Printer Friendly Forum Posts - List of Cars Not To Work On?

Heard that BB had a list of 50 or so cars not to work on, because of difficulty, or bad things happening. ANyone have a copy of this list??? My shop would love to know beforehad what cars are a pain in the A** to work on, therefore doin a lot of research bevore agreeing to work on them.

ANyone????

Sorry to tell you this but Best Buy does not have a so called list. I have my own list in my head of cars won't work on for instance, newer saabs for R/S and old silverados for rear speakers. Just little things like that.

older mazda's are a pain, i put in a head unit and i had to take the arm rest, cup holder, console, and dash off. NEVER AGAIN

Fastlearner wrote:

Sorry to tell you this but Best Buy does not have a so called list. I have my own list in my head of cars won't work on for instance, newer saabs for R/S and old silverados for rear speakers. Just little things like that.

I hate doing the full size chevy's like that for rear's, that brittle always breaks, our shop informing the customer of things like that and sign off on em before the work.

I have a few cars on my list like that...but most of the time when the sales floor calls me and say hey, I got a 82 blah blah blah coming back for a deck....I think sheeet, another friggin hoopdee....the # 1 on my list is hoopdees..car is busted up, duct tape holding the light on,one turn signal,one brake light....dents and rust everywhere.Transmission is f*king up and the brakes squeal like a banshee w/ smoke poiring out the tailpipe.Headliner is missing, 40oz stained carpet.balled up mc donalds bags w/ food in em.Seats are horribly stained and torn...even the foam on the inside is dryrotten.every peice of useful plastic or trim is either broken,cracked,or half assed super glued back together, and the overall car smell a mix or old cheese and burning gaskets.....and whats so bad is the are super picky about where they want the Iplug for they're Dual radio mounted

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RTFM

Small list, but none the less still a list.

Passlock I
Cars with no starter wire.
Cars with purple brown 2nd negative starter wire
BENZ
BMW

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Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. posted_image

We don't have such a list, after all, our motto is "We'll do anything and everything to anything and everything" >.<

But there are cars that we are not too fond of working on...

Mercedes Benz W126 bodies in particular (although we have one as a show car ><)
Beemers
Positive ground cars
"Backyard" Kit Cars

When we come across these, we usually add a premium. In cases where it violates certain laws and/or safety regulations, we recommend the customer/client to reconsider using a product that fits the regulations or sign a waiver stating that all responsibilities become theirs, there will be no warranty, and they assume any and all legal conflictions become soley theirs. The owner of the shop then has it notorized before we do any work on it. We class the modification as "For Show Use ONLY" to help keep us legally legit. (This usually also means we have to pay/charge the premium to pay for taxes, permits, etc.)

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Never send your ducks to eagle school.
The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.
The 3Ls of life: Learn from the Past, Live for the Present, Look to the Future.

We will work on most anything for audio/video/alarms, but generally stay away from european vehicles for remote starters.

Mike

new saabs are annoying and i can think of more than one citroen that i hate to work on but in the states really any old chevy that looks like a giant roller skate and has whell that cost more than the customers house probably did. i send those "cash customers" down the road to the hack it up shop.

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remember...Friends Dont let friends Install, Take it to a pro..

I used to work for bestbuy and there is no such list.

Now of course there are some vehicles that are harder then others..some have brittle parts etc..but as a professional installer I am not afraid to at least attempt any vehicle...after all electricity is the same..a wire can be safely tested with a dmm...and other then that as far as disassembly I ask myself...who's smarter..me or the car?

now I was told that if ANY installer does not feel they can work on a certain vehicle..that it is better that they don't..and I agree with that..it is better safe then sorry and every person should know there own limitations.

But I like a challenge, guess that's why I have been at it so long. my motto is "bring it".

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No Land Rovers for me or any Domestic or Foreign pre 1976, if I can help it. For some reason or another, I just don't like working on VWs' either. They always seem to find a way to wiz me off.

Its funny..the list of vehicles I see that no one will work on..those are the ones I get stuck working on all the time. either I am a nightmare magnet..or they just end up with me because NO one else will touch them..guess the buck stops here so to speak.

Now don't get me wrong..I have my battles and everyone tells me I am nuts to not turn down these difficult jobs. But I have yet to lose a war...lost a few battles yes, and have the scars to prove it..but so far not any wars.

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I cant think of anything I WONT work on. I charge extra for some vehicles in the hope that they wont go with my shop but it rarely works. To be fair I have never worked on a new saab but I have no problems taking on a BMW or Benz so long as the customer knows that I will have their car for the Day. Some JDM stuff can be a bit of a pain in the ass due to the wire colors not being listed in most software, but that means it just takes more time, not that its hard.

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double-secret reverse-osmosis speaker-cone-induced high-level interference distortion, Its a killer

really, I was looking for a list of cars to watch out for, as being tough and what not. Im not a fan of the pontiacs with the ignition harness behind the radio. small area to work in.

I had a local mechanic in my area refuse to work on one of my cars (a 99 escort ZX2 "POS"). I can tell you I will never go there again or reccomend him. To me he's a ***** if he will turns down a car becuase it's "difficult".

Now with some of the electronics in newer cars today I can understand that it might be too complex for a "newbie" but to turn down a particular car just because it is more difficult to work on is a cop out . The only way to really learn something is to get your hands dirty..and sometimes rack your brains and test your patience...but you will be amazed how much quicker and easier the same job will be 2nd time around.

But once again..I do not suggest anyone attempt something they feel is beyond them or if they may cause extensive damage..but I can't stress enough the feeling of accomplishment when you can do a job everyone else has turned away..and it is good for business as well.

