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Install Questions

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Security and Convenience
Forum Discription: Car Alarms, Keyless Entries, Remote Starters, Immobilizer Bypasses, Sensors, Door Locks, Window Modules, Heated Mirrors, Heated Seats, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=25399
Printed Date: July 13, 2025 at 11:15 PM


Topic: Install Questions

Posted By: big mac
Subject: Install Questions
Date Posted: January 27, 2004 at 11:00 PM

I wish I would have found the12volt prior to bringing my 03 ram into Circuit City to have a prestige 876c installed this past weekend!  I have been reading quite a bit and have found this site very helpful, thank you all!

So here's where I'm at...dropped the truck off this past weekend (all day and picked her up near closing).  Of course the guy that did the install was gone (the "roadshop manager" apparently).  So I ask the new guy that was there to go over the features, etc and he didn't do the install so wasn't that helpful.

I've spent some time now looking at the install after trolling through previous posts here and it looks like he gave me a pretty quick and dirty install.  Now, the features all seem to work but it looks like a rats nest under my driver side panel and all the wires are readily in sight.  Also today I noticed that he left a (looks like regular speaker ) wire hanging down going from center console up behind the glove box - any idea what this is for? 

I noticed the rats nest when I was trying to find the valet swith - which by the way is just hanging freely under the drivers side panel.  Also the LED is just kind of positioned between my pillar and dash - not secured.  Is this standard practice or should the valet and led be secured better?

Given that the mgr was the installer should I go complain about these things or pay to bring it elsewhere?  Obviously, if I knew then what I have learned now, I wouldn't have gone to CC.  What would you all suggest from here?

thanks for your input.




Replies:

Posted By: draasch
Date Posted: January 28, 2004 at 6:46 AM
if it was me and i didnt know anything about alarms but i could look under the dash and say it looks like a rats nest, then i would want the alarm taken out and a refund. i would take pictures first. go to a local shop and have them look at them. see what they think. im not there, im just going by what you told us here.

1. the guys at CC should know how to do a good install.
2. if they cut corners there, where else did they cut corners?
3. whose to say that if/when something goes wrong, they dont say you were up there messing with something and that you are the one that made the rat's nest.

i dont know what you paid, but an alarm is only as good as the install its self.

i dont know abouit the rst of the people on this site, but i really work hard for my money. i wouldnt want someone to just take it for me for a half @zz job of an install.

but hey, this is the USA and thats just my opinion!

-------------
Good Luck
David
Ace Security
813-376-9778
Tampa
Donate to the 12volt





Posted By: brianh
Date Posted: January 28, 2004 at 6:46 AM
That sounds like par for the course when it comes to most Circuit City installs. I've gone behind them before and "rats nest" is being nice. They are not worried about quality installs just how many they can put out in a day. I would definitly go back and let them know that I was not at all happy with their work,and would make them mount your led,and valet switch. I am sure that their are installers at Circuit Citys that do a bang up job on these installs. You just happened to get one that just didnt care. Well good luck with it.

-------------
Brian
owner/installer
Sight & Sound Car Stereo

"all electronic equipment runs off of smoke, once you let it out, it stops working"




Posted By: bmf1000d
Date Posted: January 28, 2004 at 8:35 AM
Yeah i have fixed a few of there installs. I would suggest what david said and take pictures that is what i do before i dig into someone else work. I have been installing long enough to know that when your fixing someones else work you tend to find things alot worse than they are most of the time.

-------------
"Big" Mike
Double Take
Fremont, Ne
remember to check all your wires with a dmm not a test light!!
i take no responsibilty whatsoever for the vailidty of the info nor consequences thereof




Posted By: big mac
Date Posted: January 28, 2004 at 2:32 PM

Thanks for your suggestions.  I called and spoke with manager - the guy that did my install was not the manager.  The manager was like "no problem, when can you bring it back in?"  So, I'll be taking some pictures of the mess and bring it in this weekend.  He seemed very amicable to installing / mounting the LED/Valet switch. 

I am a bit concerned as mentioned regarding the rest of the install...however, when I bring it in I am going to request that it all be tiddied up and re-checked by the manager.

The manager assures me that they guarantee their install and that installer probably didn't mount it as they didn't know if or where I wanted them mounted...

I'll post back once this is taken care of to let everyone know how it goes.  Thanks again for your insight.





