Topic: cold air intake

[WB]

I'm done with these Volant guys!! What a bunch of B.S. !!!!

Granted I may have sounded ticked off in the emails copied below but....some of you may have been also.

Be careful dealing with these guys!!

Read them from the bottom up......


Hey Danny,



Your suggestions are not well founded and I do not accept you blaming me for this incident with accusations you cannot qualify.



Your product could damage a vehicle under harsh driving conditions and YOU know it.



I?m posting this experience on every truck forum I know. Funny thing is that forum members agree that your blaming me for this failure of YOUR product which was properly installed per your directions is a load of BULL! Interesting that you cannot and will not qualify your accusations. This product was NOT modified and neither was the vehicle it was installed into. It fit as advertised! No cutting! No Trimming! The system was installed EXACTLY per YOUR company?s instructions.



My next move is to finish up my posts with pictures of your 100k filter which collapsed in on itself and these emails.


I would advise you that you should change the generic statement on YOUR site about the 35853 or add a warning since my vehicle was a 5.3L.



?Scoop 35853 offers a ram air upgrade for LT trucks and SUV?s equipped with the 4.8, 5.3. 6.0LT. This Scoop mounts below your frame behind the OEM valance and maintains a factory look with added performance. The 35853 installs in minutes by attaching the sleeve to the bottom of the air box and attaching the scoop to the frame using the OEM tow hook bolt. Note if your vehicle is not equipped with tow hooks trimming of the valance block of plate and a mounting bolt will be necessary to see the full hp and mpg benefits.?



Have a great day!



David

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From: Danny Moniz [mailto:danny@volant.com]
Sent: Monday, September 12, 2011 12:27 PM
To: David
Subject: RE: Wet Volant Powercore with Ram air caused MAF codes



It?s been a pleasure David !!



Let me suggest in the future with whatever products you buy, not to modify them or buy a product that?s not approved for its specific application or use.



The filter is on the way.



Have a great day!!



Danny Moniz

Vice President / COO

Volant Performance / Volant Cool Air Intakes

10285 Indiana Court

Rancho Cucamonga, Ca 91730

Hours: Mon-Thur 9am - 5pm

www.volant.com

Ph 909-481-3888 x237

Fx 909-987-8051

Come visit us at Sema 2011 Booth # 23020 - Central Hall



Save Gas or Go Fast !!!



From: David
Sent: Friday, September 09, 2011 2:43 PM
To: danny@volant.com
Subject: RE: Wet Volant Powercore with Ram air caused MAF codes



Send the replacement to the address in my signature.



I have found someone to take this intake & scoop off my hands once it has the new filter to go with it.



Thanks!



David

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From: Danny Moniz [mailto:danny@volant.com]
Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2011 2:09 PM
To: David
Cc: daniel@volant.com
Subject: RE: Wet Volant Powercore with Ram air caused MAF codes



Hello David,



Sorry to hear about the issues your having with our Intake ? however I will have to agree with both the owner and Daniel in Tech that the scoop installed on your Avalanche is not an approved fitment. As for the AutoAnything posting on their website a notice will be sent to remove.



The Donaldson PowerCore has been with us now for over 7 years with less than a 1% dilution rate, there?s no other filter on the planet that has that track record. When used properly under normal highway conditions the PowerCore filter should last 100k miles minimum. Now under extreme conditions, mud, snow, sand we have taken extra measures to ensure the protection of the PowerCore filter by offering a PreFilter. This is not to say that the PreFilter will stop all foreign elements but only aid in those conditions. After testing filters and manufacturing filters for over 15years I can tell, there is not the perfect filter yet for the extreme conditions mentioned, however, the PowerCore filter is the latest in technology and continues to be an industry leader in submicron filtration for over 30+ years.



Our company policy is very simple when it comes to modified or non-approved applications, such as an Avalanche Scoop and that is, No Warranties Apply. Not to say that we don?t stretch the rules on occasions. Our goal is to always service the customer.



