Bought the Banks

[Double-a]

I boght a Banks programmer for my Duramax 2 weeks ago.

I thought I would tell anyone who has been consindering buying a Banks for their tow rig that thus far they really suck.

I bought the Eco-what ever 2 weeks ago and I am still waiting on the damn thing. Not because I was looking for better economy, althought that would be nice too but I wanted the added torque for all the hauling I do, I mean 280+ extra foot lbs of torque is hard to say no to.
I spent over 2 grand on the programmer, the PDA, and the exhaust break and they have been giving me the run around since the 1st day.

They did however send me a nice letter thanking me for my money and asked me to tell everyone about my wonderfull experience with the Banks Co. so I felt compelled to tell everyone about my wonderfull experience with the Banks Co! Not really sure if this is what they had in mind?

Just some food for thought.

[ThrottleJunkie]

Thats a real bummer! I just installed Edge with attitudeabout on my Duramax a month ago, jeep has been down so I haven't had the chance to tow yet. But the power increase.........WOW!:Big Grin:

[POOR BOY]

wierd, never ordered from BANKS them self but i have the six gun with PDA and love it, ya it doesnt blow smoke like a smarty but it make a 8k truck run like a some bitch. sucks there taking so long on your parts

[GloNDark]

Banks is waaaaaaaaaaay overpriced.

If I had a duramax, i'd be running EFI live, gauges, exhaust brake and an intake. You'd have it already installed and you'd have a million tuning options for your liking.

[Double-a]

I have herd a lot of good and bad about EFI live and although Banks is expensive, I had only heard good about them, until my experience.
If I dont get my shit by Monday I am going to get my money back and go a different route.

[Hardcore-CashMoney]

Banks is waaaaaaaaaaay overpriced.

If I had a duramax, i'd be running EFI live, gauges, exhaust brake and an intake. You'd have it already installed and you'd have a million tuning options for your liking.

I've had almost every tuner there is for a Dmax and have currently had efi live for the last few years as well as my buddies and would never go back. Also I've had the banks brake for about 5 years now and never had a prob, I love the thing.


On a side note when all you guys blow up your allisons pm me and I'll hook you guys up with my buddy that builds them out of his garage on the cheap with suncoast parts. Kid knows his shit.

[GloNDark]

I've had almost every tuner there is for a Dmax and have currently had efi live for the last few years as well as my buddies and would never go back. Also I've had the banks brake for about 5 years now and never had a prob, I love the thing.


On a side note when all you guys blow up your allisons pm me and I'll hook you guys up with my buddy that builds them out of his garage on the cheap with suncoast parts. Kid knows his shit.

Does he rebuild dodge transmissions too?

[POOR BOY]

Does he rebuild dodge transmissions too?

ask trupster, i think he was telling me he knew a guy that thats all he did was dodge trannys? i guess thats who redid the one in the runner

[Double-a]

I have herd a lot of good and bad about EFI live and although Banks is expensive, I had only heard good about them, until my experience.
If I dont get my shit by Monday I am going to get my money back and go a different route.

I got my shit last night.
Took a lot of yelling at the customer service reps at Banks to get it done
I was also able to get a $100 refund for my troubles.
A far cry from what should have happened but, owell, thats life.

[Hardcore-CashMoney]

Does he rebuild dodge transmissions too?
I don't think he will touch those, but he could probably suggest someone

[Mrburns]

I got my shit last night.
Took a lot of yelling at the customer service reps at Banks to get it done
I was also able to get a $100 refund for my troubles.
A far cry from what should have happened but, owell, thats life.


Any word on how It works thus far? First impressions, other than the customer service sucks?

[Double-a]

Actually, I just got the chance to install it yesterday and the preformance, almost makes the whole fiasco worth it.
HOLLY SHIT!
I dont know how much economy gain I have yet. Havnt had a chance to really get any numbers out of it for comparison.
As far as the performance that can be felt...pretty damn intense.
Drove it on setting 6 while going through the tranny break in process and I was very impressed. I can hit 65 from a dead stop between the white reflectors on the side of the highway.
I did get a chance to tow a small load with it today. Nothing crazy, just a couple of tons. I was suprised by the amount of black smoke that poured out when I really stood on it. I hear that Banks is a no black smoke guy but hey, whats a little wasted fuel when your sitting on a little better than 600ft/lbs.
So like you said, other than the customer service portion, the programmer is pretty bad ass.

