posessed vehicles

Have you ever had one of those installs where everything just seems to go wrong?  Well I had one in what looked from the beginning an easy vehicle; a single button remote start in an 02 Accord.  The customer was an old lady who wanted remote start, while keeping her factory keyless.  We were surprised to find out that the only bypass module we had in stock was an ancient (5 years old +) Peripheral model.  However I prepped the system not knowing this would be a glimpse at the troubles to come. 

Trying to remove the underdash pannel turned out to be difficult.  Two of the clips would not release.  So I grabbed a panel popper and finally got both to release.  However I was shocked to find that it wasn't the clips that released, but the plastic bases themselves.  So my first task was to re-glue them back on. The next bit of difficulty I ran into was not being able to find the unlock wire Directechs specified over on the passenger side which was to be used to disarm the factory alarm.  That wasn't too big a deal as some testing resulted in me finding it, just of another color wire.  The rest of the installation seemed to go smooth, with everything working just fine. 

The customer came back to pick up the vehicle 10 minutes before we closed.  I proceeded to take them out to the parking lot to give a demonstration of how everything works, but was surprised to find that the remote start triggered the factory alarm.  I heard the unlock activate which was supposed to disarm the alarm, but it didn't seem to do it's job.  It then occurred to me that I had forgotten to test that portion beyond checking to make sure the locks activated.  So I pulled it back in the shop to use instead the other wire which could be used to disarm the factory alarm which Directechs calls the "factory disarm no unlock" wire which is located in the drivers door.  This went rather quick and everything seemed to work just fine.  However now we ran into the problem where the keyless entry doesn't work when the ignition is on.  Honda's (as are Toyota's) are notorious for this lockout feature.  The customer is upset and doesn't want to have to use the key to unlock the door after they remote start it, so as my boss wanting to appease her offers to install a remote start/keyless entry system for free instead. 

So today this 02 Accord comes back to me.  I have to pull out the old system and re-install a new one that includes keyless.  That should be easy as most of my wires are already run.  My first concern was that the bottom dash panel repair I made previously wouldn't hold.  But I was shocked to find it did.  My repair was actually stronger than the factory panel.  So I then proceeded to cut all the wire ties and pull the old system out and install the new one.  Everything seems to be going fine until testing.  I first attempt to program the bypass module in case it lost it's programming when it lost power.  However for some reason it won't program.  I decide to test the remote start and it cranks but won't engage.  So I put the key in the ignition and still it cranks without engaging.  My boss immediately suggests I use the key to start the vehicle and we are surprised to find that the vehicle will only crank.  So I tested all my connections and removed the bypass module from the system and still the vehicle won't start.  My boss figured that my attempt at programming the module caused too many "keys" to be programmed to the vehicle and locked them all out.  Several calls to the Honda dealership gave us some instructions on how to bypass the factory security system and start the vehicle to get it to them to re-program the keys.  They got them programmed, but said their computer said there was an open wire.  When we got the vehicle back I checked over the system and found a factory wire I accidentally cut when clipping all those wire ties.  It is sheer irony that it just happened to be a factory security wire.  I'm still wondering why, when this wire was still cut, they were able to program the keys and get them to work without problems.  Anyway, I re-attached that wire and everything worked fine.

You think now my troubles with this vehicle are over.  However my boss now notices that the factory system had trunk pop and we need to add it to completely eliminate the factory remote.  So I quickly wire up a relay, find the factory wire and connect everything up.  I grab the remote to test it and nothing happens.  I cut the tape on my relay to check all the connections and see they are just fine.  So I grab my meter and find there is no output going to the relay.  However a quick swap of the brain and now it works just fine. 

I know there were several mistakes I made in there which added to my grief.  And I'm sure I will look like a less than perfect installer because of admitting them here.  But added up with all the other happenstance things I ran into, this vehicle quickly became the most frustrating install I have ever done.  So now that I'm done ranting, I want to know if you have ever ran into a vehicle like this?  Have you ever when you are putting the last panel back on, you are wondering what bad thing will happen or what won't all of a sudden work next?  Well here's your venting ground.  Please post the install that haunts your past the most.  Who knows, maybe we can learn from each-others mistakes and experiences.

I had an '05 Dodge Ram that smoked the internals of the brain box of the R/S because the accessory circuit to the blower motor does not use a relay for the high speed- so lots of amps are being pulled through the internal relay of the brain box when owner has blower motor on "high"  -- I wanted tech assist to put a warning on the wiring diagram for this truck that you need an external hi amp relay to install when doing this job--- they told me just to tell the owner not to put his blower on "high" when remote starting-- yeah right...  they also said these trucks were known for ignition switch failures due to the same reason-- no high blower relay in the circuit.... and to live with it-   This did not happen til over a year after the initial install.

That's not all- The starter had continually run to the point it ruined the starter motor- starter was locked on because the melted box- (quarter sized hole on back of unit)- the truck was filled with smoke- before a fuse finally blew- owner cut out the brain box- brought it to me in a box. 

The ironic thing is that he had it towed to the local Dodge dealership- and they covered the replacement starter motor under warranty- the owner let me re-install another R/S unit and I put in dual external relays for the accessory circuit.  I thought for sure the dealership would have blamed the R/S - but they must have been hungry enough to cover it anyway........

Copied this from my post on DEI's forum, not proud, but stuff happens.....

Here is my worst ever. Back when I owned Audio Expresions. I did an amp & sub in a 96 Cadi STS. Mounted the amp next to the sub. Customer comes in for pickup & askes my installer to remount the amp to the back of the seat. On those all the vehicle electronics are on the back of the seat, & BAM he nails the alarm module. So, I call around town, dealers don't have it, so I offer to install a RS W/keyless for him. F'in car, my 1st Audiovox RS (F those BTW, but nothin else had the outputs I needed), & the car was not an STS, or an eldo, of any caddi that I could find on DT, or any database anywhere. 4 DAYS!!! it took me, because it had to do everything, RS, trunk pop, fuel door pop, window roll ups & down, sun roof open shut. I WAS wizED, frustrated, out of my head. I so I get it all done, & go to remount the amp, & "PSSSS", screw into the spare tire FAWK MAN!

LOL, I hear ya. I get a kick outta some folks that say they can pop out 5-6 RS a day.....I have never seen a shop that has that kind of volumne of RS!!! sheez...I may see 4-5 alarms a week, & maybe 3-4 RS a month (thank god)

Dang thing.... didnt mean to post the other post yet. Anyways... ***edit: other post gone ***

The last shop I worked at it was normal for a tech to have 4-7 rs/rs-keyless installs a day and we had 4-5 techs doing 4-7 a day from oct-march. Summer time most techs did 1-3. Alarms were more popular in the spring summer. Ive always wondered what other shops numbers were. but really depends on market/location/etc...