nightmare at the shop

Hey everyone,

I'm new here on the forums, and just wanted to share my experience with having my new system installed this week. I have a few questions about the issues im having as a result of the poor quality work and lack of attention to common sense practices that the shop i used applied to my truck. anyway, to start off, i have a 2006 Ford Expedition XLT. Before this install i had the completely stock ford 4-speaker (no sub) stereo. Heres basically what went down at the shop. 

Things i provided:

1) Alpine PDX 4.150 4 channel amp (for doors)

2) Kenwood Excelon 9960 Nav/HU

Things i bought from the shop/included in install, and things discussed to be done:

1) JL 13w3v3 Sub (they gave me the 8ohm model, i assumed they were giving me the 4ohm since thats what the amp they sold me is rated for)

2) Alpine PDX-M6 mono amp (for sub)

3) dynamat all doors/under sub enclosure

4) 1 pair Focal KRX2 Power components for front, 1 pair JL C2 coaxials for rear

5) running power to amps and installing head unit

6) wiring speakers, straight new runs from amp to speakers

7) removed half of 60/40 split third row seat and installed wood sub/amp box in floor

8) install door amp under driver seat

9) tune system

So here is what they did after having the car a full 7 days :

For power: they ran 4AWG from battery hot to inside dash in car, split to 4AWG to each amp. they used the same 4AWG from the amps to chassis ground. they did NOT upgrade the chassis ground wire from the battery, which from the factory is still 10AWG. inline with the 4AWG from the battery to amps, they installed a 250A wafer fuse in a fuse holder which they installed right under the hinge of my hood, which now does not close fully. also by installing the base of the fuse holder where they did, the lifted the left side of the bezel that seals the engine compartment from the hood to keep out water, breaking the seal.

Speakers: they used 12AWG speaker wire from amp to sub, but for door speakers, they ran the same 12AWG from the 4 channel amp to the crossovers (which they didnt mount, but threw behind my headlight switch just flopping around by the wires). from the crossovers in the dash, they went 12AWG to the tweeters directly, and then 12 AWG from the crossovers to the stock speaker wires from the factory harness, connecting them to the factory speaker wires with a drop of solder and a few twists of tape, using the stock wires in the doors for the woofers from the KRX2 Focal set.

Lastly, for some reason, i have a nasty engine noise coming out of only ONE speaker (the pass rear door), the rest are clean. when i went to check the connections on the amp, i couldnt because they mounted the amp too far foward and then jammed the seat back in, crushing most of the wires on the connection side of the amp with the front rail of the seat. i have a feeling this has something to do with my engine noise, but havent had time to diagnose yet.

anyway they charged me about $5000 including labor and all the equip/parts that they provided. i feel like i got taken for a ride.. i see multiple issues with this but just want to make sure im not crazy before i go back there... any input is appreciated, thanks

also, when i got the car back i had no heat. they forgot to plug the connector back into the fan switch and i had to take my dash apart at 10pm in 10 degree weather to fix it!

they were just very lazy and careless. i would be very mad about smashing the amp terminals though. these type of stories are what made me start learning to do this stuff myself because you just cant trust anyone with your car anymore. especially now when cars have more electronics in them than they have mechanical, its too easy to fry things nowadays.

Well, you went to the boards, now go back to the shop with your complaint.  You can't get it fixed by sitting around here.Build the box so that it performs well in the worst case scenario and, in return, it will reward you at all times.

I can only say one thing....as a shop manager for a reputable shop...if my installers pulled that crap...they would be fired...it sounds like they half-***ed it. Also ...they took 7 days to finish the install? I get something like that done in 4 to 5 hours..who do they think they are West coast customs? Sorry you had to go through that..but definitely take the truck back and tell them to re-wire everything..If they don't shoot me a text...i'll see what I can do for you.LV Tint Master Shop Manager

~702-371-1617~

can you post any pics of their install?

Tell me about it. I finally had time to rip some of the car apart in the freezing cold, and let me tell you it only got worse. I am definately going back there after work to have a little chat with them. I am an audio engineer myself and the only reason I didn't do the install myself was because it's been 9 degrees out and snowing here for a month and I have no garage to work in. I've installed many car stereos and seen many installs done by everyone from 18 year old rookies to 20 year shops, and I've never seen anything like this. You will understand what I mean when I post some pictures later tonight, I'm at work right now but I'll make sure I get them up there when I get home. Thank you everyone the anger in your words makes me feel slightly better, when I complain about this kind of thing to my non-techy friends I feel like I'm talking to the cat! Check back tonight pics will be up, and maybe a response from them. On a side note, he also screwed my friend at the same time, told us they were viper experts and tried installing a 5901 in my coworkers 2010 vw jetta and it is totally screwed up. He's been back 5 times and just as an example when the car is running an you close the trunk it locks you out of the car and the factory alarm goes off.. This guy should be shutdown! All they do is try to talk circles around you and laugh like it's a joke, pretending to be friendly.

lvtintmaster wrote: I can only say one thing....as a shop manager for a reputable shop...if my installers pulled that crap...they would be fired...it sounds like they half-***ed it. Also ...they took 7 days to finish the install? I get something like that done in 4 to 5 hours..who do they think they are West coast customs? Sorry you had to go through that..but definitely take the truck back and tell them to re-wire everything..If they don't shoot me a text...i'll see what I can do for you.

I agree. My shop manager would whoop my ass.. I also agree on the timeframe. Unless they were doing some serious fiberglass work that 7 day timeframe is absolutely ridiculous. That install should have taken no more than a day at max.2008 Dodge Ram 1500

MECP Certified Advanced Installer CEA 191700

Hey guys, well here are the pictures i have so far. ill try to get more of the speaker and door wiring and how the crossovers and my sirius receiver are just thrown hanging by the wires behind the dash when i take the dash apart again another day, too cold out. this will pretty much give you an idea though. they are pretty self explanitory. i also added another hand drawing (sorry its kinda crappy i used paint) to illustrate the means in which they got power from the battery to the amps, using about 15 feet of extra 4awg than neccessary. anyway cant wait to hear what you have to say now, ill be back with more updates later, any questions let me know!

this has to be a joke! wow man thats not cool at all. I'm in disbelief that anyone could possibly think that they could charge that much for that work and not expect to be called on it! Dodge Magnum in progress:

Pioneer DEH-80PRS - PPI Amps - Dayton Subwoofer(s) - Exodus Anarchy's - Vifa Tweeters - Kinetik Battery