Partial Enthalpy Review/Experience

[JS13240]

First of all I'm doing this as a last effort to get my issues resolved with RS Enthalpy and warn others about the sort of customer service I've experienced. Hopefully other people will post their experiences as well so that we can see if my case is an isolated occurrence or not.

I sent my ecu out to enthalpy to be tuned about two years ago. It took a couple weeks to get it back, not the 2-3 day turnaround he describes on his website but not a terribly long wait either. About year and a half goes by before I get my motor built and finish installing the turbo components. Car started right up but ran incredibly rich and seemed like an ecu issue. I emailed Scott at Enthalpy and he pretty much suggested everything else was causing my rich issue. I gave him the benefit of the doubt and double checked everything suggested by him and my fellow forum members but even though I fixed a couple issues nothing seemed to solve the problem.

My progress has been greatly slowed by the fact that Scott doesn't respond to my emails without waiting at least a week. I wanted to get him on the phone and bounce a couple ideas around that could help me really narrow down whats causing the problem unfortunately he was consistently unwilling to speak to me and based on his email responses he clearly skims what I write at best. Needless to say I was getting no where fast so I asked him If I sent the ecu back if he would look it over and get back to me.

I sent the ecu out on Nov. 3rd and I've sent him one email a week since just to know if he has received the ecu. He has not responded to any of those emails. So not only has the $500 I paid for the tune gotten me nothing so far but now I don't have an ecu either. I can't understand how he could be so busy over the last 20 days that he couldn't have sent me a single email letting me know he has received the ecu and for $500 I don't feel like I'm asking for a lot.

That's pretty much the whole deal, I don't want it to sound like I'm bashing Scott or Enthalpy and I don't want anyone else to in this thread either. I think with any business you're only as good as your service and your service will speak for itself.

Scott, if I failed to do something on my end to get this resolved please say something, you have my email, my address, my phone number, and now this thread.

[jr_ss]

In Scott's defense and from my own personal experience with talking to him through emails, it was always about a week or so before I got a response from him. Sometimes it was alittle longer. He's a one man show, there's no one helping him out and you have to understand that.

As far as your issues are concerned, I'm sure he'll get it straightened out. You're a little impatient right now understanding your situation, but step back, take a breather and I'm sure you'll here from him soon... Everyone has to vent sometime.

Good luck with getting the car up and running...

[JS13240]

In Scott's defense and from my own personal experience with talking to him through emails, it was always about a week or so before I got a response from him. Sometimes it was alittle longer. He's a one man show, there's no one helping him out and you have to understand that.

As far as your issues are concerned, I'm sure he'll get it straightened out. You're a little impatient right now understanding your situation, but step back, take a breather and I'm sure you'll here from him soon... Everyone has to vent sometime.

Good luck with getting the car up and running...

Just to be clear you're saying I'm being impatient because I think 20 days is too long for an email when the website says 2-3 day turnaround? I'm not really frustrated just worried, when it was just a week it wasn't a big deal but I just want to know if he got the ecu or not. This long with no response makes me feel like something happened.

[jr_ss]

I'm not saying you're being impatient with his response, I was aiming that towards wanting your car up and running... 20days is a good amount of time and I'd probably be alittle curious what was up too, but I don't think he has any intentions of screwing you over. I've seen people wait sometime to get their ROM tunes from him, but he came through and took care of them.

[simmode1]

I know it sucks but, read this...

zer...age=1

[JS13240]

I know it sucks but, read this...

zer...age=1

Yeah, I read that and it sounds a lot worse than my situation. As far as my car it'll run when It runs, its been more than 2 years already so I can wait a little longer. At least with everything else (other parts and machine work) I at least knew why or what I was waiting for and never had to wait more than an appropriate amount of time.

[simmode1]

Oops! My bad! Enthalapy and Emance are two completely different companies! My post had nothing to do with your topic! I r stoopid...

