TCI customer service

mopar jeff · 01-27-2011, 04:39 PM

Here is some information about how TCI's customer service has treated me. Take it how you want, I am just putting it out there for informational purposes.
I purchased a reverse pattern manual valve body from TCI last year when I was building my Mustang. Since day one the trans has had a flare on the 2 to 3 shift, which can be a common problem with C4s. It never created a problem, but was not correct and leads to premature wear. TCI was contacted several times about it, and they would just quote specs on how the trans should be set up. Repeatedly, the trans was taken out and inspected to make sure everything was correct. It always was, but the flare continued.
I even took the trans to Leo at Remac, and he said everything was perfect. The only possible issue was determined to be the valve body. TCI kept denying it when I would call, and said it had to be a setup issue. I even went so far as to purchase a kit sold by a guy on the internet to eliminate the 2-3 flare in a C4. It only helped maginally, and when adjusted too much, would cause the trans to be very delayed on the 1-2 shift. Now we all know Leo is fantastic at what he does, and my friend that built the C4 originally has over 20 years experience, so I had to believe that TCI was just avoiding the obvious.
Low and behold, after a year of fighting with it and having the trans apart over a dozen times, I replaced the valve body and immediately eliminated the problem. Of course I didn't use a TCI valve body, and with no muss or fuss, it works perfectly. Boy how I wish I had done this much earlier. Now for the good part.
My friend who built the trans and bought the valve body originally, called TCI to tell them what we found and see what they would do to make it right. He fealt really bad about the whole ordeal, and thought he would try to make it right by at least getting a credit or refund. They still wouldn't believe that the valve body was an issue, so he told them that we have datalog information to prove it. They said it wasn't possible, and we obviously had the trans setup wrong and he didn't know what he was talking about. Even though we just bolted on the new valve body and the trans worked fine, TCI would not take the blame. Anyway, they got into a pissing match because TCI would not do anything about it, and he eventually just hung up.
So that is my long winded story, but he asked me to post something about them in hopes that other wouldn't have to deal with what we did.

Dick Butler · 01-27-2011, 05:00 PM

Sorry to hear you had a friend with that problem.
Several years ago my family ran two small block chevy SSGT cars with TCI trans and convertors. We had wonderful service and they REALLY worked with us when we had any issues. We had one car which was flashing over the shift chip and I never figured that out until I had sent the trans back and had it checked. We thought it was shifing too soon but It was fine.... Stanley Poff always took great care of our cars and parts...
Just another opinion or experience.

mopar jeff · 01-27-2011, 06:58 PM

Maybe it's a sign of the economy, but a shame that a huge company has to treat people that way. Glad it didn't happen to you though.

Bobby Brannon · 01-27-2011, 10:40 PM

Have you asked for Stanley Poff. If he can not help you NOBODY CAN

Lyn Smith · 01-27-2011, 11:46 PM

Have been usingTCI products for over 30 years.Aways have had great servicefrom them!

RPM5595 · 01-27-2011, 11:54 PM

I have some experience with this. I helped test the new style C4 VB with the trans brake. The new style VB is the newer late model type that has a red anodized adapter plate from TCI for the filter. Mine works like a toggle switch on the 2-3 shift. The older original style did have about a 300 rpm flash. Do you have the new style (non Pinto)? As the other guys have said, contact Stan Poff. He is a great guy and he cares. If he wont help then I don't know what else to tell you. Good luck.
Jay

mopar jeff · 01-28-2011, 02:58 PM

I spoke to Stanley as recommended, and he was very nice. I told him the situation, and he had no problem taking the valve body back. I am going to send it to him and let him look it over. He said they will dyno it, and repair or replace it. Thanks for all the advice.

hemidup · 01-29-2011, 07:07 AM

TCI converters in Gen III Hemi trucks = fail, fail, fail.

fatdsoto · 01-30-2011, 10:53 PM

About 8 years ago I bought a 727 Trans from them through Summit. It shifted poorly. I pulled the VB and several of the steel parts were rusted. I called TCI and was told it wasn't possible and they couldn't do anything. I bought another VB and put it in. I won't buy any TCI product now.

mopar jeff · 01-31-2011, 01:53 PM

I feel bad that it has happened to others also, but I still don't think it's the norm. But it does become our choice whether we will buy from them again, or not.

