Battery Dying, please help... alarm causing it??

[ZC4ME]

Originally Posted by fredthedragon

dude i work for best buy so i can ask them what our policy is if we accidentally fry your alt durring an install. that may have happened if they accidentally crossed something. i'll check and get back to you tomorrow.

It's simple, there are policies and procedures in place when damage occurs to a vehicle while having an install performed at a Best Buy location. A pre/post installation checklist is used to show any features that are not operating properly. These are used to protect both the consumer and the company. You would be suprised how many people try and scam a big company like that, meaning they try to blame pre-existing damage on the work that was just completed on their vehicle because they know the company has insurance to cover such damages. I think there is something that everyone fails to realize in this situation. The wiring in a 4G Civic/Crx is so basic that it would be very difficult to "fry an alternator" while installing an alarm. First of all, all of the major circuits are fuse protected from the factory, plus the alarm has fuses of it's own that are smaller in amperage, so they would blow first. Usually, an alarm has a 15A fuse on the main power line, a 10A fuse on the light flash circuit and a 15A fuse on the door lock relay packet. The relay packet would only be involved if you have a 5-wire door lock circuit, if you have power door locks at all, which most hatchies and rexes don't have power locks anyway (unless aftermarket or JDM) and there aren't any Honda's that have 5-wire systems in them (I don't really want to get into how that works if you don't know). It is just really hard to phuk up that badly when installing a basic alarm. If it was a full alarm/remote start/keyless entry on something newer and more sensetive......maybe.

I would have suspected this.....Y8 swap, couple weeks old....wire pinched but not broken or shorted..YET. Driving around for a couple of weeks, cranking the new ponies, causing vibration, the wire could have worn causing a short that would put a large strain on the electrical system...the alternator was already old and the added strain just took its toll. Just a theory.

The theory of a high powered jump box blowing it up????? How many amps do you think a battery has while it fully functional?? Usually between 450-1000 CCA's depending on size. The biggest jump box I have ever seen was maybe 200A, the box that is available in a Best Buy bay has a 30A jump circuit on it.

All I am saying is don't be so quick to blame the installer. If you had that much doubt in their abilities, you should have never went there in the first place. Also, when you have a problem and go get advice from a forum like this and then go off half-cocked on the shop, don't expect to get a lot of co-operation. Give them an honest chance to check out the problem. I have been a professional installation technician for longer than A LOT of the people on this forum have been driving. Well, I have said what I have to say and I hope everything turns out for jackacc when it is all said and done.

peace
Griff

P.S. For the record, I think forums like these are great, it is just people interpretation of the information that is often skewed or misinterpreted.

[jackacc]

Damn Griff, that was a mouthful!!

I was just annoyed when I called BB because when I asked the guy if I could bring it in so he could look at it, he caught a major attitude with me and pushed it back on my side of the table....immediately...didn't even let me finish my explanation...Everyone I talked to, even my mechanic friends said it was highly unlikely that an alarm or a radio would put enough stress on the system to mess it up...so I was left with 2 choices... the alternator or the installation...but the installers reaction was so defensive it annoyed me a bit...I work on computers and when someone comes to me with a problem on any work I have done, I have to be objective before I tell them it is an user error...)easier said then done but that's the biz..)

And after all this... it did turn out to be a problem on my end.. there was a loose bolt on the alternator that was causing this to happen intermittently... Thank God... I didnt have $ for a new alternator now anyway...

So all is well... Thanks for all the replies!

[ZC4ME]

Originally Posted by jackacc

Damn Griff, that was a mouthful!!

I was just annoyed when I called BB because when I asked the guy if I could bring it in so he could look at it, he caught a major attitude with me and pushed it back on my side of the table....immediately...didn't even let me finish my explanation...Everyone I talked to, even my mechanic friends said it was highly unlikely that an alarm or a radio would put enough stress on the system to mess it up...so I was left with 2 choices... the alternator or the installation...but the installers reaction was so defensive it annoyed me a bit...I work on computers and when someone comes to me with a problem on any work I have done, I have to be objective before I tell them it is an user error...)easier said then done but that's the biz..)

And after all this... it did turn out to be a problem on my end.. there was a loose bolt on the alternator that was causing this to happen intermittently... Thank God... I didnt have $ for a new alternator now anyway...

