My PDR experience!
05-28-2007, 09:29 PM
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My PDR experience!
I've dealt with Mark at PDR on a few occasions with regards to parts here and there and it's always been an awesome experience.
About 5 months ago, I had a boost issue come up where I just flat out couldn't make any boost and my EGT's just went nuts at the slightest application of throttle.
I dealt with Mark on this over the phone and thru emails, I live over 8 hours away, on testing procedures and such. After finding pin holes here and there in the intercooler and boost hoses and replacing various MAP sensors and IAT sensors, turbo, etc, which were all replaced. Still a boost problem.
Mark and I, mostly me, figured and diagnosed the problem to be the valve guides and the head needed to be replaced. This was confirmed by me on a few occasions with a boost/leak tester. When pressurized, the valve guides bubbled air, simle as that.
So I made arrangements with Mark about 2 weeks ago to get my truck in today to have the head replaced. They essentially cleared the shop for the most part to get me in and out of there in 2 days. Dropped the truck off this morning, went over everything with Mark and left with plans on picking it up ASAP so I could head back to Calgary.
Dave Quinn, Head Tech at PDR called me about 2 hours later and told me the truck was done!!! He couldn't see why I needed a cylinder head replaced at 110,000 miles so he did some investigating. It turned out that my wastegate was WAY out of adjustment and I had an intercooler boot partially coming off. These were items that for some unknown reason, I had totally missed on my part!!!!
As easily as I could have been taken to the cleaners and charged the roughly $3500 bucks for a new cylinder head and labor,whether I needed it ot not, it cost me $200 in shop labor for a couple of adjustments!!
Because of the time Mark spent with me during phone calls and emails trying to find this problem, I could only return the favor by letting them fix the truck. That's why I made the 8 hour drive. I've also read on other boards about guys down in the Oregon/Washington States breaking their trucks and trailering them to PDR. I now know why!!!
If anyone here has any inclination to head to PDR to get work done, don't even hesitate on minute, you will be looked after exactly like you want to, with HONESTY!!!!
With me, PDR has a customer for life!!!!
Just thought I'd pass it along and hope someone beneifts from my experience!
Jeff
About 5 months ago, I had a boost issue come up where I just flat out couldn't make any boost and my EGT's just went nuts at the slightest application of throttle.
I dealt with Mark on this over the phone and thru emails, I live over 8 hours away, on testing procedures and such. After finding pin holes here and there in the intercooler and boost hoses and replacing various MAP sensors and IAT sensors, turbo, etc, which were all replaced. Still a boost problem.
Mark and I, mostly me, figured and diagnosed the problem to be the valve guides and the head needed to be replaced. This was confirmed by me on a few occasions with a boost/leak tester. When pressurized, the valve guides bubbled air, simle as that.
So I made arrangements with Mark about 2 weeks ago to get my truck in today to have the head replaced. They essentially cleared the shop for the most part to get me in and out of there in 2 days. Dropped the truck off this morning, went over everything with Mark and left with plans on picking it up ASAP so I could head back to Calgary.
Dave Quinn, Head Tech at PDR called me about 2 hours later and told me the truck was done!!! He couldn't see why I needed a cylinder head replaced at 110,000 miles so he did some investigating. It turned out that my wastegate was WAY out of adjustment and I had an intercooler boot partially coming off. These were items that for some unknown reason, I had totally missed on my part!!!!
As easily as I could have been taken to the cleaners and charged the roughly $3500 bucks for a new cylinder head and labor,whether I needed it ot not, it cost me $200 in shop labor for a couple of adjustments!!
Because of the time Mark spent with me during phone calls and emails trying to find this problem, I could only return the favor by letting them fix the truck. That's why I made the 8 hour drive. I've also read on other boards about guys down in the Oregon/Washington States breaking their trucks and trailering them to PDR. I now know why!!!
If anyone here has any inclination to head to PDR to get work done, don't even hesitate on minute, you will be looked after exactly like you want to, with HONESTY!!!!
With me, PDR has a customer for life!!!!
Just thought I'd pass it along and hope someone beneifts from my experience!
Jeff
05-29-2007, 12:05 AM
#2
Registered User
Yep, the PDR team has always been top notch!
Fortunately ( unfortunately if you ask my wife LOL) for me I'm only a few kms away, I couldn't imagine having to drive the distance you did to find a good shop. Glad to hear you got it fixed up Homestead
Fortunately ( unfortunately if you ask my wife LOL) for me I'm only a few kms away, I couldn't imagine having to drive the distance you did to find a good shop. Glad to hear you got it fixed up Homestead
05-29-2007, 11:37 AM
#6
Chapter President
Proudly Canadian.... It is too bad that you have to drive 8 hours to get the straight goods. Nature of the business out in central AB unfortunately and the educated mechanics don't work at the local speed shops.