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Very very short list.....
-2006+ Saab 9-3
-Anything that uses Lucas Electrics

Pretty much anything out there is fair game for us. We have wivers for things such as rear speakers in a 93 GM extended cab truck, old Corvette dashes, and other brittle wonders. Mostly to protect our asses..... we know they are going to break. Some of these things were brittle brand new..... let alone baking in the sun etc. for the past 10 years. As long as you keep the customer apprised beforehand that something may break due to its age, then they are usually OK.

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Wherever I go, that is where I end up......

Early 90's Mazda Miata's. Almost every one I have ever done the dash crumbled when I took out the screws. Those dashes are VERY brittle. I will still do them but I tell the customer that this will more than likely fall apart.

lol yea master 5 those are a real PITA to work on! The darn kit and harnesses are ~$60 alone. First time I worked on one, I didn't know what I was getting into, took me about 2 1/2 hours to install it alone. Now I have more knowledge on that particular vehicle and can probably do it in an hour and a half. But the more you do something the better you get at it is how I see it!!!

Well I have no problem doing a deck in those..pops right out with ford tools..yeah the kits are high price to buy new retail but I have them laying around . certian taurus are a bit more involved because you need to run wires and ant from the trunk..but I have done so many thay take me less then 1/2 hour.

The problem is the engine on the ZX2..it is sideways and against the shock towers so all the stuff that you need to service like the timing belt..pullys..water pump etc..are difficult to get to...but still..for any reputible shop to turn down that job just because it is difficult..but they still have the skill to do it, is just afraid to get thier hands dirty and do a little work IMO. I know it is mechanics and we are discussing installation but the princple is the same. to turn down a job you know you can do just because it is difficult is not cool IMO..I may charge more money of course..but I like a challenge ...my life would be pretty boring if I just shoved decks into 94 ford F150's all day long.

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Remote Starts on Dodge Caravan/Town and Country NEVER AGAIN

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Stephen Theno
Pro Sound
Lawrence,KS

The new caravans/town and country

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Stephen Theno
Pro Sound
Lawrence,KS

any new dodge product in general is now a complete PIA to do... I still do them, but have been charging more because of the stupid resistence issues, and wierd problems that come up....

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Tire Proz Stillwater Mn
High End Restyling and Comlete Repair

I will add a few more..

- Conversion Vans in general just suck.

- Older dodge intrepids aren't very fun for remote start/keyless.

- Older chevy/gmc vans with the ignition harness behind the cluster are the worst. The only easy wires in that vehicle are the brake and the horn everything else is a pain. I like to send these to the local Circuit City to show my appreciation for all the "check AM" they send us.

Mike

86 ford mustangs with the factory radio (I mean boat anchor) still in the car. I think the dash was built around the radio, never meaning for the radio to come out.

Caravans for remote start/security

1970's corvette that want a din radio installed, pot metal sucks.

any vehicle that smells REALLY BAD inside or is overloaded with junk so you can't do your job of installing equipment without moving a ton of stuff

I have worked on the cars listed and charged extra, except for the ton of junk, then we tell them to go home and clean out their car.

Any car that belongs to a family member. Cause they are a bigger PIA than the cars. You don't charge them or charge very little. And they want it like pumpin my ride. lol

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Big Dave

If you guys are having an issue with the new caravans and what not, I suggest you look for a new bypass module. I use iData link modules and today for example I did a 06 caravan for a viper 5500 with locks, arm, disarm, sliding door control and bypass in about 1 1/2 hrs. Its super simple, like all of or 7 wires in the car and about 5-10 minutes of extra prep time on the bench.

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double-secret reverse-osmosis speaker-cone-induced high-level interference distortion, Its a killer

speedwayaudio1 wrote:

Any car that belongs to a family member. Cause they are a bigger PIA than the cars. You don't charge them or charge very little. And they want it like pumpin my ride. lol

We're on the same page here! Only two car I don't do. speedwayaudio1, you hit the nail on the head with the the first one FAMILY, the other is my pick FRIENDS! I don't do these cars any more.

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Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. posted_image

There are some vehicles that I want to do but am having trouble finding info. We recently picked up an Audi dealership and are having trouble doing add-on remote starts on some newer models, the a-6 and also a 2007 Q7. I am looking into using a CAN-SL2 with a 556u or similar but the directions on the SL2 are difficult to understand. I also have a dei CAN 1 which has decent sirections but we still had trouble doing an a6 with it and the q7 is not listed with that module so I didn't try it yet.

If anyone has SUCESSFULLY installed an add on remote start to an 05-up A6 or an 07 Q7 (dei does not even list this one yet) please post. Or, if you can help me to figure out the crank/ignition/acc I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanx.

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i did a remote start in an infintit m35 with the smart key, what a pain! the next one i do will hopefully be easier, and the dealer is already asking about the new g35's. thankfully, most customers dont want to spring for the extra smart key. now one of the owners of my company wants his daughter's 06 325xi. Havent done one yet, and not really looking forward to it either.

How about putting new radios in a early 80's Caprice classic.

I'll do anyhting a customer asks me too. I charge more for some cars tho. Caravans (99- now) are do-able, but uncomfortable for me because I am tall, so I charge the hell out of them. Most European vehicles are PIA's so they pay a premium too. I also charge extra if the car in question is covered in dog hair, cigarette ashes, or food in varying states of discomposition.

As far as new Dodges and cars without starter wires are concerned, they don't bother me a bit. Now that they have modules for just about every one of them, I don't mind at all. My margins are really good on modules, and I would sell one to a customer anyday.

Oh... I almost forgot. I haven't started charging extra for it yet, but I hate running wires into doors with molex connectors on both sides. Some are better than others, but some are damn near impossible. I did a mazda the other day and it just about had me throwing tools at it.

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Northstart.....or start it your damn self.