With that said, this will be our final offer. Give me your address, we will then ship a replacement filter at no charge to you. Once the address is received the replacement filter will be shipped immediately. I would suggest in the meantime, removing the Scoop from your vehicle and purchasing a PreFilter at www.volant.com for any future use in extreme conditions. I would also recommend checking your filter before and after any off road or extreme conditions. These same procedures would also apply to the most commonly used Cotton Gauze Filters used by most Aftermarket Air Intake Companies.



Waiting for your reply,



Have a great day!!



Danny Moniz

Vice President / COO

Volant Performance / Volant Cool Air Intakes

10285 Indiana Court

Rancho Cucamonga, Ca 91730

Hours: Mon-Thur 9am - 5pm

www.volant.com

Ph 909-481-3888 x237

Fx 909-987-8051

Come visit us at Sema 2011 Booth # 23020 - Central Hall



Save Gas or Go Fast !!!



From: Daniel Erickson [mailto:daniel@volant.com]
Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2011 10:33 AM
To: danny@volant.com
Subject: FW: Wet Volant Powercore with Ram air caused MAF codes







From: David
Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2011 5:32 AM
To: daniel@volant.com
Subject: RE: Wet Volant Powercore with Ram air caused MAF codes



OK. Thanks!



http://www.autoanything.com/air-inta...air-scoop.aspx



I?m not to sure where you guys are going with this. Above is a link for the 2003 Avalanche list the scoop.



The front of these trucks are the same and did not change until the NBS in 2006.



I have some nice pictures of the soggy plugged Powercore. The scoop mounted the same as it would in the Silverado and the 2003 Avalanche 5.3L.



Since I know the system is prone to plugging as evidenced by the ?prefilter? which came out after I bought my system and my experiences, I?m going to dissect the bad filter I have now and start posting on GMfullsize, Chevy Avalanche fan club, Chevy Avalanche club, and on the Silverado sites.



I?m posting the pictures and this email warning everyone that this setup could become plugged, starve the engine for air, causing MAF and fueling codes, and risk possible damage to your truck.



I?m pretty confident that this system has a flaw when it comes to mud, snow, rain, and sand as was mentioned on the ?prefilter? product.



This 100k mile filter failed!



David

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From: Daniel Erickson [mailto:daniel@volant.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2011 6:51 PM
To: David
Subject: RE: Wet Volant Powercore with Ram air caused MAF codes



I spoke with the owner about the filter issue you had and we can send a new filter out to you but you will need to pay the shipping. We do not list or carry a scoop for the Avalanche because we have never had one that fit correctly to do the winter testing, this is the only reason why he won?t cover the shipping, If you can send me a link showing Volant listing the scoop for the avalanche he will cover the shipping also

From: David
Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2011 5:32 AM
To: daniel@volant.com
Subject: RE: Wet Volant Powercore with Ram air caused MAF codes



Nope, it fits just like it would on a 2005 Chevy Silverado. The front of the trucks are identical. Compare the 05 avalanche and the 05 silverados.



I?m not sure why you are inferring that the system was not designed to fit the 2005 Avalanche? I ordered it FROM Volant using the Volant menus to select the system at the time of order.



No modifications were necessary. The tow hook bolt and everything fit perfectly as indicated by the included installation instructions.



This system was originally shown as fitting the old body style Avalanches. It does not fit the new body style Avalanches.



My issue with this system is that it sucked up SO MUCH water and road debris during a long trip in heavy rains that the filter became plugged and starved the engine for air as was reflected by the MAF codes that were thrown.



The filter failed me and plugged before 100,000 miles and almost left me stranded in the mountains of Virginia on labor day.



Are you thinking I misused or miss installed the system and this caused the filter to become saturated and plugged so little air could pass it?



