Problems with alarm install
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: General Discussion
Forum Discription: General Mobile Electronics Questions and Answers
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=4756
Printed Date: August 23, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Topic: Problems with alarm install
Posted By: sellmerch
Subject: Problems with alarm install
Date Posted: October 23, 2002 at 5:39 PM
Hello just wanted to get a few comments on a install I am currently having for an alarm system and the problems experienced with a so called proffessional car audio shop. I took my 2000 Ford Excursion in 3 days ago to have a remote start/alarm sytstem put in. You might think this should be a nice easy install and I would have my truck back within less than a day RIGHT!!!! Guess again. It's been three days now and I still do not have my car. After two days of this car audio shop trying to get my truck running again I demanded they send it to the local ford dealer to do any needed repairs or reprograming of the anti theft system. The problem started when this Audio shop totally ran the battery down to nothing, then in there attempts to start the truck somehow triggered the factory theft system. Then they must have done something more because the theft detection system will not reset itself, even after Fords attempt to do a quick reprogram with there computer. Do most of the installers put some sort of charger on the battery to insure it won't run dead, especially if you know you will be working on vehicle for a few hours??? This dealer told me they never do this and have never had a problem before with a battery. They directly blamed me for the battery problem saying it was a bad battery, all this while ford says the battery is just fine. After that accusation they also went as far to say that the local ford dealer was at fault because they had only soft programed the keys, which after speaking with the ford dealer they said both keys were fully programmed and the only chance of a soft program would be on a third key if I had one. Also do most of the installers put fender gaurds over the fenders of a vehicle to insure no chance of any scratches or damage?? This dealer did not use them, luckily there is no visible scratches or damage other than hand smudges and finger prints. I guess overall I just wanted to get a feel for what I should expect from a professional car audio installer. I feel overall this dealer has no freaking clue. I am disputing his charges and also he will be paying Ford for any needed repairs, parts and towing of my truck. Any comments are always appreciated. Thanks
Replies:
Posted By: Velocity Motors
Date Posted: October 24, 2002 at 10:17 AM
Install from HELL !!  There is a certain ettiquette in the professional installer's industry that we follow....... if the vehicle came into the shop running and working, it should leave the same way. There should be no reason why it would take an installer 3 days to install an RS/alarm system into this vehicle. I have done many of these systems within 5 hours and our first one we ever did took about 9 hours ( PATS was a pain inthe @$$ ). You can program more than 3 keys and there's no way they get " SOFT PROGRAMMED ". Does the installer even know how to program the key on the Ford's ? Needless to say, all damages and repairs would be 100 % the shop's responsibility. Good luck !! ------------- Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA
Posted By: sellmerch
Date Posted: October 24, 2002 at 5:52 PM
Jeff, thanks for the reply. I am a business owner, not in the car audio businesss though, but I can say that I always treat my customers with the upmost repect and never ever outright argue with them like this car audio dealer has with me. Well it is now going on four days without my truck, Ford dealer believes the PATS transmitter has been damaged in some way, they showed me a chip in the finish on the transmitter that looks as if someone was hitting it with something in an effort to remove it or something. Ford dealer had to order this part and hopefully be in tommorow and once they replace unit truck starts up. I brought the truck in to this Car Audio shop because after reading up on Remote start/Alarm installation I figured I would end up screwing something up. After all I have been through with this so called installer, maybe I should have attempted this myself, I would'nt be that much worse off. Also the car audio shop wants the truck back to complete there installation. Truthfully I do not want them to touch my truck again!!!!!!
Posted By: brightbill
Date Posted: November 24, 2002 at 4:05 PM
I am inquirying about a good alarm system for my 2000 Chevy Silverado there are no power locks or windows, I need one that is fairly simple to install. I have a Fox system in now but the volume on the alarm is weak and there is no pot for adjustment. it's an el-cheapo. thanks for your help! ------------- brightbill3
Posted By: Big Purds
Date Posted: November 26, 2002 at 6:40 AM
most of the DEI Viper alarms come with do it yourself installation instructions...alarms on a whole are not difficult with a little 12 volt knowledge...I have had very good luck with the 3 Viper 500s I have in my own cars, the 300 in my fiancees car and all of the Vipers I have installed in many friends cars...
Posted By: mobileboy
Date Posted: November 26, 2002 at 6:55 AM
I work at a shop and one of my fellow installers put a viper 550 in a 2000 Excursion but exactly what you discribed took place. When the truck left the shop it was working fine but after a day, the battery ran down and would not start. The factory theft light just kept on lighting up. When soon found out that the battery on the truck was infact bad. The dealer replaced it and it work perfectly. One thing that we knew when this took place was that the installer did not mess the truck up mainly becuase he performed about 20 of those remote starts on that type of truck. The only thing I would say is check the install shop out before you give them your keys. One thing that I know is that, I would not give my 1996 Chevy Impala over to just anyone. ------------- Mike
|