Squires Turbo Systems STS Turbo has not worked for two years and has ruined my car. Orem Utah

I would have responded to this sooner but I just was notified that this was posted.

STS Turbo produces many 'bolt-on' turbocharger systems for a wide variety of vehicle applications. Many of these systems include the fuel system upgrades and tuning components, etc. for that particular application. STS Turbo does NOT currently make a 'bolt-on' turbocharger system for the Chevy SSR and does not offer a SSR specific fueling or tuning solution for this application. The customer purchased one of our Universal Turbo Kits which is nothing more than the basic components that it takes to install a turbocharger onto a vehicle. Custom tubing fabrication is required to install the turbo as well as all of the necessary fuel system, PCM reprogramming/tuning and any engine, drivetrain or cooling system upgrades, etc. to ensure proper operation of the vehicle with the turbocharger installed. This work is typically done at a 'performance shop' of the customer's choice.

The customer had a shop of his choice fabricate and install the turbocharger components - which was done according to the installers ideas and skills. The installation shop then tuned the vehicle as well. They ran into issues with the performance of the vehicle. At this time I got involved to try and help solve some of the issues with the vehicle and not only interfaced with the customer but also with the installation shop and found that the vehicle was overheating and had high intake air temperatures. After reviewing installation pictures and seeing that the air filter was located in an area that was pulling in HOT air from directly behind the engine and exhaust system, I suggested moving the filter location as well as upgrading the cooling system and making sure the tuning was correct to keep coolant temperatures inline. I also suggested adding an intercooler to the system since most of the plumbing was routed through areas that did not give sufficient airflow over the pipes to cool down the intake charge. This was going to require additional fabrication and redoing some of the work that had already been done.

To my best recollection, after checking with GM, the SSR showed that there were some inherent cooling system problems that required an update of the cooling system (sorry, this was a long time ago so I don't remember the specifics). The vehicle was going to require additional fuel system upgrades to support the higher HP of the turbocharger as well as a larger radiator to accomodate the cooling requirements of the added HP from the turbocharger. To my knowledge these modifications weren't performed because the customer did not want to pay the extra expense of upgrading these systems at the time, leaving the vehicle owner with a half finished project. The installation shop was well aware of the fact that turbocharging a vehicle can require additional upgrades to factory systems to accomodate a turbo.

STS Turbo has successfully turbocharged hundreds of 5.3L Chevrolet trucks with great results using our complete 'bolt-on' turbo systems and STS tuning packages. This vehicle required additional work that was not done and the system was not fabricated by the installation shop to give the best results. When a customer purchases components only, and has a shop fabricate, install and tune the vehicle, there are many variables that STS Turbo has no control over. I can understand the frustration of the customer but blaming STS Turbo for the end results when only 'components' were purchased from them is like blaming the lumber company that your house wasn't built properly and that your carpet is the wrong color. You really should be talking to your 'builder'.

The turbocharger that STS Turbo sold the customer worked properly and built boost like it should. The Wastegate that STS Turbo sold regulated the boost properly. The oiling system that STS Turbo sold performed properly, etc. The flanges and hardware all bolted up properly to the components. STS Turbo did not sell the customer any prefabricated pipes to mount the turbocharger or plumb the boost into the engine nor did we specify exactly where to mount the turbocharger and how to run those pipes on that specific vehicle. STS Turbo also did NOT sell the customer a tuning solution. STS Turbo did not do the installation or tune the vehicle.

I am 100% confident that had the customer sent the vehicle to STS Turbo to have this work done, it would have been done properly and worked very well. It is unfortunate that the customer has a vehicle that is not working properly and has not made the necessary changes to the system to get the performance that he is looking for. I was personally involved on many occasions trying to help the customer and the installation shop sort out the various installation problems in the system, so stating that STS Turbo does not take care of their customers or sell a quality product is more the venting of the frustration of starting an expensive project that apparently went over the budget rather than a true customer service or component quality issue. Customer is always free to call and get additional help to resolve the problems with the vehicle and get it set up properly.

Rick @ STS Turbo