After a drive, I notice that my aftercooler is hot to the touch. Is this what you guys are experiencing as well long drive or short drive?

 

No, mine is cool to the touch. You need to test it while the engine is still running and do it ASAP after you stop. If you shut the ignition off, even for a couple of minutes before you check it, the engine bay heat will quickly heat up the aftercooler. You also need to check to make sure the coolant is at the proper level and the pump is running when the ignition is on. At the very least, it should be "warmish" if you've been driving around in slow city traffic. Something is weird if it's hot to the touch.
To test the pump, turn ignition to full ON but don't start the engine. Go out and put your ear in front of the grill and listen. You should hear it humming away.

 

now i know you run the vortech and if i may define hot to touch, i can't keep my hand on the ac for more than 2 seconds without discomfort...

whenever i start the car, i hear a hum, but i think that's the fuel pump cuz it makes this hum noise for maybe 1 second....

 

This is for sure NOT normal. You need to get it checked out.

The aftercooler fluid pump sound is quite different from the fuel pump pressurizing up after you ignition ON. The cooler pump will continue to hum at the front of the car as long as the ignition is ON. Listen with it OFF, then listen with it ON so you can definately hear the difference. It is pretty unmistakable.

 

is the vortech sound similar to comptech's (water pump?)?

thx x.

 

They should sound fairly similar. Their basic design is the same.
If you do hear your pump humming, I suppose it's entirely possible you have a severe air lock in the system. This pump should have been installed in a very specific orientation in order to function properly. The wrong orientation and you trap air inside and it won't move water. Even with a big air lock, you should still hear it hum.
Have a look at this Comptech file:
http://www.comptechusa.com/store/media/ins...ions/ins113.pdf
It speaks of "clocking" the pump. It must be in the designated position with the water inlet and water outlet as shown. Now that you know where it's located, you know where to listen.

 

Just thought of something else.
It would appear as though Comptech draws power from a different place than the Vortech. Comptech shares power with the secondary air injection pump. Does your 2ndary pump work? When you actually start the engine (cold start), do you hear the 2nd pump come on for a few minutes. If not, this power circuit may be blown.

 

I have the comptech and it is downright cool even after the car has run for hours. However, if you turn the car off and let it sit, it will become very hot.

 

Oh and an easy way to tell if your pump is working is to turn the key over but not start the engine. You should hear the pump going from inside the cabin. If you can't go out and pinch one of the coolant lines going to your aftercooler for a few seconds and then let it go. You should hear the pump cycling some bubbles through it.

 

Something is def wrong with my setup if the aftercooler is supposed to be cool to the touch even after driving for hours. mine is downright warm and uncomfortable to touch.

i did turn ON the car as xviper has suggested and did hear the pump... after about 30 seconds or so... the pump noise was a smooth constant hmmm, but at first in the beginning , it sounded like it was pumping something in a rhythmic manner.

i haven't checked the fluid level yet. i am really beginning to dislike my installer more and more.

what could be going on that's making it run so hot? this may be contributing to my bogging too in stop and go...