Kudos to Ron Davis radiators and Wild Horses

[Viperwolf1]

I bought a RD 5.0 radiator just over 2 years ago from WH. I installed it last August when I completed my EFI install. It worked well until it started leaking in Jan. I knew the warranty period was well over so I went to a couple radiator repair shops downtown to see if they could fix it. No shop gave me a warm fuzzy feeling about their ability to repair it and certainly no guarranty that they could. So I decided to call RD and see if they would fix it for me. I talked to Dennis at RD and explained the radiator is out of warranty (by 21 months) but is leaking. He said they would fix it for a small fee. I packaged it up and sent it in. Dennis called me after they received the radiator and said that instead of repairing it they were going to warranty it and just make me another radiator. He said it was obvious that it wasn't in-service long at all. All I would need to do is pay for the shipping back. Cool!

About a week later I received the new radiator from UPS. I called Dennis back because I never made arrangements to pay for the shipping charges. He said that since WH was such a good customer they try to keep them and their customers satisfied with RD products so the shipping was on them. That's just good customer service.

 

[Johnny]

You can't beat that with a stick.... good for them...

 

[sprdv1]

HELL YEAH... Nice...

 

[JWMcCrary]

Now that is First Class.

Makes me proud that I am using one of their radiators. I bought one of their radiators from BC Broncos in 2005, no problems.

 

[Madgyver]

Great for you but I wish RD wouldn't be selective in the customers that they decide to help out. Just because I live in the middle of the Pacific it shouldn't matter. We are still customers. Rich at WH did do what he could for me on a new copper core rad. But RD did nothing for me on their aluminum scrap radiator which leaked at the cores within a year of ownership. Their customer service SUCKS!! All they could offer me was a discounted price on a new radiator and I still would have to pay shipping. The total would of cost me way more than what I bought the rad for from WH in Victorville at the 40th.

BTW I still have the Ron Davis radiator on the side for proof just in case they want to take care of the problem and shut me up.....

 

[Hal9000]

Maybe word has started getting back to RD about what a bad rep they've got due to poor customer service and they're turning over a new leaf?

I've def heard more bad stories than good about their service (this is the first good story actually). Time will tell if that changes though.

Either way, good for you for sticking with it and actually asking for service in the first place. My experience is that that's where most people screw up. Long experience has taught me that a nice phone call or letter praising the manufacturer and asking for their help to resolve an unfortunate situation does more good than any written warranty ever will.

Be sure to use the correct coolant for aluminum radiator/engines from now on, and do some research about sacrificial anodes and grounding. That could help prolong the life of your new radiator.

 

[NicksTrix]

hmmm interesting...

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Yup , what Hal and Mad said ....lots of upset RD customers on this board. This is indeed the first good review of a RD defect I've ever read.

 

[kb6677]

Well, I'll join the fun as usual on RD rads-I respect Mad's problems-that said, I tweaked my '02 RD rad in '06 in Johnson Valley-hit the grille on a BFR hard enough to break a headlight. A couple months later the rad. started leaking. Called and asked them to try to fix it. If not pleased with the leak/pressure test after their attempt at fixing it-told them to send me another-my stupid driving(blamed my spotter!!) that caused the problem........
Anyway that was three years ago in June-same rad. fixed and still going strong. Funny, this post came up this week. I just took delivery of my third RD rad. One is in the white 392 stroker eb, one in an upcoming project and the one for my Ranger/truggy/hell mobile just arrived.
In summary, I have had nothing but great luck and customer service from Ron Davis Rads. As for their durability-click on over to King of the Hammers on Pirate 4x4 and see how many rigs are running RD rads!

Maybe I should just burn it.......naw!

 

[Viperwolf1]

Maybe word has started getting back to RD about what a bad rep they've got due to poor customer service and they're turning over a new leaf?

I've def heard more bad stories than good about their service (this is the first good story actually). Time will tell if that changes though.

Either way, good for you for sticking with it and actually asking for service in the first place. My experience is that that's where most people screw up. Long experience has taught me that a nice phone call or letter praising the manufacturer and asking for their help to resolve an unfortunate situation does more good than any written warranty ever will.

Be sure to use the correct coolant for aluminum radiator/engines from now on, and do some research about sacrificial anodes and grounding. That could help prolong the life of your new radiator.

I really wasn't expecting much help from RD before I called, having read other experiences here. I was pleasantly surprized.

I had a zinc anode installed in the previous radiator before it went into the bronco and it was grounded. I followed the instructions to the letter. It didn't fail due to corrosion.