Posted By: jrilla
Date Posted: January 28, 2004 at 2:50 PM
I cannot be exactly sure what your definition of a Rats nest is, but I do know that it is almost impossible to make it look a whole lot better unless you practically reinstall the whole thing. Once it is a mess it is hard to clean up. I have dealt with these types of installs and I can fix the problems, but It never really looks as good as it would have if i had installed the thing myself in the first place. I tell you this, just so you dont expect a world of difference. It certainly should not be visibly messy unless the panel is removed.

Also, It seems like there was a lack of communication on part of the Circuit city. They should have asked you where you wanted the LED and Valet switch. I rarely install LED's or Valet switches by drilling holes in peoples dashes. If someone wants them i will put it wherever they want it but I have yet to run into someone who wants a hole in their dash. So if I run into someone who wants one I suggest letting me put it close to the bottom edge of the dash panel.



-------------
J Rilla

Owner/Installer




Posted By: FYRHWK1
Date Posted: January 28, 2004 at 3:09 PM

Definitly don't mess with it yourself, that'll automatically void the labor warranty and they'll claim they're unresponsible for anything that happens from there on. For better or worse the warranty lasts as long as you own the car, and so does a satisfaction guarantee, I don't know if they'd be willing to clean it up or not but you certainly don't want them doing it if they dont want to and you force the issue, it probably wont make things better.

I can attest to not mounting LEDs or valet switches, I had someone rather irritated that I put a hole in his kickpanel to mount a button instead of letting it lay there. It's the responsibility of the person who checks you in to find out where you want them placed though, but it's better to ahve to go back and have it put in the right place then for them to put it somewhere you don't want.





Posted By: big mac
Date Posted: January 28, 2004 at 4:17 PM

Where do you usually put the LED and how are they affixed?  I plan on keeping the truck for at least another 4 years so was thinking of having them put it in the front pillar on the driver side - kind of where it is now just higher and mounted so it looks clean.  What are my alternatives to getting a clean look and making sure it's secure.  Same with the valet?  How & where should they secure this?  Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I definately don't want to push the issues with CC as I'd rather re-pay someone else to do a clean istall than have them f--- up my 30K truck!

Also, I have no plans whatsoever to touch anything they did!  Thanks again for your responses.





Posted By: Remotep
Date Posted: January 28, 2004 at 4:29 PM
Most vehicles have some blanks for options, such as fog lights, on the dash in plain site. These spots are good for the LED. As for the switch, that should be in an out of site place like on the lower edge of the panel beneath the dash.

-------------
Remotep
Street Rod Enthusiast
and Installer




Posted By: FYRHWK1
Date Posted: January 28, 2004 at 4:34 PM

Personally I never reccomend drilling holes in newer cars just to mount LEDs, I highly doubt their effectiveness at deterring anyone, most thieves dont even see them and even fewer know that they mean. If I were going to place them anywhere it would be in a small knockout plate on the dash, something that can be bought for a few $ if you decide to remove the unit, that way you wont have a hole sitting in your dash.

As for the valet switch, I usually put it on the drivers kickpanel, it's out of the way and rarely visible, but easy enough to access. Depending on the person though, and whether they want holes, sometimes I just stuff it up under the dash and tell them if they ever need to get at it they just need to reach up and grab for it. Very few people actually use valet services and even if they do, it's easy enough to give them your remote at the same time without shutting the alarm off, and if they ever do need to the button is there, just not quite as easy to reach.





Posted By: draasch
Date Posted: January 28, 2004 at 4:34 PM
as far as mounting the LED (depending on the size) they can pretty much put it anywhere.
I always try to use s dummy plate...most cars have them, its a blank plate that might be for a feature that didnt come with that car. (like fog lights)

if you plan on keeping the truck for a bit, i would let them mount it. besides if they screw it up, THEY BOUGHT IT!

they will pay for anything they mess up.

i would have them put it so you can see it the most angles as possible.

as for the valet switch, again depends on the size and type.

you want it to be hidden.

if its a push button, you can put it behind the fuse box cover or just under the dash. place where you wil;l able to reach pretty easy, yet not in plain site.




-------------
Good Luck
David
Ace Security
813-376-9778
Tampa
Donate to the 12volt





Posted By: draasch
Date Posted: January 28, 2004 at 4:40 PM
remotep and must think alike!

-------------
Good Luck
David
Ace Security
813-376-9778
Tampa
Donate to the 12volt





Posted By: Teken
Date Posted: January 28, 2004 at 5:08 PM
You know if there is more than one CC there. You could go to the other one, just in case it doesn't get resolved to your satisfaction.

The next step is to make a formal complaint to their head office, and that usually gets things straighten out pretty quickly.


Regards

EVIL Teken . . .





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