Time estimates?
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=73724
Printed Date: May 20, 2024 at 8:55 AM
Topic: Time estimates?
Posted By: iceohio
Subject: Time estimates?
Date Posted: March 01, 2006 at 11:11 AM
Hey all. We should get together and put together a list of estimates on the amount of time it takes to install alarms / remote starter and whatnot on vehicles. If I need to replace a starter I can go to my trusty book and see it typically takes X hours. This makes quoting a lot easier. On the other hand, to install an aftermarket alarm or remote starter is not all that easy to quote. I put one in my Jeep in a few hours.. The same unit with the same options took 2 days in a Camry, and it took a solid 12 hours to install JUST a remote starter in an old 90 Olds Ciera. Some vehicles (like the 02 Honda Accord EX) are a royal pain because you have to tear the door apart and route a new wire, and are an even bigger pain because they require a new hole be drilled through the firewall. People don't like hearing really big spreads on a quote, and I don't particularly like spending 3 hours researching every vehicle to give a better one... and I like even less ending up making about $5/hr because I missed something. While I know experience plays a huge part in cutting down the time, is anyone aware of a quote book/software when it comes to this stuff? Joseph
Replies:
Posted By: the12volt
Date Posted: March 01, 2006 at 11:18 AM
Not only will the times vary dramatically by vehicle, but they will also vary by product, and installer. Your intent is good, but a list as you described would only be good for you if you created it based on your own experiences. -------------  the12volt • Support the12volt.com
Posted By: iceohio
Date Posted: March 01, 2006 at 11:23 AM
True... But that's the same with the mechanic estimates. But I see your point... It is really open ended in a lot of ways... A negative pulse alarm on a + based auto itself could add a lot of time just in rigging and wiring the relays. Ugh. A baseline would definitely need to be established... and finding that may make it worthless itself :( Joseph
Posted By: kgerry
Date Posted: March 01, 2006 at 12:26 PM
create your own database.... thats what i have here... i call it my "Book of Wisdom" and refer to it when i run across a wierd problem... i created it so my guys could go to it if i'm not around and they are stuck on a problem.... it's only feasible if you are doing it for your own purposes..... ------------- Kevin Gerry
Certified Electronics Technician
MECP First Class Installer
Owner/Installer
Classic Car Audio
since 1979
Posted By: Powermyster
Date Posted: March 01, 2006 at 5:58 PM
like the guys say its only good for your own purposes..
do you quote every install based on the time you think it will take.
-------------
Why oh Why didn't i take the blue pill
Darren Power
Posted By: iceohio
Date Posted: March 01, 2006 at 6:27 PM
Sometimes I have no choice. I try to avoid it when possible.
Posted By: thepencil
Date Posted: March 02, 2006 at 9:35 AM
You can, but why go that route. Would it not be easier to put a list of cars that takes you the longest to do. That make a lot more sense to me, doesn't it? How would know which vehicle takes the longest to do? That's when your experiences come in! Put a black list on the wall of the cars that you have done which you know are BAD ASK. Put no giving of freebie on these install. The one I am thinking about to put on the list are the types that get your blood presure up and blood stain to clean up afterward when you are finally done with the install.
Number one on my list.
Any PASSLOCK I system.
Otherwise, free install for the pretty ladies to the following vehicle Grand Vitra, Civic, Corolla, and few others. ------------- Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. 
Posted By: iceohio
Date Posted: March 02, 2006 at 9:50 AM
Hahaha I just offered my accountant an install of a Alert 750R with all the bells and whistles in his wife's 02 Accord EX for $150-200 plus parts. He scoffed. From what I read, it was probably going to take *me* 20+ hours. A lot of unknowns and warnings out there. I usually charge $20/hr. He seemed upset more over me charging him for the tape ($5) and wire ($5) than anything else. The tape and wire charges are usually less than actual. I use the best heat resistant tape, and I don't use cheap wire. Maybe it's overkill, but I insist on it for safety. I don't like cutting corners especially on the car of someone I know personally. The last thing I need is someone's car to burn up because of a cheap wire or the tape melting and shorting the starter wire or something. Maybe I'm just an overcautious newb... Dunno.
Posted By: Fastlearner
Date Posted: March 02, 2006 at 10:15 AM
20 hours for an alarm/remote start? Am I missing something.
Posted By: iceohio
Date Posted: March 02, 2006 at 10:38 AM
20 hours for *me*. He wanted a lot of extras like memory seats, auto on headlights, integrated garage door opener, etc. But the main time sucker would be the door locks and factory alarm. As I understand it, I'll need to wire up to the switch in the door. If my time estimate ended up way over, then cool.. I get to be a good guy. To save face a bit, my first alarm/starter took less than 10, and I've only had 1 take longer.. and that was my rig... It took longer because I'm a tweaker. I wouldn't charge for 20 hours by any means. I was just estimating how long in total it take including research and whatnot.
Posted By: Fastlearner
Date Posted: March 02, 2006 at 11:05 AM
Ok, I wasn't aware of the garage opener and memory seats, auto headlights. Yeah it would be nice to have a magic book but what we started doing at my shop, since I work at a big box store, was having customers just drop it off all day. We explain to them since it takes so long to do we still need to take other cars. So in between doing the remote start/alarms we do like deck and speakers.
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