So all is well... Thanks for all the replies!

Yea, it was a mouthful, but it was not meant to be offensive to anybody inolved in the thread, so I hope no offense was taken. I can say on his behalf (the installer) that it gets really annoying having people blame you for stuff that happens to their car because you worked on the audio or alarm system and 99% of the time it was not their fault. Yea, I know you have to get a lot of ID 10 T errors, lol. Anyway, I am glad for you and everybody else that it was an easy fix. Hell, you might want to even call the installer and tell him you figured out the problem and thanks for his time, even if it was only time on the phone. You never know, he could help you ought one day.

peace
Griff

[ponchonutty]

Originally Posted by ZC4ME

Yea, it was a mouthful, but it was not meant to be offensive to anybody inolved in the thread, so I hope no offense was taken. I can say on his behalf (the installer) that it gets really annoying having people blame you for stuff that happens to their car because you worked on the audio or alarm system and 99% of the time it was not their fault. Yea, I know you have to get a lot of ID 10 T errors, lol. Anyway, I am glad for you and everybody else that it was an easy fix. Hell, you might want to even call the installer and tell him you figured out the problem and thanks for his time, even if it was only time on the phone. You never know, he could help you ought one day.

peace
Griff

1st off, glad everything was eventually found out and fixed. Griff, what I meant about the jumpbox's or heavy duty chargers with a "start" mode wasn't that those were the culpret. If you reread what I said before you'll see it. I meant that when you have an older car with a battery that's on it's last leg then have the doors and everything open, something can happen. Like either the battery living enough to get the car home, or finally doing in the alt's regulator because it was already being over driven because of a being overworked.

I too used to work in a big chain store. We also had a checklist to go over but it rarely worked. If the kids actually did it, usually the customer would leave before they found the problem. The idea was to have the customer to sign off on it BEFORE work was to be done.

Also, I hear all the time that people get their heads chewed off when they go back to the chains with problems. Don't people know that "cusomers are always right"? I have no problems telling people about stuff without sounding over defensive. Of course, I have a reputation of being one of the best in the area. But, sometimes things just happen. Just like when a friend of mine was putting a remote start on an older Buick that really didn't run very well. When he went to start it with the key, there was a loud pop. Here the plastic intake shattered and blew right off!!! He ended up having to fix it!

[ZC4ME]

Originally Posted by ponchonutty

1st off, glad everything was eventually found out and fixed. Griff, what I meant about the jumpbox's or heavy duty chargers with a "start" mode wasn't that those were the culpret. If you reread what I said before you'll see it. I meant that when you have an older car with a battery that's on it's last leg then have the doors and everything open, something can happen. Like either the battery living enough to get the car home, or finally doing in the alt's regulator because it was already being over driven because of a being overworked.

I too used to work in a big chain store. We also had a checklist to go over but it rarely worked. If the kids actually did it, usually the customer would leave before they found the problem. The idea was to have the customer to sign off on it BEFORE work was to be done.

Also, I hear all the time that people get their heads chewed off when they go back to the chains with problems. Don't people know that "cusomers are always right"? I have no problems telling people about stuff without sounding over defensive. Of course, I have a reputation of being one of the best in the area. But, sometimes things just happen. Just like when a friend of mine was putting a remote start on an older Buick that really didn't run very well. When he went to start it with the key, there was a loud pop. Here the plastic intake shattered and blew right off!!! He ended up having to fix it!

Haha, I hope that when you stated "customer's are alway right" you were being sarcastic!!! Ya know, I had some little punk-ass MF'er yelling shit at one of the guys I work with the other day, and I got right in his face and told him the best thing he could do for himself was leave. He got my point. Yea, I might have misread what you posted, but you got my drift. Those checklist can and do work, if they are backed by an insurance company. They will investigate the probability of things happening based on the age of the car etc... Your absolutely right, shit happens, even to the best of us and sometimes you have to pay for stuff. One of my most memorable "you gotta be kidding me's" was when I sat a sub enclosure on back of a Ford Probe witht he hatch open, the very corner of the box caught the edge of the side window (they have no moulding) and it just cracked into about 10 million pieces. There was a manager standing right there and he did not even believe that I actually broke it. Anyway, I digress and as I stated before my original response was not intended to discredit anybody's opinion.

peace
Griff

[fredthedragon]

good to hear jackacc, glad it's all fixed w/ no $$ spent.

you know that guy catching an attitude w/ you is completely against company policy and he prolly should be written up for being an ass to a customer, you can get that done if your irritated enough you know.