Good on PDR, they have had all my business up to date with no change in sight... (Still proudly displaying my PDR Hitch plug!!!)
Good on PDR, they have had all my business up to date with no change in sight... (Still proudly displaying my PDR Hitch plug!!!)
05-29-2007, 03:03 PM
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I know the old adage of support your local business probably applies but not for me. I've been bent over a few times from some of the local shops, not anymore.
All my business will go to PDR for any diesel related parts or repairs. The drive is more than worth it when you consider the service you get the minute you walk in the door.
All my business will go to PDR for any diesel related parts or repairs. The drive is more than worth it when you consider the service you get the minute you walk in the door.
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05-29-2007, 03:15 PM
#8
Chapter President
I know the old adage of support your local business probably applies but not for me. I've been bent over a few times from some of the local shops, not anymore.
All my business will go to PDR for any diesel related parts or repairs. The drive is more than worth it when you consider the service you get the minute you walk in the door.
All my business will go to PDR for any diesel related parts or repairs. The drive is more than worth it when you consider the service you get the minute you walk in the door.
Pretty sad considering the market in our neck of the woods..
05-29-2007, 11:56 PM
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I've been sadly disappointed by most of the Diesel shops in Calgary, and just in conversasion to the point that I will not spend my dollars around here. and this is a city of a million people.
05-30-2007, 10:59 AM
#10
Chapter President
How stupid is that? A huge city with trucks in every driveway and not one shop worth a hill of beans.. Its been that way since I can remember all going back to the PAAL/CFIT days. I learned more on the net than they could ever provide. Good thing I hooked up with Scotty and friends back then or I would have really been taken to the cleaners. Now with the uploaders available, anyone is a diesel "expert".
Man, 1 good mechanic, good service and knowledge and you could have a really good business in cowtown...
Man, 1 good mechanic, good service and knowledge and you could have a really good business in cowtown...
05-30-2007, 11:06 AM
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Their prices are incredible compared to some other shops around!!! PDR will treat you like gold, it's just to bad they are so far away from us here in Alberta...
05-30-2007, 04:01 PM
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I have had all good dealings with PDR , it's a shame they are completely on the opposite side of the continent from me... I wonder if they would be interested in opening a PDR shop on this side of the country... 
05-30-2007, 05:18 PM
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You know, depending on what your going to have/get done, PDR is not that far away.
You think your truck is going to sit in whatever shop for a week or so, the drive is just the same to go to PDR.
With my problem, all I got from the local shops was bring it in and we'll tear it down and see what's wrong with it even though I told them what was wrong with (at least now, what I thought was wrong with it) So it sits there for a week or so and I'm without a truck. A call to PDR said this much and 2 days, in and out. Even with the drive there and back, i would only be into for 4 days total. There is a savings right there.
I waited 11 months and finally got a phone call that my muffler for my Duramax was in from a local shop. Last time I looked, I drove a Dodge and the muffler was replaced by someone else 10 1/2 months ago. And this guy tears a strip off me because I wasted his time!!!
Like Lil Dog said, you get a good counter man and a couple of good techs and treat everyone like they are your last customer and you will clean up in the town. My local NAPA tried to sell me an EDGE box awhile back, he didn't have a clue about it but said it plugs right in and will make big power!!
It's getting scary out there even for all of us that know what we are doing let alone Larry Lunchbox and Soap Opera Sally that just want to pep up their holiday trailer hauler.
Jeff
You think your truck is going to sit in whatever shop for a week or so, the drive is just the same to go to PDR.
With my problem, all I got from the local shops was bring it in and we'll tear it down and see what's wrong with it even though I told them what was wrong with (at least now, what I thought was wrong with it) So it sits there for a week or so and I'm without a truck. A call to PDR said this much and 2 days, in and out. Even with the drive there and back, i would only be into for 4 days total. There is a savings right there.
I waited 11 months and finally got a phone call that my muffler for my Duramax was in from a local shop. Last time I looked, I drove a Dodge and the muffler was replaced by someone else 10 1/2 months ago. And this guy tears a strip off me because I wasted his time!!!
Like Lil Dog said, you get a good counter man and a couple of good techs and treat everyone like they are your last customer and you will clean up in the town. My local NAPA tried to sell me an EDGE box awhile back, he didn't have a clue about it but said it plugs right in and will make big power!!
It's getting scary out there even for all of us that know what we are doing let alone Larry Lunchbox and Soap Opera Sally that just want to pep up their holiday trailer hauler.
Jeff
