5301, ebay, 2002 escape, unsuccessful

I bought a 5301 off of eBay for $127.95. I was going to install it myself but decided I just did not want to fool with it. I took it to a local shop and was quoted and agreed to pay $180.00 to have it installed. Well long story short, The installer can not get it to work correctly. Apparently the alarm is not sensing that the vehicle is running so it keeps cranking after it is running and shuts of after ten seconds or so and then tries to start again. He says he has tried virtual tach, voltage sense, and a wire to one of the coil wires and the problem persist. I left my SUV overnight and he says he is going to recheck everything in the AM and give DEI a call but it is looking as if I have a bad alarm brain. My question is... Where do we go from here? If the unit is supposedly bad the installer is going to want paid $180.00 after all not only did he supposedly install it correctly he also had additional time in troubleshooting a defective unit that he did not supply. I can return the alarm and get a replacement but I have my doubts that the unit is bad and quite frankly he can not prove it is defective. He can only prove that He can not get the unit working but at the same time I have no means by which to prove the unit is good. So what is a fair and equitable solution here? I am not going to want to pay him $180 when he has accomplished nothing but at the same time he is going to want paid for an installation job he thinks he has done correctly and neither of us can prove the other wrong.

Virtual tach is never reliable.  He should have never even tried that.   Audiovox has the following info for the tach wire.  He should at least try this wire.

Tachometer

GREEN/ VIOLET

(AC)

OR GRN/WHT PIN 26 AT THE PCM

	WIRE		LOCATION
	Module 1		PCM - LOCATED BELOW WIPER MOTOR IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT

Voltage sensing, with 1 or 1.2 second crank time is more than enough for this vehicle.   If it continues to crank using this setting, something is wrong.

Did you get a bypass module for the Escapes engine immobilizer?  Did the installer supply and/or install a bypass?

Does this shop normally sell and install Viper units?

As for a bottom line solution, the installer was doing something many won't do ( install the customers part ).  You must have felt he was capable to go to him in the first place.  If he believes it's a bad unit, exchange it and have him finish the install. 

Soldering is fun!

Thanks to those that replied. I guess I got lucky. After a night rest the installer approached it fresh the next morning and found the problem. Said something about just resetting everything. In any case he got it to work. I have to say though I have learned a lesson here though. I will never pay someone to install something again I did not purchase from them. This could have gone really bad. Only problem is the local shop want insanely ridiculous prices. I got three quotes on a viper 5301 in a 2002 escape from local shops. $480,$530, and $560 out the door installed. I paid right at $150 for the bypass and 5301 combined both brand new and $180 for the install. That's $330 which is much more reasonable

Excellent, glad it worked out.  As a side note, those "high" prices also get you a warranty and local dealer support.  DEI / Viper does not care for EBay purchases or support DIY installs. Soldering is fun!

BTW, we charge $349 installed for the 5301 and it comes with lifetime product and install warranty.... you should probably have called a few other Viper dealers.....

on the flip side, i would never install a starter the customer did not buy from me......too many hassles for both parties....

Kevin Gerry

Certified Electronics Technician

MECP First Class Installer

Owner/Installer

Classic Car Audio

since 1979

I actually had this same problem one time, customer had the older gen 5701 units and on the voltage setting it just kept cranking after the engine was started, connecting the tach solved the issue, but i never saw that problem before or after, seemd as though the voltage in the vehicle wasn't rising enough for the remote start to realize the engine had turned over, P.S. along with mr idiot, virtual tach is really a waste of time, seriously,

FWIW - I always used to specify a "one stop shop" for any installation & commissioning. Despite accountants thinking that mix&match is fine if cheaper, it almost always costs far more - not to mention delays. The accountants would then mention liquidated damages. I interpret that to mean "liquidate the accountant" (or manager responsible). Privately I couldn't afford to do anything else. Either I install, else I get the supplier to install. End of story. End of Lesson.