[Double-a]

I wont know anything else on it for a while though.
I bought a 17k winch a month ago and I have been busy building a bumper for it so my truck has, for the most part, been down for a few days now

[Double-a]

I got a chance to run my truck without a trailer today. Ran up to Carson and back, just to get an idea of what kind of mileage to expect.
On the Economy setting (2), I was getting pretty exciting numbers. On the way to Carson, I was getting almost 20.
I put the setting to 6, cause it is just fun. The mileage goes down significantly. Put it back on 2 for the trip home and I average just over 18mpg. That is at least a 3mpg gain over stock when I drove like a little old lady. I usually get between 12-14 when I drive normally and as low as 10 when I drive like an idiot and haul a load. So a 6-8 mpg increase is pretty damn cool.
As far as the speed increase? I have no basis for comparison as it isnt a race truck, it is a work truck, but there is a ton of speed there now. More than a dually should be capabale of in my opionion. With a trailer on and on the 6 setting, I can get up to speed with a good load behind me as fast as I used to be able to do it without a load, or at least aproximatly, according to my ass-pucker-meter.
So anyway, there it is.

[Hardcore-CashMoney]

I got a chance to run my truck without a trailer today. Ran up to Carson and back, just to get an idea of what kind of mileage to expect.
On the Economy setting (2), I was getting pretty exciting numbers. On the way to Carson, I was getting almost 20.
I put the setting to 6, cause it is just fun. The mileage goes down significantly. Put it back on 2 for the trip home and I average just over 18mpg. That is at least a 3mpg gain over stock when I drove like a little old lady. I usually get between 12-14 when I drive normally and as low as 10 when I drive like an idiot and haul a load. So a 6-8 mpg increase is pretty damn cool.
As far as the speed increase? I have no basis for comparison as it isnt a race truck, it is a work truck, but there is a ton of speed there now. More than a dually should be capabale of in my opionion. With a trailer on and on the 6 setting, I can get up to speed with a good load behind me as fast as I used to be able to do it without a load, or at least aproximatly, according to my ass-pucker-meter.
So anyway, there it is.

Are you getting these numbers from the driver information center?

[Double-a]

Are you getting these numbers from the driver information center?

Yes
but the DIC has always been spot on accurate.
Sometimes it gives me crazy numbers so I put some fuel in and do the math and it is always right. I have stopped second guessing the DIC.

However, as it turns out, my banks story is not yet finished.
Got in my truck yesterday after putting new u-joints in the drive line the day before and the damn IQ, the palm pilot thing that goes on the dash and controlls the whole thing decided it didnt want to work anymore.
I did everything I could think of to rest it hoping it would start working and nothing. Called Banks and aftering being on the phone with them for over an hour and going though all the same things I did, they decided it was junk and needed to send me a new one.
So here I sit, my truck stuck on 6 with the exhaust break on full and no way to change it till they send out the new IQ.
Banks SUCKS

[Hardcore-CashMoney]

Yes
but the DIC has always been spot on accurate.
Sometimes it gives me crazy numbers so I put some fuel in and do the math and it is always right. I have stopped second guessing the DIC.

However, as it turns out, my banks story is not yet finished.
Got in my truck yesterday after putting new u-joints in the drive line the day before and the damn IQ, the palm pilot thing that goes on the dash and controlls the whole thing decided it didnt want to work anymore.
I did everything I could think of to rest it hoping it would start working and nothing. Called Banks and aftering being on the phone with them for over an hour and going though all the same things I did, they decided it was junk and needed to send me a new one.
So here I sit, my truck stuck on 6 with the exhaust break on full and no way to change it till they send out the new IQ.
Banks SUCKS

usually as soon as you play with the fuel settings the DIC will read totally off. if you havin issues with the brake stuck on, jus pull the fuse. Mine acted up one time and thats what I did, if the pump can't run it won't push the ram on the exhaust.

[Double-a]

usually as soon as you play with the fuel settings the DIC will read totally off. if you havin issues with the brake stuck on, jus pull the fuse. Mine acted up one time and thats what I did, if the pump can't run it won't push the ram on the exhaust.

I didnt know that about the DIC
I will have to start checking up on it now.

Regarding the brake, not sure what your talking about with the ram on the exhaust. The Banks break works with the varriable veins in the turbos. However, I did figure out a way to turn off the break, and the Banks, I unpluged the whole thing, was a pretty simple fix.
Anyway, that is where I sit till I get the new IQ

[Hardcore-CashMoney]

I didnt know that about the DIC
I will have to start checking up on it now.

Regarding the brake, not sure what your talking about with the ram on the exhaust. The Banks break works with the varriable veins in the turbos. However, I did figure out a way to turn off the break, and the Banks, I unpluged the whole thing, was a pretty simple fix.
Anyway, that is where I sit till I get the new IQ

Ah I thought you had the actual exhaust brake that banks sells that mounts inline after the downpipe with a butterfly valve. I didn't realize you had a newer DMax with the VGT.

[Double-a]

So today I am putting new upper ball joints on my D-Max.
Wasnt really expecting my new tuner to be here yet, because of last time. Anyway, UPS walks up with my new IQ in hand.
I plug it into my truck.....
Not a single fucking thing happened.
This one seems to be broken too.
Called Banks, their friggen tech support guy is on FUCKING VACATION.
I plug it into my lap top with the hopes that I can do something, download something, even though I have no clue what in the hell I am doing.
Get on Banks website, I cant follow their instructions on the website cause the 'new' IQ is so fucked up.

