Larocca's is NO GOOD AT ALL!!! STAY AWAY

[QDRHRSE]

Don't worry about the smog pump -- it's not needed with the new style converters (thus why new cars don't have them). The O2's I question -- but I also know it wasn't uncommon to disconnect them back in the day on blower cars, I suppose some people still do.

I almost hate to say it, but I suspect some type of wiring issue or something that is probabkly impossible to test for and you'll only find by looking at every inch of wire or replacing more stuff. I dunno...sounds way too fishy...

I totally agree. Maybe you could try a new computer or an anderson PMS.
As for litigation....go to small claims and sue for the max. Its between $5000-$10000. If you file conventionally it could take years and $'s to ever get it to court. If you file small claims you could be in court in a matter of months and you will not need a lawyer, rather you can compile your own evidence. Confirmation that something wrong will need to come from at least 2 sources (other shops). Any honest mechanic will charge you 50-75 for a diagnostic. Regardless, LaRocca is an expert in the field and you will have to have a lot of proof that something is actually wrong before you sue. Don't get me wrong- I'm with you, but you need to look at it from a legal perspective. It's like getting a speeding ticket- you need to prove the cop is wrong to get out of it in court, you cant just say "the radar was wrong!". You need to make the cop pull out the calibration records etc. Do you know what I mean? I hope you do go after the shop. People like that make me sick.

Another suggestion. I know you are in Jersey. The only guy I know and trust on that side of the Country is Lidio Iaocabelli (not sure about the Sp of the last name). His shop is called Alternative Auto- you can find him on the net. I'm in California and he has helped me out quite a few times- its hard to find somebody as helpful. Get your car over to him....call him at least. You seem so dedicated to getting your car fixed that I think you might actually do it. You've been through a lot and I think at this point you should see this problem through. The only problem with altrnative is that they are in Michigan. Its a long way but considering what you have been through it might be worth it.

Sorry about the long post everybody.....

 

[TT91]

After following this thread for a while, back since your orignal post, I really feel that the problem lies within the electrical system. Whether its the ECU, or harness, with all the parts you've replaced arleady, you've completely narrowed it down. That is all, sorry to hear about your losses, I've call Laroccas a few times, and after quoting me 1200 for a rear suspension install, i drew my own conclusions about them. Good luck

 

[TT91]

Oh yea, and Job Spetter from Turbo People is by far the most knowledgable tuner in OUR area...Just FYI

There are SO many tuners up here, I would have brought it somewhere else that has top notch customer service and quality work. The problem with these "popular guys" is that they go through so many customers a year, they dont have to keep concentrated on customer in particular, especilly when they dont know what the hell the problem is. I have had excellent service from Mustang Magic as well in Long Island.

 

[scorp69]

i know on one of my stangs(93 4 banger), the cats were glowing when I bought it(sold it). i thought it was the cats, so i went to the muffler shop, and the owner said if the cats are glowing, its not the cats, its running rich. well, the check engine light was on, and the speedo didn't work as well. the cats smelled really bad to. now, i do most of my own work now, or call my friend who is a mechanic and works from home(he has a 93 sentra pushing over 400 horses. its a sr20 with turbo). i took it to him and found out it was the ignition module(i think its called that). on the 93 4 banger, it doesn't have a distributor. the module is on the drivers side right under the intake. it looks like the module on the 5.0 distributor, but bigger. changing it fixed my problem. so it could be something electrical. i would also take pictures of the car, and the space it sat for months. also, i would take to larocca and let him know you are going to sue him b/c he made you buy all the parts to fix a non related problem. see how he reacts. personally, if someone I'm paying can't fix the issue within a reasonable amount of time, i'll either get the car back, or get a second opinion. lesson learned, never just change parts thinking it'll fix the problem. larocca should have pulled codes, instead of just swapping parts. did they ever run diagnostics? if not, use that against them. good luck

 

[slvr302]

I really believe that were are not getting the full story here. First they say there is a problem with the harness and they have to run a stand alone system. Then they put a chip on and call it a day. Somethings not right there

That's Larocca for ya!!!! I will respond to others after I leave work

 

[bigb64]

Lidio is her in MIchigan he's an OK guy same as the rest though ver arogant. I like the Guy and he knows his stuff. I think he's great but i know alot of guys hwho think hes full of it. Just hope you get him on a good day

 

[shttygtstang]

could it be somthing as simple that your just not getting enough flow with your exhaust set up .Maybe you muflers a very restrictive.what if you drill a small hole in each cat let um breath better

 

[bergs]

i dont know, i liked larocca's. they were cool to me.