[ScrapMetal]

The man's not being impatient. I find it real irresponsible and unprofessional for this Scott guy to let so much time pass and still hasn't answered any of his e-mails or phone calls. If I'm being payed for a service, the least I could do is keep the customer happy so I can keep getting business from that customer and have good reviews. Call me an impatient *******, but if they tell me 2-3 days and they take their sweet *** time, I want my money back. At least make it your responsibility to keep the customer up to date by letting him know the details. The customer shouldn't have to tell themselves, oh they're probably busy. I wouldn't want to deal with a company who treats people like that.

[JS13240]

Oops! My bad! Enthalapy and Emance are two completely different companies! My post had nothing to do with your topic! I r stoopid...

I thought you were just saying it could be worse lol

[brizanden]

**** i hope enthalpy doesnt turn into another emance situation cause im gonna need a rom tune soon and there is gonna be like no choice but for me to get a chipped board and figure it out my self.

[240sxvaj]

i got my ecu back in a total of 2 weeks from the day i sent it til the day i got it.

customer service was good.

im sure it wont become another E-Mance issue because Enthalpy has been in business for awhile now and i know for sure Scott know his stuff.

[Ekinchheng]

Not too bash on enthalply but there's other tuning services available on the internet. EFIspecialist (Redline), JWT to name a few.

[agile_moments]

Sorry to hear you've had such a bad experience with enthalpy. I guess it's weird to see someone order their tune straight from enthakpy. I got mine via heavy throttle about 2 years ago, turn around was quick. It still runs a little rich because I have yet to tune it correctly, but from what I understand it's supposed to be that way..better too rich on a rom tune than too lean. I guess this doesn't help you out in any way...but I'm sorry you're having to deal with such a hassle..

[brizanden]

Not too bash on enthalply but there's other tuning services available on the internet. EFIspecialist (Redline), JWT to name a few.

i know, but enthalpy was supposed to be pretty dam good.

[JS13240]

i know, but enthalpy was supposed to be pretty dam good.

Pretty much the reason I went with Enthalpy. I also just want to point out this is a "partial review" because I hope that at some point I'll be able to endorse the tune even if the communication wasn't what I expected.

[spooled240]

I waited 6 weeks for my JWT tune and it costed me 595 for a reflash. It has been a superb tune so far though. I've heard many good things about enthalpy, so i think your situation will come around. GL

[mattblancarte]

Why didn't you go with a stand alone?

[brizanden]

cause most people dont get money

[JS13240]

Why didn't you go with a stand alone?

The only standalone I know of that doesn't cost at least three times as much as an ecu tune is megasquirt and I dont know enough to get that set up and tuned my self. Plus I want to keep my budget for engine management and tuning under $1k.

[spooled240]

Why didn't you go with a stand alone?

they are a ton of money and I'm not building a race car, just a low boost daily-driven street setup around 250-300rwhp

[JS13240]

Has anyone communicated with Scott since November? Is anyone still waiting on an ECU? Still no word on my end, but I'm about a week away from starting a civil suit. I'm sorry but $500 plus the value of the ecu is too much for me to just forgive and forget.

I think what gets me the most is that Scott lives like a mile away from the beach and probably makes great money while I've gotten laid off twice in the past year and can barely afford rent and he can't be bothered to fix my ecu or refund my money and send it back.

I'm going back to school next semester and I was planning on funding by selling my Civic and just driving the 240 which make sense now that gas is about $1.39 here in St. Louis. No ecu means no 240 which means I cant sell the civic which means no school next semester unless I stumble across the money somewhere else. This whole deal is getting to the point where it's going to start interfering with my life and that's bs.

[JS13240]

Just a quick update for anyone researching having their ecu tuned. Today I went ahead and filed the postal insurance claim for the ecu. It's been a month and I plan on taking Scott to small claims court for the money I lost on the ecu "service" too. At this point in time I absolutely can not recommend RS Enthalpy for tuning your ecu, not because he isn't capable of making a solid tune but because of his clear lack of consideration for his customers.

