Professional Installion without Hoodpin?

I have a question for all of your gurus out there...

I recently had my autopage 855lcd installed in my 96 buick century by an authorized autopage dealer in Indianapolis.

All has been going well with it until yesterday when I opened up the hood to listen for an unrelated noise and leaned over the edge and bumped my remote in my pocket and started the car! Luckily when I heard the car power on, I made sure to stand clear while it started so I wasn't hurt.

I checked and there was no indication of any hoodpin being installed. From everything I've read on here, this seems like a big no-no.

So, how should I proceed in this situation? The worst part about this is the fact that the installer is over an hour away and the only way I can get up there during their hours is to either take a half day off of work or to drive up and ruin my Saturday. To top it off, my car guzzles a bit of gas and it will probably cost me 10 bucks in gas to get up there.

Should I call them and talk to the manager? What should I request that they do?

I was really frustated at first with this company when they charged me over double what they quoted me initially (note: the initial quote was over the phone and they did get my approval before they completed the work). But, after that, I was satisfied. Until I found out that when I turned off my car via the remote, the alarm went off. I called the shop and they said that the problem was in the unit, and definitely not a programming issue, and that I would have to buy a new one. I thought about it and looked in the installation manual and ended up reprogramming a couple features for ignition controlled locking and the problem went away. I was really frustrated because that is what they told me was the hardest part was programming the brain and they couldn't even do something that simple. And now, with the hoodpin, I'm just REALLY FRUSTRATED.

Any suggestions?!

Thanks...

Why spend the hour & Gas to only cause you more frustration.........
Check to see if someone locally does that. 

-------------
MO

Don't Learn from Others Mistakes
You Might Be the One That Knows.

Wow! 10 bucks for an hour of driving.. insane.
that's like 8-12 mpg.

Other than that. If you do not have a hoodpin for remote start safety shutdown, you should at least have a toggle switch tied to your neutral safety switch. This works well in areas with moisture/corossion problems.
keeps the switch inside the car near the fuse box or at least somewhere the customer knows, make sure there's an idiot sticker (saying the car is equipped with a remote start, be sure to turn this off before working on the car) somewhere under the hood, pref. near the batt or latch.

Thanks for the info. I'm just frustrated with this company. I just don't want to pay a penny more for this. I know much of this was my own fault for thinking, initially, that I wanted to do this myself. But, I think when a company claims professional installation and you pay the professional installation rate, you should get every SAFTETY feature installed.

It is two hours of driving (up and back) ~130 miles total which makes $10 not that crazy. :-)

I may or may not go back up there, but do you think that if I call, I should expect them to offer to install the hoodpin for free?

Thanks!

Hey Bendalton,
Can't blame you for being frustrated and feeling sort of ripped off. In my opinion, it's imparative that a hood pin switch is installed, but not worth the hassle of going back to your installer to have it done if it's gonna cost you. If you have a local dealer that is reputable, explain your situation and either have them install it, or buy a hood pin switch from them for a couple of bucks and install it yourself as long as you feel comfortable and competent doing it. One thing you may want to make sure of is that the installer did not tie the hood pin wire to an existing hood pin switch that was already on the vehicle and diode isolate it. I doubt this is the case, but worth checking on.

-------------
The Badger

If they want positive word of mouth and no possible lawsuits I would think they would be more than willing to correct the issue for free.  Safety is just not something you take lightly.  I would definitly call them and  and complain.  You do not have to be a jerk but be firm with your requests.  Negative word of mouth can really hurt a business.

-------------
Good Luck!
-Thad

Well, I just called the shop and spoke with the manager. This guy is very slick and convincing. He says that they NEVER install a hoodpin on a car unless a) the owner requests it or b) it is an older vehicle with a belt driven radiator fan. He said that even the exposed belt in my engine would not harm me but just 'give [me] a whack'...

The said that I could bring the car in and they would install a hoodpin (but he didn't say for free).

Overall, I'm not reassured...

Is he right?

I don't do hood pin unless it's a remote start or a customer request.

-------------
Tell the Snap-On guy I'm not here!

Thats usually the procedure, if there is a factory hood pin we will connect and diode isolate, also as said if there is a fan.

i ALWAYS install a hood pin switch.... it is the only thing that prevents someone getting an arm sucked into the fan should the unit accidentally be started while someone is working under the hood.... not to install one is pure laziness......

-------------
Kevin Gerry
Certified Electronics Technician
MECP First Class Installer

Owner/Installer
Classic Car Audio
since 1979

we always install a hood pin and go to tach. 

