I saw this post and called van aaken on it to see what was going on. They used to have a metal cased box in late 1999 and early 2000, that was discontinued for the plastic case that is waterproof in 2000. It is the one you'll see on our site and others currently. Valley Fuel was at one time a van Aaken distributor, per the information I got they haven't been since 2002 or so. van Aaken would not specify as to what had happened or why. The products that are being sold are used and refurbed by Valley Fuel, they are bargains at the same time but they are older designs etc.

Mark @ DPPI

 

Pigsfly; my wife goes down to Silver Spring every once in a while for training. I guess there is a Citi Financial near you? She works on St. Paul, downtown.

Mark;
Not much of a Bargain if you have to deal with them not working as intended?

Anyway, pigsflys housing is plastic, but still an "R" style. I am ordering a V-5 right after the holidays, just haven't decided which vendor to get it from.

Curious to see what VF does about these units. Kinda weird that VA is lettting them sell boxes that they are somewhat representing as new??
When I checked out their EBay auctions I never got the impression they were anything but new stock.
The price was a little shocking, I thought maybe they had lowered the M.A.P or something?

 

doesnt the bio diesel clog your fuel filter fairly quickly? kind of a solvent when it contacts the diesel deposits. maybe just coincidence that the truck started when the VA was unplugged. maybe not.

either way, i'd check your fuel filter.

 

The truck is still running fine (but only about 60 miles and 10 starts since) and hasn't thrown any other CEL's. I made it to an Auto Zone, and it had two 1689 codes. From what I found searching here, that may mean something, or may not. My feeling is that these were simply from issues related to the box: When I first installed it, I hadn't completed snapping one of the connectors, and it wouldn't start, and activated the CEL. The other day when the pedal went dead, it activated the CEL.

At this point, I'm just going to keep driving and see what happens. I can't see doing any other work.. does that make sense?

I will call VA directly and see if they have some sort of discounted replacement, because this thing sure is a pig without the box.

As for the Biod, it definitely can clog a fuel filter on an older vehicle. It is a great solvent for old deposits, and this truck had 100k on it before trying the biod. I still show 15psi (post filter) at idle, and recently down as low as 11.5 at WOT. It probably is time for a filter change anyway.

Thanks all,

Pete

 

I contacted VA this afternoon to find out when my box (ser#29141) was manufactured. They told me that the box was manufactured and sold in 2003 and was already out of warranty. The box was manufactured for a 2001 - 2002 model truck. My truck is a 2000 and has a 3 pin triangular pattern for the MAP sensor. Is this the same pattern for the 2001 - 2002 model trucks? I went back and checked the Ebay ad "Brand new units in box.".

The price isn't bad for a used/rebuilt unit......if they tell you that is what it is.

 

P.J,

I agree with you not a bargian unless you know exactly what you're getting. van Aaken can't do much about it, kind of like a dealer not telling you all there is to know about a used car and the manufacturer making them correct it etc. Maybe this had something to do with VF not being a van Aaken distributor, who knows????

If you decide to get a new one call us up we'll help you anyway we can.

Mark @ DPPI

 

flypigs,

I wonder if you might want to change the title of the post to Valley Fuel van Aaken box problem or something liek that? I am wondering if a lot of folks don't think your problem is on a new box if they don't go to the effort to read the entire thread. Kind of maybe giving van Aaken a black eye??? What do you think?

Mark @ DPPI

 

Excellent point, Mark. Change made.

 

Hey flypigs,
To get the thread title to change in the forum listing, I believe you have to ask a moderator to change it. The change shows up when you click the thread itself, at the top, but in the forum listing, it still shows the unedited title.

~Rob

 

Ah HA! I thought I read it right. Those auctions are started and finished in a matter of 12 hours (because of the price I assume).

Mark,
Sounds like VA may need to step up and gain more control here. Apply this scenario to another manufacturer. How do you think Edge Products would react if I decided I was going to re-work old boxes, clean them up and then copy and paste the specs straight off of the Edge website, for sale as new? Take a peek at the wording HERE.

Sure makes me believe that they are atleast an authorized distributor or the manufacturer themselves!



I know this is really between VA and VF, but....
These customers now have possibly malfunctioning boxes that were out of warranty before they were sold? (know what I mean).

 

I am painfully aware of what you mean.

 

VA was unaware that Valley Fuel was selling these chips. I talked to them today and they have contacted Valley Fuel and Ebay. They are trying to make it so that Valley Fuel can't post these claiming that they are new.

 

Valley Fuel is not a Distributor for VA. Also this does happen with Edge, Bullydog along with the rest of the manufactures and they do the same thing VA has done. I think it's hard for these big manufactures to watch all the ebay sales to make sure people are following the rules.