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DrDakota
Dodge Dakota
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2/12/2004
14:23:59

Subject: ORW San Diego, DON'T GO THERE!!
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Here a copy of the leter I sent to ORW, it sums it up....

Dear ORW-

Last December I had a 3" PA body lift installed on my 2001 Dodge Dakota by your install department.

Since then I have had at least 3 occasions when my truck overheated and numerous occasions when it got really hot but did not reach the 'red'.

I first replaced my radiator cap and back flushed my engine. This did not help so last Tuesday I set out to change the thermostat when I came across a kinked and greatly stretched bottom radiator hose that was held away from the fan by 2 zip ties. The hose was so stretched it was tearing and was starting to collapse in the center (even though it has a coiled wire in it) and the end closest to the thermostat was kinked almost completely closed. The zip ties were holding it away from the fan were also causing the kink. When I removed the hose clamps the hose was under so much tension that I'm amazed the radiator wasn't bent or the plastic thermostat housing wasn't broken! I can't believe I spent over $700 for this mess (lift plus install).

The only reason I spent an extra $400 for the install was because I thought ORW was a knowledgeable shop and would make sure all the minor details were covered, i.e. the radiator hoses, fuel hoses, steering linkages, etc.. Now I'm wondering if more stuff is wrong with my install! I now have no faith in ORW's install.

Performance Accessories says that the Dakota kit does not come with a radiator hose extension and suggests that an install of a 21" universal hose is required if an extension is not used. Since ORW does body lift, wouldn't you have radiator hose extensions avaliable or universal hoses available? Your installation department was obviously aware of the problem since they zip tied the hose back, but they chose to jury-rig the problem and pass it along to the customer rather than to fix it!

I paid $400.00, (FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS!!) for that install and you guys didn't even bother with an extension, or a universal fit hose, or even telling me about the kink, or the jury-rigged zip ties. I am very angry for paying ORW $400 for an incomplete and malpracticed install.

I am very displeased with the installation and will never buy another product or use your installation department again. Moreover, not only will I not refer a customer to ORW, I will go out of my way to make sure that none of my off-roading friends become ORW customers. I can't even express how pissed off I am at your complete neglect for a job well done and trying to pass off sub-standard work at such a high price!

A very dissatisfied ex-customer.



another mark
Dodge Dakota
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2/12/2004
14:39:51

RE: ORW San Diego, DON'T GO THERE!!
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File a complaint with the local better business bureau, they will
get a letter from them about this incident that way.



anon
Dodge Dakota
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2/12/2004
15:14:50

RE: ORW San Diego, DON'T GO THERE!!
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A 3" lift kit. Is this the one that, does NOTHING to actually lift the suspension, and only lifts the body off the suspension?

LOL, trucks like these look like they're riding around on top of their frame, instead of the frame in the body.

They almost got away with it. But you figured it out. Would I be pissed? YOU bet.

Why is it you lift the truck off the frame again?



DrDakota
Dodge Dakota
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2/12/2004
15:41:29

RE: ORW San Diego, DON'T GO THERE!!
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anon- thats why its called a BODY LIFT, not a suspension lift. A suspension lift is when you raise your truck in the air by your suspension, but it does nothing for your ground clearance because they have to add a big peice of steel across the front to bolt on the lower a-arms. Imagine that, $1700 for a suspension lift, god knows the install price for that, and you are still at the same ground clearance.

Maybe its just me, but I would rather spend $200 for a body lift to put on big tires then $1700 to do the same. With the same ground clearence. Face it, the tires are the only things that increase your ground clearence.



DSW
Dodge Dakota
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2/12/2004
15:49:29

RE: ORW San Diego, DON'T GO THERE!!
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That's why I always check out the work when I pick up the vehicle from the shop. Mechanics are paid on a flat fee, not for how long it takes them to do a realy nice complete job. If they can bang out 2 jobs in the time it would take to do one they are making good money. What bothers me is that they take shortcuts (your zip ties) and don't perform a complete job.

Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of great mechanics out there that do great work. But, the shotty work some of them do makes me wary.

Picked up my wifes car from the dealer after they replaced the inner fender wells and the monkey forgot, or was too lazy, to put 1/2 of the screws back in. Now he's going to have to spend an hour putting the car on the lift, installing 6 screws and doing paperwork that would have only taken 5 minutes to do right the first time.

Some times you just have to shake your head and wonder if these guys are professionals. Luckily you didn't burn up the engine or you would have had a real fun time trying to get these guys to resolve the problem that could have been solved by a $15 hose.



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