If anyone is reading this and consindering the Banks...Stay away at all costs. If you have a Chevy and 2 grand to blow, do something else, like a solid front axle swap or something.

Banks already told me they wont give me a refund, if I could get it, I would. I am completly disgusted with their shit.
Ohh, and that no black smoke line they have is BS too, my truck has been pouring out black smoke.

[Double-a]

I had to have everything but the two controll modules replaced.
Even had to have some of the wiring harness replaced.
Got the last of the replacement parts today.
Have it all install.
Truck has been running well now for 9 hours.
I am curious to see how long it will hold together.

So, so far, that may be the end of the Banks storey.

[Hardcore-CashMoney]

I had to have everything but the two controll modules replaced.
Even had to have some of the wiring harness replaced.
Got the last of the replacement parts today.
Have it all install.
Truck has been running well now for 9 hours.
I am curious to see how long it will hold together.

So, so far, that may be the end of the Banks storey.

let me know when your ready to pull the allison out and have bentley build it up to hold whatever power you wanna throw at it. :Big Grin:

[Double-a]

Tell me what you think it needs?

I used to work at a tranny shop. I have pulled just about every tranny imaginable, except an Allison 1000.

I am by no means suggesting that it is an unbreakable trans, but I once asked the shop owner what I should do to my tranny and he told me nothing!

I of course realize in every OE application, there is room for improvment. I hear the torque converters can be an issue when you start throwing a lot of torque at these things. The only problem I have had with it is it slipped out of gear one day when I had a good load behind me. Tranny went into safe mode. Once I cleared the trouble code, everything was good to go again.
I have had a lot of problems with u-joints and I am very concerned with the t-case (NP243 I think). My truck is in four wheel drive almost as much as it is in two wheel. I always figured it was the weak link in the drive train.
If there is room for improvement, I am open to suggestion.

Thanks

[MR.ROCKAPE]

AFTER READING THIS....THIS IS THE REASON I HAVE STAYED AWAY FROM ANY COMPUTER HOP UPS FOR MY DUALLY.......THEY JUST SEEM TO WANNA BE A PAIN IN THE ASS AND NEVER COME WITHOUT SOME KIND OF HEADACHE OR MAJOR EXPENSE IN THE FUTURE.

PLUS THOUGH MY TRUCK IS A POWERSTOKE 7.3...I DONT THINK I HAVE ANY REAL COMPLAINTS ON HOW IT TOWS MY JUNK OVER DONNER AS IT IS....(EXHAUST UPGRADE/AIRFILTER....ARE THE ONLY CHANGES )

SUCKS YOU HAVE HAD A TON OF PROBLEMS WITH BANKS.

[Double-a]

THEY JUST SEEM TO WANNA BE A PAIN IN THE ASS AND NEVER COME WITHOUT SOME KIND OF HEADACHE OR MAJOR EXPENSE IN THE FUTURE.

I hadnt consindered that when I bought it.
Now that I have it and have seen how many problems I have had with the damn thing, I wonder how long it will actually last.
Some of the parts are warrantied for as much as 5 years, although most of them for only 2. My concern with it now is, after 2 years, when it breaks, I have to spend hundreds of dollars to make the shit communicate with my truck again.
It pisses me off.
My brother wanted a Banks for his Ford too. I didnt have to talk him out of it, Banks did all the talking for me. I just hope that no one has to go through the BS that I did so I am telling anyone who will listen.
Not really trying to talk anyone out of Banks, but trying to give some food for thought.

[Hardcore-CashMoney]

Tell me what you think it needs?

I used to work at a tranny shop. I have pulled just about every tranny imaginable, except an Allison 1000.

I am by no means suggesting that it is an unbreakable trans, but I once asked the shop owner what I should do to my tranny and he told me nothing!

I of course realize in every OE application, there is room for improvment. I hear the torque converters can be an issue when you start throwing a lot of torque at these things. The only problem I have had with it is it slipped out of gear one day when I had a good load behind me. Tranny went into safe mode. Once I cleared the trouble code, everything was good to go again.
I have had a lot of problems with u-joints and I am very concerned with the t-case (NP243 I think). My truck is in four wheel drive almost as much as it is in two wheel. I always figured it was the weak link in the drive train.
If there is room for improvement, I am open to suggestion.

Thanks
from what I understand the allison is a whole different animal than other auto trannys, but sure seems like its easy to work on. Most guys put in a suncoast clutch kit, and tripple disc converter with suncoasts valve body mod too.

I really havent heard of many issues with the T-cases other than the pump rub problem (just search it on thedieselplace.com) and the occasional stuck shift actuator.

[Double-a]

I am aware of the shift actuator problems.
My step dad has an 02 and has many problems with it.

I understand the more you use it, the less likely your are to have problems with it, and my T-case is engaged probably once a day, many times a week, anyway. Thanks for the advice, I am going to look into that.