 

[shttygtstang]

do they make ceramic cats

 

[slvr302]

JUST A SIDE NOTE: My buddies 99 Cobra was at Larocca's in the beginning (at the same time my car was there). He brought them a Vortech w/aftercooler to install. Simple??? Not so...To make it short and sweet for you guys...they screwed his car up and had to go to JDM in Freehold to fix it up. What they found: His pump for the aftercooler was seized from a poor install that allowed plastic to get into the pump and sieze it. Also they said his tune was F***ed up!! When his car left Larocca it was surging, hunting for idle, idle was high, and shutting off when in the higher rpms when he depressed the clutch. Also they even went so far as to drill a hole in the inlet of the Vortech to mount a second bypass valve. Would you believe this $h*t?????
JDM straightened it all out but unforunately do not tune pushrod motors anymore.

 

[shttygtstang]

do they make ceramic cats

well ceramic headers fix the problem with your headers overheating would cerimc cats fix that

 

[ratrapp]

awhile back we had a 5.2 dakota in the shop with a glowing converter on it,it turned out the goof decided to put his timing chain with help from his so called mechanic dad.they had the dist. and timing chain so out of alignment that i don't see how it ran at all,plus i've seen others due it from too small of an exhaust system but usually it comes from too lean of a fuel mixture.

 

[5literPwr]

Wow, this is quite shocking to hear. I've brought my car to them several times and they were by far the most dedicated and concerned mechanics I've ever come across. Everything they've ever done on my car was perfect. I just wish I could find a shop like them out here in north dallas tx where i just moved.

 

[N8Miller]

Ive been talking to ya for a long time about this. I could never feel your pain about it, but i do feel your aggrevation.

I would follow suit with the rest and atleast say sue for what they told you to replace.

 

[ratrapp]

jrichker is right though,if your going to have a high performance car then learn to work on it yourself so you can't blame anybody but yourself plus it's more rewarding in the longrun.i have a friend that has a chevy ll that runs low 5s allday long at over 150mph but he doesn't drive or work on it so what's the reward or satisfaction?

 

[cab233]

If your car smells and your converters are glowing at idle then it is running rich period. You obviously have a good tune for the high end but dont know at low rpm's. Get yourself an air/fuel meter, edelbrock makes a nice one that is very easy to read. Have someone weld the bung in your h-pipe and install the meter. This will tell you how rich it is. Fixing the problem is not as easy. You will either need a new chip burned or programmable pcm. A stuck fuel injector or dirty injectors could also be causing your problem but run great under throttle and is a very good possibilty that might be a problem. Good luck and definitely sue their stupid asses for puttin it in yours!

 

[Rick 91GT]

Jimmy is the best tuner in the nation with the EPEC (hell he is one of the best tuners out there period)....and it can be run without o'2 sensors with no problem what so ever, many run it that way and prefer it.

FWIW- Sunoco fuel is highly oxygenated, this will/can cause a lean condition, usually the winter style gas is the worst. We ended up melting a piston by running some of the winter **** last year at the track, ran it the previous week on the dyno with summer gas and it was perfect, if anything a little rich. You will find many blower guys with any expierence do not run Sunoco gas for the above reason.....

Your situation does sound "interesting" though

 

[slvr302]

Jimmy is the best tuner in the nation with the EPEC (hell he is one of the best tuners out there period)....and it can be run without o'2 sensors with no problem what so ever, many run it that way and prefer it.

FWIW- Sunoco fuel is highly oxygenated, this will/can cause a lean condition, usually the winter style gas is the worst. We ended up melting a piston by running some of the winter **** last year at the track, ran it the previous week on the dyno with summer gas and it was perfect, if anything a little rich. You will find many blower guys with any expierence do not run Sunoco gas for the above reason.....

Your situation does sound "interesting" though

I do not have EPEC in the car. That was installed at one point to eliminate my factory computer and wiring harness from being the possible problem.

I am using the stock EEC with an Autologic chip. There are no O2s in the car.

Wouldn't one think that if it was as simple as the gas I was using that Larocca would have brought this to my attention many $$$$$$ ago?? So now I ask what gas is suggested?

 

[Rick 91GT]

I do not have EPEC in the car. That was installed at one point to eliminate my factory computer and wiring harness from being the possible problem.

I am using the stock EEC with an Autologic chip. There are no O2s in the car.

Wouldn't one think that if it was as simple as the gas I was using that Larocca would have brought this to my attention many $$$$$$ ago?? So now I ask what gas is suggested?

I guess Jimmy could have burned the chip to eliminate the O2's, I would not have done that but I guess he had his reasons....I sure would find out why.

Well it is summer gas season so you can try anything really, I am not saying this is your issue but thought the info would be interesting for you and others..

 

[slvr302]

I guess Jimmy could have burned the chip to eliminate the O2's, I would not have done that but I guess he had his reasons....I sure would find out why.

Well it is summer gas season so you can try anything really, I am not saying this is your issue but thought the info would be interesting for you and others..

What is funny, interesting, and baffling is that I was asking Larocca's for months on numerous occasions do I need a chip to possibly get rid of my cat problem. They continually said NO. Then out of nowhere when I finally picked my car up, there is one on there. I asked why a chip now and not one all the other times. The response to that was "After all the trouble you have been through with this car we wanted to make sure everything would be right so we burned you a chip."