[ponchonutty]

Originally Posted by ponchonutty

1st off, glad everything was eventually found out and fixed. Griff, what I meant about the jumpbox's or heavy duty chargers with a "start" mode wasn't that those were the culpret. If you reread what I said before you'll see it. I meant that when you have an older car with a battery that's on it's last leg then have the doors and everything open, something can happen. Like either the battery living enough to get the car home, or finally doing in the alt's regulator because it was already being over driven because of a being overworked.

I too used to work in a big chain store. We also had a checklist to go over but it rarely worked. If the kids actually did it, usually the customer would leave before they found the problem. The idea was to have the customer to sign off on it BEFORE work was to be done.

Also, I hear all the time that people get their heads chewed off when they go back to the chains with problems. Don't people know that "cusomers are always right"? I have no problems telling people about stuff without sounding over defensive. Of course, I have a reputation of being one of the best in the area. But, sometimes things just happen. Just like when a friend of mine was putting a remote start on an older Buick that really didn't run very well. When he went to start it with the key, there was a loud pop. Here the plastic intake shattered and blew right off!!! He ended up having to fix it!

Actually, no I was not kidding. I always "act" to the customer like I know and believe what they are saying. Then, in a professional manor, I show them why it wasn't me. 95% of the time, this works.

Unfortunately, when you have some punk tunerdick in the shop, you'll never be happy unless you either throw him out or thump on him. I was merly talking about the normal customer.

Ah, Ford glass! I use to see my co-workers break a lot of Ford and import glass. The glass on those seem so thin for some reason. Anyway, we'd all hold our breath when there's an alarm install in one. Reason was that you had to test the impact sensor. Seemed if you hit the windshield too close to the top, it'd crack. I personally never had this happen but seen it plenty of times.

[jackacc]

Originally Posted by fredthedragon

good to hear jackacc, glad it's all fixed w/ no $$ spent.

you know that guy catching an attitude w/ you is completely against company policy and he prolly should be written up for being an ass to a customer, you can get that done if your irritated enough you know.

Thanks! I was glad when no dough was shed on this problem!!

I don't want to write anyone up or anything...the guy that actually installed the equip. was cool as hell. I know there are a bunch of guys that work back there and everyone has a bad day once and a while...

[ZC4ME]

Originally Posted by ponchonutty

Actually, no I was not kidding. I always "act" to the customer like I know and believe what they are saying. Then, in a professional manor, I show them why it wasn't me. 95% of the time, this works.

Unfortunately, when you have some punk tunerdick in the shop, you'll never be happy unless you either throw him out or thump on him. I was merly talking about the normal customer.

Ah, Ford glass! I use to see my co-workers break a lot of Ford and import glass. The glass on those seem so thin for some reason. Anyway, we'd all hold our breath when there's an alarm install in one. Reason was that you had to test the impact sensor. Seemed if you hit the windshield too close to the top, it'd crack. I personally never had this happen but seen it plenty of times.

I understand where your coming from and don't get the wrong impression about me, I am curteous and professional with 99.9% of my customers. Your right, most of the time, if you give them the time, they will understand your point of view and things eventually get worked out.

The "punk tunerdick" customers are becoming more and more common. I love this "sport" and the "lifestyle" is pretty cool, but these little jerks that come in and mommy and daddy pay for everything because they can't turn a wrench or are just dummer than mud, get really irritating, especially when they try and tell someody that has been doing it for 8 years (my co-worker) that he does not know what he is talking about. Never-the-less, it is a part of the business, and they only get they far under my skin once in a blue moon.

About the glass....man I was pissed, but at the same time it was funny. I was pissed that I just created a bad impression for the customer and a problem to boot, but it was funny that it broke into so many little itty bitty pieces and it stayed in. i covered it with 2 layers of heavy black tape inside and out so he could take it to a place to get it replaced. He was not even upset when he came back to get the car, he just asked if it was going to get replaced? He thought he might have to pay for it , lol. I think that piece of glass cost like $900

peace
Griff