Another update, just got an email from Scott, he has been on vacation.
Modified by JS13240 at 6:42 PM 12/1/2008

[JS13240]

update:Well Scott finally sent my ecu back in December along with a spare chipped ecu. It took all of five minutes for me to find that there was no change in the way the car ran with either ecu. So with Scott insisting that there must be something else wrong with the car I forked up the cash and towed the car out to a reputable shop (speedandsoundstl.com/ check out their 300zx) to have it checked over for any other problems.

After a couple of days I got a call from the shop saying that the car is drivable (albeit very rich) whenever a stock ecu is hooked up and that there must be an issue with the ecu's that Scott has sent me. Now this is the second shop, fantasy motowerks being the first, that has told me the problem is the with ecu. I sent Scott another email march 6th with my recent findings and speed and sound's contact information but have yet to hear back.

So im kinda frustrated, mostly just tired of dealing with this, and I miss my car. At this point I just want a refund so I can go with a JWT chip and put all this behind me.

[S14toRPS13]

I was thinking of going stand alone just for this very reason that you're going through. Luckily, there is a local tuning shop who's an authorized Nistune dealer. For $850, I can get the parts, installed, and dyno tuning. Way cheaper than a mail order tune and afc with dyno tuning. Screw mail order tunes!

[rc1honda]

I was so close to getting a ROM tune. Then i thought aww what the hell, why am i going to send my ecu out to a guy i don;t know and doesn't gives 2 s***s about me. The Rom tune is 500 bucks. I bought a Power FC for 550 shipped. Yes ill have to pay 200 to get it tuned, but i least i can change and upgrade things and don;t have to pay 100 bucks for a reflash or the headache of dealing with guys who are to busy for you. Or having all the downtime, or worse yet getting a bad tune. Peace of mind is priceless, and so is my time. Get a standalone like your supposed to and call it a day. Being cheap cuz your car is not a race car is no excuse, you should of left it stock then. If you mod your car with big injectors, and big turbos and don't wanna pay the price to have it run correctly then you ought to have your head examined.

[Ghast]

Hummm.

Well after reading all this i know exactly how i am NOT going to have my car tuned when the time comes.....hahaha

One Love,

Ghasty

[JS13240]

I was so close to getting a ROM tune. Then i thought aww what the hell, why am i going to send my ecu out to a guy i don;t know and doesn't gives 2 s***s about me. The Rom tune is 500 bucks. I bought a Power FC for 550 shipped. Yes ill have to pay 200 to get it tuned, but i least i can change and upgrade things and don;t have to pay 100 bucks for a reflash or the headache of dealing with guys who are to busy for you. Or having all the downtime, or worse yet getting a bad tune. Peace of mind is priceless, and so is my time. Get a standalone like your supposed to and call it a day. Being cheap cuz your car is not a race car is no excuse, you should of left it stock then. If you mod your car with big injectors, and big turbos and don't wanna pay the price to have it run correctly then you ought to have your head examined.

I considered standalone but there is always the possibility of getting a bad tune that way as well, not to mention I was nervous about having my car tuned before the the motor is even broken in. Also please tell me how going standalone = calling it a day and building a motor with forged internals is cheap? From my research, and correct me if I'm wrong, there is more room for error installing and tuning a standalone than simply swapping ecu's. Even with that being said if the power fc was available or worked for ka's I agree I would have gone that route.

[S14toRPS13]

I considered standalone but there is always the possibility of getting a bad tune that way as well, not to mention I was nervous about having my car tuned before the the motor is even broken in. Also please tell me how going standalone = calling it a day and building a motor with forged internals is cheap? From my research, and correct me if I'm wrong, there is more room for error installing and tuning a standalone than simply swapping ecu's. Even with that being said if the power fc was available or worked for ka's I agree I would have gone that route.

Your tune will only be as good as the tuner. That being said, if you should go out and buy a Power FC for example, bring it to a competent tuner who knows what they're doing. You wouldn't go out and buy a Gucci suit, then tailor it yourself. You'd have a professional tailor it for you. If there aren't any reputable tuner in your area, then I'm sorry. A mail order tune is probably your best option. IMO, $500 isn't worth a guess tune.