Transmission Destroyed By Python 871xp

I didn’t mean to imply initially that the installer was a “hack” nor conclude that the installation was overall “crappy.” (However, I’m revising my opinion as I make more observations and reconsider the work.) I think there was either an unfortunate mistake in the installation or a (rare) defective alarm control unit (AKA “brain”). What I do fault the installer and the service shop supervisor about is that they refused to review their work and that they left their customer standing in the parking lot with a problem that occurred shortly after their installation. (Please note as mentioned earlier, I wasn’t angry at this point, just puzzled and confused.) What I do fault Circuit City about is that they further refused to examine this issue and appear to permit unqualified people to do potentially injurious work on customer’s vehicles.

I haven’t revised the web page description recently that is intended for private use only. I will make some important revisions before making it public (see note below), and I will form an opinion based on independent review by a well-qualified installer and my own reconsideration of all the available data. For now, that page remains a working, draft copy of the incident.

Actually, I can. But I’m going to postpone a detailed explanation until later.

I need to stick up for AAMCO here, placing the events back in their proper context. When I arrived at AAMCO with my problem, the manager/owner did ask me if I had an alarm or remote start recently installed. The context in which I took his question was that my problem would be easily and quickly resolved by correcting a misplaced wire or two. (Recall that the people at Circuit City refused to look at their installation work.) It was not apparent at this time that I had major mechanical damage to my transmission nor that this would be a costly repair. When the service technician took my van for a short test drive, it became immediately apparent that my transmission had suffered major damage. They then focused on fixing the problem which included replacement of the PCM. They cannot say conclusively that the alarm/remote-start installation caused my transmission problem. This is not the business they are in. They do not constitute expert witnesses for my case against Circuit City. They are not in a position to affix blame nor do they wish to.

Thanks for pointing this out. At first I didn’t think the chairlift would ever be used at the same time the van was running in the remote-start condition, but I do see that this is a possibility. My limited understanding of remote start is that the tach signal is used in preference to a voltage signal, and I would normally presume that’s how my system was installed. I would also presume that the anti-grind feature of the remote start would prevent a potential problem. Considering the problems that I’ve had thus far, I will certainly have someone look at this connection to insure that it is the tach signal that is being used. Thanks!

Thanks, but it’s listed in DEI’s description under “features” without qualification (e.g., not available on “most” or even “some” vehicles – see www.pythoncarsecurity.com/products/871xp.html). Interestingly, nearly one-quarter of the “features” listed are ‘incorrect’ (actually, 4 out of 17 items or 23.5%). I don’t want “comfort closure” nor do I really care that the LED is red not blue. But I do wonder if there are other things listed incorrectly in their advertisement. And if one wishes to ‘push it,’ two of the features are clearly not applicable to my vehicle (i.e., defroster output and turbo timer) bringing the total “features” down to 15 and because the auxiliary output can’t be connected to anything useful in my application (e.g., connected to operate the dome lights remotely even with the addition of a relay – according to the Circuit City installation manager), the math becomes 5 out of 15 “features” incorrectly listed or exactly one-third. (Don’t bother to reply; I don’t really care but at some point this crosses over the bounds of liberal copy writing and becomes false advertising.)

An important reminder: I posted the web page at www.AddictionScience.net/CircuitCity.htm as an convenient reference for use with this discussion forum. It is a draft copy not a copy for public view (as noted on the top of the page). I have not yet linked it to my primary web site which receives 150,000 to 200,000 monthly hits and I won’t until it’s edited and I feel it’s appropriate. You have to know the URL (equivalent to password-level protection) or follow the link provided in this discussion thread (limited audience). The web page is also available for review by Circuit City and by DEI, but the Circuit City operations manager told me that he “doesn’t use the Internet” so it appears that relevant people at Circuit City don’t really care.

Time to watch the concert for Diana – thanks CTV! Most of my countrymen will have the watch the edited version later on U.S. television.

Bang! Got’m, found the smoking gun!!! The problem has been identified and corrected by a top-rated independent installation shop. And I have full documentation along with photographs and witnesses. Because I am filing a lawsuit, I am not going to present the details at this time. Suffice it to say that there WAS a mistake in the installation. Had Circuit City reviewed their work, corrected it, and paid for the transmission repairs, I would have dismissed this as an unfortunate mistake with the attitude that “all’s well that ends well.” Because they refused to review their work or take any action on this problem that clearly resulted from their improper installation, I am forced to expend considerable time and effort and to take action through the judicial system. The only decision that remains to be made is whether I am going to be content with the limitations of small claims court or take this to regular civil court seeking major compensation. I kind of feel like I’m sticking up for the ‘little guy’ who doesn’t have the personal and financial resources that I have to pursue this case to its rightful conclusion.

Thanks to all of you who have expressed your support and who have tried to help me identify the problem through this online forum. If this discussion remains “open,” I will post the final outcome when it’s settled. (Alternatively, you can check www.AddictionScience.net/CircuitCity.htm for the updates.) Meanwhile, I may post some additional comments from time-to-time, but I will not discuss the specifics of the pending lawsuit.

Good news to hear you found hard evidence that explains the problems you had.

As an installer I have never gone through this process, so please keep us updated on how things go.  I am very interested to see if they pay for the entire tranny rebuild or just a 'pro rated' amount.  Trannys don't last forever and yours had considerable mileage on it.  I have a gut feeling that they will settle out of court and give you all that you ask for (within reason, of course). 

Did the shop finish the installation? 

This is very unlikely to happen to you, Kevin, for two reasons. First, you’re smart and I would bet very careful in your work. A simple 30-second test would have detected the error and prevented the problem The installer was either too inexperienced or, as some of YOU suggested, too “lazy” to check his work. Second, you wouldn’t leave your customer stranded in your parking lot. You would have reviewed your work and most likely spotted the mistake very quickly.

I had the transmission repaired not rebuilt. I didn’t have a different, remanufactured transmission or an OEM replacement installed. I had the problem fixed. This is how the repair cost remained slightly below $3,000. That was probably stupid on my part. Now I have other transmission parts that have most likely suffered undue stress and may undergo premature failure related to this incident. But some weird sense of minimizing the “damage” (i.e., cost to rectify the problem) made this solution the most logical choice for me. Also, I have reason to suspect (which I will not elaborate on here) that the transmission “mileage” is much lower than the vehicle’s mileage (e.g., look at the photographs again; the transmission did not go through the parts washer at this point – note the residual ATF remaining in the pan and elsewhere).

The facts for the customer (and I’m willing to bet for the judge) are quite simple. The vehicle entered the service bay with a perfectly working transmission and left with a ‘time bomb’ that would detonate within 2 miles down the road. Now fix it. The implication that the transmission was going to ‘break’ anyway is BS! And even with the vehicle ‘running’ again, the stress on the other drive-train components (I believe you pointed out that you would expect engine damage from this problem; well, me too.) may lead to additional problems . So even if Circuit City were to pay for the repairs and throw in the botched alarm/remote-start installation for free, I’m still worse off than when I entered their service bay almost two weeks ago. And so far I’ve been working for Circuit City for free.

Time to prepare for some fireworks . . .