David

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From: Daniel Erickson [mailto:daniel@volant.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2011 5:49 PM
To: David
Subject: RE: Wet Volant Powercore with Ram air caused MAF codes



The inner has to be modified in order for the scoop to line up with the tow hook, did you remove the medal inner fender?



From: David
Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2011 9:37 AM
To: daniel@volant.com
Subject: RE: Wet Volant Powercore with Ram air caused MAF codes



It is a 5.3L Vortec 2005 1500 Avalanche Z71. I have 59k miles on the truck and purchased this filter at around 35kmiles.



I purchased it direct from Volant.



It is a 35853 scoop and a 151536 Box with a 61517 powercore filter.



The scoop bolts right behind the passenger side tow hook and feeds a hole in the bottom of the box as your site pictures it.



I just noticed while looking up the part numbers that you now offer a pre-filter for these that was not on the market when I bought mine.



So, I guess water and dust can plug these before 100,000 miles??



This thing scared the daylights out of me and almost left me stranded. I?m starting to think it might not be an ideal setup for bad weather???



David

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Daniel Erickson [mailto:daniel@volant.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2011 12:13 PM
To: David
Subject: RE: Wet Volant Powercore with Ram air caused MAF codes



Volant does not offer a ram air setup for the Avalanche, What type of ram air setup are you running?



From: David
Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2011 6:10 AM
To: tech@volant.com
Subject: Wet Volant Powercore with Ram air caused MAF codes
Importance: High



Hello,



I had a long trip thru Ohio, West Virginia, and Virginia for Norwalk Ohio to Durham NC.



I drove most of the way thru HEAVY RAIN. My vehicle is a Chevy Avalanche with a Powercore and Ram Air setup.



In Virginia the vehicle started hesitating on hills and bucking or missing. When the rain would subside the vehicle appeared to recover. When I hit rain again the problem returned. I made it home BUT BARELY!!!!!!



I checked the codes with my reader and found MAF registering low voltages and also fueling codes thrown.



I opened my intake and found a SATURATED PowerCore that I could not even see light through.



Has this happened before and is the ram air setup soaking the powercore with water and dirt to the point it is starving the engine? I do not have 100k on the powercore yet!



I?m switching back to my factory intake and have already removed the ram air tube.



Please respond to me before I post my problem on all the chevy forums. Do I need a replacement PowerCore? Is it under a warranty? Do the Ram Air systems need a check valve or shut off mechanism to reduce water intake during bad weather?



Thanks,

David

[oHIobellboy]

Well now, That scoop sure didn't do much good. IIRC you paid a pretty steep price for that as it's supposed to be the top of the line intake. You made a very valid point about it being a bolt on without modifications. Time to rethink your next CIA. Good luck pal.

[Main One]

Unfortunately this reminds me of the customer service I got from another aftermarket company after complaining how their $100/can metal protector wasn't keeping my polished aluminum wheels looking good as was promised because I had taken the truck through a car wash.  Be careful how much you push them - you will likely be hearing from their attorney.  I did, as well as my employer.

[WB]

This thing sucked in just like a accordian and effectively choked off air the the engine.  I had to reach in and stretch it back out to get some air!!!!

[WB]

Well, Volant did try to make it up to me. They sent a new PowerCore which I recieved yesterday.

I'm just too darn chicken to swap out the factory and try it again. Guess, I'm the "white chicken" instead of white buffalo.

I do feel like a jerk for not thinking about the intake sucking up all that water. It never even crossed my mind until it was too late!

I have noticed this weeks MPG has dropped from 17 to 15MPG...

[oHIobellboy]

Well, Volant did try to make it up to me. They sent a new PowerCore which I recieved yesterday.

I'm just too darn chicken to swap out the factory and try it again. Guess, I'm the "white chicken" instead of white buffalo.

I do feel like a jerk for not thinking about the intake sucking up all that water. It never even crossed my mind until it was too late!

I have noticed this weeks MPG has dropped from 17 to 15MPG...

You can always put the new one in without the scoop and see what it does.