Complaint Review: TURBO DIEDEL & ELECTRIC SYSTEMS INC

 I had a VP44 Injector pump and lift pump installed on my 02 Journey, Cummins ISB 275hp Allison 2000MH transmission, motor home. The company that did the work was Turbo Diesel & Electric Systems, of Macon GA. During the process of the installation they cut a OEM pressure fuel line and installed a rubber tubing and clamps to facilitate getting the pumps on without telling me. This UN-authorized modified fuel line leaked by the time I drove the motor home fifty miles to my home on a Friday afternoon at 5:00pm. Called Cummins and Freightliner Custom Chassis (FCCC), manufacturer of the chassis, and both said rubber fuel lines in the vicinity of the engine is a distinct fire hazard because of heat and leak potential and operationally a no-no because such modifications can allow air bubbles into the fuel stream which can prematurely wipe out injector pump and/or injectors. In addition Turbo Diesel mechanics somehow broke or in some way disabled the data link cable from the Allison Transmission to the engine control module and/or the transmission control module , causing the trans check light to come on and put the tranny in limp mode which would not clear. I decided to take the motor home to a local FCCC authorized service center, Middle Georgia Freightliner, which is another story.

Back to Turbo Diesel Electric, when I orginally talked to the manager about the pump replacement, they indicated that they had Cummins “INSITE” system or something similar that would allow them to communicate with all on board systems including the Allison transmission. The Friday I went to pick it up, they indicated they had no such system, and had fixed a fuel leak which I mistakenly assumed was a loose fitting, not uncommon in this type of repair. They then told me the check transmission light was on, and that it had been on when I brought it in. I disputed that and explained, the ENG check light was on because of a bad pumps which they replaced, the TRANS light has never be on before. The manager checked the trans fluid as I watched and it was OK. He then explained he did not have equipment to diagnose the vehicle systems. AT that point I told him I would have to take vehicle somewhere else to have the transmission checked. Upon getting on the road, I immediately noticed that the trany would not shift past forth gear, limiting my speed to 45 MPH at 2000RPM. In addition the governor seem to not work. I had no idea how they had “fixed” the fuel line and it was not leaking when I left Macon. Upon arrival home as dusk arrived, I parked unit on slab and went to supper. The next day I tried to start it and had to grind away before it would start, inspection of the rear of the coach revealed a large puddle of fuel and fuel running from under the pump area. I then had the vehicle towed back to Macon, front lift with the driveshaft removed to Middle Georgia Freightliner to have the fuel line repaired properly and the trans problem repaired. Turbo Diesel sent a mechanic to Freightliner after i informed them that their work was unsatisfactory Freightliner pulled the part they cut and told me how they had jury rigged the fuel line. Turbo Diesel obviously thought they were going to just tighten the clamps or similar repair. They could have done nothing more because they would not have been able to lift the vehicle sufficiently to get at replacing the fuel line in the street in front of Freightliner. Considering the nature of their previous “Repair” I did not what them to touch the vehicle, and they were so advised. This whole thing was complicated by the fact that the manager lied and said the trans light was on when it came it, and that they jury-rigged the fuel line because I was in a hurry for the vehicle (it had been there Tue-Fri). They never told be about the cut fuel line, and after they damaged the transmission they said that wasn't their fault. Avoid these guys, they employ Neanderthals, they lie and they have a reputation locally of creating more problems than they fix. I wish someone else would have taken the time to report their incompetence.