Strategy Codes and where to find them

[joezek]

I have a 2003 Expedition 5.4L 2WD. Using my SCT Xcal2, I read the strategy code as RKA01AF. VMP tuning says that's the wrong code....huh? The SCT tuner is telling me the code, I would think the computer knows the code more than anyone else right? There's no sticker in the passenger door jamb like the VMP website tells me. There's also no sticker on the computer.

Any ideas where to find a strategy code?

 

[fiveohpoepoe]

Wow, VMP is having some issues. Check my thread out in the review forum. I would HIGHLY recommend looking into another company. As far as customer service, custom tunes etc. I am dealing with XXXX[pm if interested] and I spoke with the owner/tuner more in one conversation than I did with Justin.
I had the same exact problem with the strategy code/PCM number issue dealing with VMP. Needless to say, I am out $118 in 3 weeks for a programmer with 3 custom tunes that I was not happy with.

 

[joezek]

Well I purchased the "Tunes" last friday morning. I won't get too critical of them yet but I will be completely honest with my results so far.

I was kind of expecting to pay them (= instant payment through paypal, so they got paid immediately) and then since Justin had already told me he had files for my truck, I was expecting the tune files the same day at some point.....

He seems to only reply to me very late at night, like midnight etc. and he takes forever to reply to my emails. He understood that I was leaving on a long road trip saturday morning and that I wanted the tune files BEFORE the road trip, since it was a fuel economy tune. He told me he'd email me the files...

Then he vanished and no reply until monday at 11:04pm. So I never got the files saturday like he said, and then on Monday night he told me that the strategy I had sent him Friday was not a good strategey code.

I replied at 7:45am Tuesday morning to both Justin, and also to SCT Corp's tech support with a picture of the Xcal2 showing the strategy code from my truck. Within an hour I had a reply from SCT saying I have the proper strategy code. However I still have NOT heard a word from Justin/VMP Tuning.

Just in case he had a spam blocker, I sent two more follow up emails throughout the day but still no response from Justin. It's extremely discouraging, and getting aggravating now. I think he's doing tunes in his spare time, just before he heads to bed or something.

I'm sure it's going to work out, but waiting for a simple email is very aggravating. I have patience, but it's getting worn out. It's been 5 days now to email a file that he "already has".

 

[fiveohpoepoe]

Same story with me. I wanted them to be ready and loaded so I could have them on a trip I took. You are the third that I know of with issues, and none have been handled yet. I will save the rest of my opinion for when my refund comes. He will have the 3 week old programmer with his tunes back Friday and I am done with VMP Tuning

 

[joezek]

Same story with me. I wanted them to be ready and loaded so I could have them on a trip I took. You are the third that I know of with issues, and none have been handled yet. I will save the rest of my opinion for when my refund comes. He will have the 3 week old programmer with his tunes back Friday and I am done with VMP Tuning

Ah crap, I hope I didn't get screwed. I barely have money to spend on little things like this. I sold a few things out of the closet/attic on ebay to afford these tunes. I don't feel like arguing over this with them. I really hope they just send me my damn files I paid for.

 

[fiveohpoepoe]

I don,t think you will get screwed per say but obviously you see you are not getting what you ordered by the time you requested. IMO he is so busy and loaded with customers he does not have time to keep up with everything/everyone. The old saying, "more on your plate than you can handle" comes into mind.
Keep me updated if you would please

 

[joezek]

Yeah I never heard a word from him yesterday, maybe today???

 

[fiveohpoepoe]

Have you tried to call?

 

[joezek]

not yet, I'll do that today though. The emails seems to be getting me no where.

 

[fiveohpoepoe]

That was/is my problem with VMP. I got to the point where I told him I was going to file a complaint with BBB and that most likely shut off communication.

But I was very frustrated about the whole thing and this was going on for 2 1/2 weeks.

 

[joezek]

I just called and spoke to Justin. I hadn't called before because their website has a lot of strict sounding rules about not calling with orders less than $300, appointments only etc etc. Anyways, I called him, he sounded surprised and didn't seem to even know about my order for some reason....probably overly busy like you said.

He then read my emails from yesterday, and within 5 minutes he sent me my files. I just installed the performance file, and wow what a difference. I test drove it, the roads are wet... I only went from 0-50 twice. It used to take forever to get from 3500 to 4700 rpm. Now it blows right up to 4700 and spins the tires into 2nd gear. There's definitely more power, and a wider power band now. I like it. He says it's about 20 HP/torque gain. It feels like it.

I hope the economy tune is as much of a difference as this performance tune. It's a real wake up call.