01-27-2011, 04:39 PM	#1
mopar jeff Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Riverside, CA Posts: 219 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	TCI customer service Here is some information about how TCI's customer service has treated me. Take it how you want, I am just putting it out there for informational purposes. I purchased a reverse pattern manual valve body from TCI last year when I was building my Mustang. Since day one the trans has had a flare on the 2 to 3 shift, which can be a common problem with C4s. It never created a problem, but was not correct and leads to premature wear. TCI was contacted several times about it, and they would just quote specs on how the trans should be set up. Repeatedly, the trans was taken out and inspected to make sure everything was correct. It always was, but the flare continued. I even took the trans to Leo at Remac, and he said everything was perfect. The only possible issue was determined to be the valve body. TCI kept denying it when I would call, and said it had to be a setup issue. I even went so far as to purchase a kit sold by a guy on the internet to eliminate the 2-3 flare in a C4. It only helped maginally, and when adjusted too much, would cause the trans to be very delayed on the 1-2 shift. Now we all know Leo is fantastic at what he does, and my friend that built the C4 originally has over 20 years experience, so I had to believe that TCI was just avoiding the obvious. Low and behold, after a year of fighting with it and having the trans apart over a dozen times, I replaced the valve body and immediately eliminated the problem. Of course I didn't use a TCI valve body, and with no muss or fuss, it works perfectly. Boy how I wish I had done this much earlier. Now for the good part. My friend who built the trans and bought the valve body originally, called TCI to tell them what we found and see what they would do to make it right. He fealt really bad about the whole ordeal, and thought he would try to make it right by at least getting a credit or refund. They still wouldn't believe that the valve body was an issue, so he told them that we have datalog information to prove it. They said it wasn't possible, and we obviously had the trans setup wrong and he didn't know what he was talking about. Even though we just bolted on the new valve body and the trans worked fine, TCI would not take the blame. Anyway, they got into a pissing match because TCI would not do anything about it, and he eventually just hung up. So that is my long winded story, but he asked me to post something about them in hopes that other wouldn't have to deal with what we did. __________________ Jeff Interlicchia 7077 D/SA 1998 Pontiac Firebird LT1 J707 E/T 1966 Dodge Coronet 500

01-27-2011, 05:00 PM	#2
Dick Butler VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Richmond Indiana Posts: 1,196 Likes: 5 Liked 32 Times in 19 Posts	Re: TCI customer service Sorry to hear you had a friend with that problem. Several years ago my family ran two small block chevy SSGT cars with TCI trans and convertors. We had wonderful service and they REALLY worked with us when we had any issues. We had one car which was flashing over the shift chip and I never figured that out until I had sent the trans back and had it checked. We thought it was shifing too soon but It was fine.... Stanley Poff always took great care of our cars and parts... Just another opinion or experience.

01-27-2011, 06:58 PM	#3
mopar jeff Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Riverside, CA Posts: 219 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: TCI customer service Maybe it's a sign of the economy, but a shame that a huge company has to treat people that way. Glad it didn't happen to you though. __________________ Jeff Interlicchia 7077 D/SA 1998 Pontiac Firebird LT1 J707 E/T 1966 Dodge Coronet 500

01-27-2011, 10:40 PM	#4
Bobby Brannon Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Bossier City,La. Posts: 659 Likes: 3 Liked 104 Times in 35 Posts	Re: TCI customer service Have you asked for Stanley Poff. If he can not help you NOBODY CAN __________________ Bobby Brannon 4705 STK, SS

01-27-2011, 11:46 PM	#5
Lyn Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Pontiac,il. Posts: 1,199 Likes: 282 Liked 965 Times in 194 Posts	Re: TCI customer service Have been usingTCI products for over 30 years.Aways have had great servicefrom them!

01-27-2011, 11:54 PM	#6
RPM5595 Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Nashua,Iowa Posts: 136 Likes: 84 Liked 32 Times in 14 Posts	Re: TCI customer service I have some experience with this. I helped test the new style C4 VB with the trans brake. The new style VB is the newer late model type that has a red anodized adapter plate from TCI for the filter. Mine works like a toggle switch on the 2-3 shift. The older original style did have about a 300 rpm flash. Do you have the new style (non Pinto)? As the other guys have said, contact Stan Poff. He is a great guy and he cares. If he wont help then I don't know what else to tell you. Good luck. Jay __________________ Jay Roeder facebook.com/racefuelsales Former N/SA , Soon to be SS/AS, Renegade Race Fuel dealer

01-28-2011, 02:58 PM	#7
mopar jeff Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Riverside, CA Posts: 219 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: TCI customer service I spoke to Stanley as recommended, and he was very nice. I told him the situation, and he had no problem taking the valve body back. I am going to send it to him and let him look it over. He said they will dyno it, and repair or replace it. Thanks for all the advice. __________________ Jeff Interlicchia 7077 D/SA 1998 Pontiac Firebird LT1 J707 E/T 1966 Dodge Coronet 500

01-29-2011, 07:07 AM	#8
hemidup Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 409 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: TCI customer service TCI converters in Gen III Hemi trucks = fail, fail, fail. __________________ Jerry Williams NSS/A, E/S, PRO E.T. And the "Grandaddy" of Gen III Hemi Performance...The fire inside me still burn's.

01-30-2011, 10:53 PM	#9
fatdsoto Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 12 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: TCI customer service About 8 years ago I bought a 727 Trans from them through Summit. It shifted poorly. I pulled the VB and several of the steel parts were rusted. I called TCI and was told it wasn't possible and they couldn't do anything. I bought another VB and put it in. I won't buy any TCI product now.

01-31-2011, 01:53 PM	#10
mopar jeff Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Riverside, CA Posts: 219 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: TCI customer service I feel bad that it has happened to others also, but I still don't think it's the norm. But it does become our choice whether we will buy from them again, or not. __________________ Jeff Interlicchia 7077 D/SA 1998 Pontiac Firebird LT1 J707 E/T 1966 Dodge Coronet 500