so that the OEM can not bulls@#$ the end user about warranty rights.



Regarding Bill K's concerns about clients with the warranty on transmissions. Modification or no mods, auto transmissions fail under normal operating conditions after x time. Get an end user that abuses, neglects, or modifies the power output and your chance at transmission damage is going to increase. Is this increased behind a Banks system? I would tend to think not. The percentage is probably close to the same percentage of stock transmission problems.



Thanks for letting me post - hope this helps someone.



I am not pro nor con this debate. Just giving impartial input.

 

[Brandon]

look it aint no big deal its gonna get fixed, just wanted to see if any real interest was out here for us, not the lip service... . forget the whole thing we were gonna get this takin care of before I posted this anyway... ... . so just chill and lets all act like this never really happened and everyone will still feel good



oh btw head gasket gone too..... oh well... . Bomb on

 

[NVR FNSH]

Brandon's post is an example of exactly what I don't like about the web & the TDR membership - Throw a grenade and stand back.



Brandon - if the truck had a Edge box, Jannetty exhaust & the DDIIIs would you have even posted this?



And we wonder why DC & other mfgs deny warranty coverage... .





Brian

 

[Amianthus]

First of all, I want to thank Gale Banks for at least coming on to the forum and acknowledging that we have had some complaints. That is admirable.



I don't think anyone here would argue that Gale Banks knows diesel power enhancements. His kits, when working properly, deliver everything they are advertised to. He also uses quality components in the manufacture of his kits. That is also a point that I think is well-understood. Most of our dislike of Banks comes from the price of a kit versus purchasing a similar kit from other manufacturer's or the kit components separately. The other portion of our friction seems to have been some customer service issues with faulty components (typically the ottomind). Curiously, I thought we would get a more public resolution of those individuals who had customer service problems in the past. And use this display of public customer service to sway the opinions of the group. This such action is mysteriously absent from this thread.



Finally, to Gale himself.

I, for one, would welcome another's insight into the operation of our diesel engines. You do not need to push your product to achieve this. But be available to answer questions about your product in a public forum, and provide any information that you may be able to bring to the forum. Regardless of component or product. For example, if an individual asks what component is most likely to fail when the engine is over-fueled, you could respond with what you have found in your testing and how you have gotten around it. Not necessarily say, "Buy our Big-head Turbo and you won't have to worry about it. " I think I've made my point. If anyone else has something to add...

 

[Brandon]

well we have discussed this in our click and we think G. B. is thankful I diverted all the heat from himself, and transferred it to the "grenade thrower"



truck will be fixed anyway by the end of the week, head gasket and a new hx 35, and maybe some more bombs... ... he he he



It appears that redemption has came for the man who only has made one post... ... just like when EF Hutton talks people listen.....





he he he, its all good

 

[WeirCummin]

PLAY & PAY

I want to commend Gale for joining the TDR and posting. Brian I have to agree with you on the way some of the member are able to find fault in a companies products. This is one of the reasons that I am reluctant to post on the forums. I for one have put products on my truck that I have not been happy with. Those parts are accumulated in my garage and I don't have anyone to blame but myself. If I wanted to place blame, we could start with the forums and its members. I have installed products after reading how great this or that gizmo or dodad is only to find its not what "I" expected or hopped for. Do I try to blame anyone else, NO I take responsiliity for the decisions I've made and live with them, good or bad. Its to bad there is so much bashing going on here, remember all those bad Majestic turbo's. (maybe it wasn't there work). I stood up for Kevin and his crew, even went out of my way to help other members only to listen to more BS Its a shame that most of you will never get to experence what sportbike was talking about. Guess I'm one of the fortunate few that has one of Majestics kick @$$ tubros, lag, what lag? 10K miles and going STRONG. Brandon, 10k on a Majestic turbo, they must have done something wrong. What do ya think?