-------------
South Side Audio
2501 S. High St
Columbus, OH 43207

I too will always install a hoodpin. I would ask to see a new rs when you get there. Open it up and I'll bet you that a hoodpin will be included in the box. If they do not install it for free and give you some kind of get down on their knees and beg for forgiveness, inform them that you will take legal action. Follow that up by spending your $ on a letter from a lawyer to them. I am sure that things will change in a hurry. A lawyer can have a field day with a instance like this, find out who their insurance company is as well, let them know that they are taking unnecessary risks. That will hike their insurance rates sky high next year. Contact Autopage as well and see if they will do anything. This is just like WOW MAN. We install hoodpins at no charge on all of the alarms we do, RS it is a must so it is always done.

-------------
Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.

we charge for hoodpins on alarms.

-------------
South Side Audio
2501 S. High St
Columbus, OH 43207

depending on the car we will or won't install a hood pin. For example, doing a newer gm truck. I will grab tach behind the cluster and put in a kill switch. I will always put in a killswitch if no hoodpin. I will inform the customer about it and right it on the invoice. Also will let put the dummy sticker under the hood. I don't think that it is unprofessional, seeing how i had to fix one earlier today for being corroded for the second time. I think so long as a kill switch is there it is fine.

On remote starts - In my opinion,
Safety First, No Matter What!
It's a no-brainer -
I will always take a few minutes and a couple of bucks to make SURE the installation is safe. The same goes for clutch bypasses - if you're gonna do them, put the safeguards in place. I'd hate to think that because of my lack of attention or concern for safety, someone else got injured. A lot of people out there are ignorant when it comes to mechanical/electrical equipment - and let's face it, some are just plain stupid. Bad things CAN and DO happen - even to people who are not ignorant or stupid. Safety First - Always!




-------------
The Badger

kgerry wrote:

---

i ALWAYS install a hood pin switch.... it is the only thing that prevents someone getting an arm sucked into the fan should the unit accidentally be started while someone is working under the hood.... not to install one is pure laziness......

---

Thank you Kevin

Wow I dont know what to say. Just WOW!!!!

I would sue them OMG

This is an interesting and frustrating situation. What I'm going to do is call Autopage and see what their 'official' policy is for installation. I'm curious to see how they feel about an 'authorized' installer/distributor installing w/o the hoodpin.

OhioMike1101 wrote:

---

we charge for hoodpins on alarms.

---

Same here I bet the hood pin comes with the alarm also the trunk should always be hooked up to an alarm

How would you feel if the customer came back missing a hand or finger?

For an alarm how would you feel if the alamed car got the subs ripped off or pop the hood and disco the batt then take what you want? What good would that alarm be?

We install hood pins on all RS, but charge for it on alarms.
WE do all alarms functions and features, KE, trunk relaease, etc.....
We charge for hood pins, dome sup, and driver priority.

On RS, we install everything, but charge for dome sup and driver priority.

Every store is different. THese are our policies.

-------------
South Side Audio
2501 S. High St
Columbus, OH 43207

Just for clarity this was a REMOTE STARTER installation.

I talked to AutoPage and ended up leaving a voicemail for a VP to get back to me.

I can't imagine the liability they are opening themselves up to (the installter).

From a logical standpoint, I would also imagine that AutoPage would hold some liability due to their endorsement of the installer, especially if they have ever been told that the installer wasn't following safety procedures.

i always use a hoodpin (or merc switch if rust is a problem) safety and i dont want to get sued . people are stupid and greedy .

-------------
yeh? i can do that?

see! told ya!

I agree the safety feature should always be used. If you live in an area that has alot of snow and salt then your shop should be buying merc switches by the case. You can't expect to hide behind the excuse that the valet switch wasn't used because there are too many variables. Loaning a vehicle, a wife taking it in for service that doesn't know how to use it. What if someone is sitting in the waiting area of the local mechanic and the 3 year old is playing with mommy's spare keys and starts pressing buttons. Hmm, is the 3 year old to blame for de-limbing the mechanic. No that would be the fault of the installer. An extra 5 bucks is alot better than a lawsuit.
https://www.logjamelectronics.com/crimcsmerhoo.html

-------------
Steve G

hood pins on a remote start are essential toggle switch should be optional only along side hood pin. never leave the hood pin out.

also a sticker is also recommended..

if you don't do a hood pin/tilt switch/reed switch on a remote starter i think it shows incompitence as an installer..

-------------
Why oh Why didn't i take the blue pill
Darren Power

We ALWAYS use a merc. tilt on a RS.  I buy them for $2.50 ea and take 3 min to install. 

-------------
Owner/ Custom Compact Performance

Treo,Cadence,ARC Audio
Critical Mass/Icon TV
Panasonic,Compustar,Scosche