Mobile Audio Systems & GPS

[peekjd]

I purchased a remote start from Best Buy's website on 12/24/11. The remote start could only be purchase with professional installation. I called to set up an appointment and was told they are booked up due to the holidays but they would squeeze me in aon 1/03/12 at 10:00 am and it would take about 4 hours .The closest location for me is a 70 mile round trip . After getting home I checked the work that was completed and discovered that the installer did not connect the valet switch which is used to adjust the lenght of time the vehicle runs before auto shut off, and they did not install the Hood pin deactivation switch which is used to keep the remote start from being accidently engage while your car is being service. this is very dangerous , not only can this cause engine damage if you had changed your oil and had not put in the new oil, but it could also cause bodily injury if the motor started with your hands in the engine compartment. I called the best Buy in Elizabethtown Ky 42701 and spoke with a manager named Chris, he told me they had a job that had already been started that would take the rest of the day .Chris told me the installers was off on 1/04/12 but would be at the store until 8:00pm the rest of the week and that i need to bring my car back in ( 70 mile round trip ) to make sure the swtich had not been installed .Chris had said he was sorry and would compensate me for my time and trip .
I arrived at the store at 5:50 on 01/05/11 and went back to look thru the installation window to see if the bay was full and it was not . I then went to the service desk and began explaining my problems . A different installer was getting off and I had him to check that the hood switch and he confirmed that it was not installed .The installer got in his car and left and I went back in to speak with the manager on duty, he said i would need to come back tommorrow and at 1:00 pm and speak with the installer that had performed the work .I explain that I live 70 miles a way and have a full time job that i would like to get the missing part and a partial refund since i would be getting it installed by my mechanic. the manager told me he would not open up another package to give me the missing part. i explained that i would file a complain with the Ky Attorney Generals Office and he pointed at the door and told me to get out. i said " your kicking me out ? " and he said he was not going to be threatned. I said i am not threatening you i am just explain a process that we do not want to take . He told me again to get out or he would call the police, at this time i did raise my voice and said to call the police . i then asked him for his district manager number and he told me to call 1-888-bestbuy.He said here I will write it down for you, but you need to stand outside and call cause i'm calling the police. he picked up the phone and dial and i went to my car and called 1-888-bestbuy .I was told on the phone i needed to resolve with the store by coming back again .

[RyanAutotech046]

A lot of installers don't necesarilly install the hood pin switch instead there should be a toggle switch located either in your kick panel or some where under your steering column dash that will disable your r/s as for the valet switch they don't install that because a lot of customers can mess a lot of things up by using it instead if you need any changes in programming the auto tech has a Bit writer that does all that or they simply do it for you with the valet switch it just plugs right into the r/s so no installation is required I think the major problem is that all of this should have been explained to you but was not.

[Daniel82]

All safety devices shall be installed per manufactures instructions. So a hood pin/tilt switch, stickers, and Remote Start kill switch shall be installed. 

[mstng87gt Trusted Contributor]

My 3 cars all have remote start and not one has an under the hood pin switch.  None were installed by Best Buy nor  were they installed by  the same place. Each car had a system installed at a different Car Audio and Alarm shop.  We were told you use the valet switch when you bring it in for service or repairs.   There is a sticker though on the radiator support frame.

[TechSavvyChick]

The hood pin should have been installed. When the hood of the vehicle is open the switch provides a ground and will not let the vehicle start. If the vehicle is already running in auto start mode and the hood is open the engine will stop immediately unless the ignition is in the run position with the key. This is a safety feature.

As for the valet switch, they should have installed it. For me it's important to have for the reason of bypassing my alarm when I forget to change the battery in my key faub. If I didn't have it I wouldn't be able to start my car because my alarm is going off because I had to open my door manually.

Both of these are included in the price of the install and should have been installed in your car. See here http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Geek+Squad%26%23174%3B+-+Remote+Start+Installation+(Hardware+Not+Include...

I hate lazy installers that make assumptions on the customers behalf in order to save time.

[rcmaylott]

They won't give me the schematics for my install to show me what they did. I think i will cancel the install and have it done by a local shop. $500 lost sale! I have the right to know what they will modify on my $50,000 car!

[TechSavvyChick]

Just to note, they don't keep a record of how they installed it by way of schematic. I don't know of any shop that does. There are basic schematics provided by the manufacturer on what to connect the equipment to in the vehicle, but it's generic.

Another shop should be able to locate all of the equipment installed. Just be aware that the moment someone else touches the car, that the install warranty provided by BB is void. I mention this because lets say that the way BB installed it happened to mess something up with the electrical of the vehicle. Then you take it into another shop and they tell you that BB messed up something with the vehicle due to the way they installed it. You will be at a out of pocket loss in order to fix it. Simply because if you were to go back to BB and tell them that you went to another shop to get the remainder of the equipment installed and they found something wrong, they (BB) would say "how do we know that they didn't mess it up?" It a tricky game to be played in this manner. I'm just letting you know of a worst case scenario.

[rcmaylott]

I don't know who you are. You talk like you run the place. I didn't have it installed yet. I want them to give me the schematic of the install. They never said they didn't have one. They just said they couldn't give it to me for liability reasons. That's a bunch of BS. What they are saying is if they screw up and install it wrong they don't want any evidence.  They have to have a schematic or a list of connections for each car. If they were smart they would also highlight the connections as they are done and have someone verify the connections. I guess I'm used to hi tech company processes.  They don't know how to run a business.  They don't call the people scheduled the day before to remind them to come in. They have a terrible rate of people that keep their appointments. Calling the day before is not too hard to do, but they seem to be clueless or just don't care.  When people schedule things a month in advance they need to be reminded. Especially when you know you have a bad show rate.

[TechSavvyChick]

Rcmaylott, I actually got you confused with the OP. Sorry if I was trying to be helpful. And no, I don't run the place.

If you want a schematic of your vehicles electronic systems go to your dealer or look online. Then perhaps you can install it on your own and highlight it as you go then have someone double check your install for you. That suggestion is ridiculous.

Now I have no doubt that there are installers that need guidance. And the lead installer should be aware of what less experienced installers are doing. But your schematic obsession is a bit outrageous. If your not confident with someone else installing your equipment, do it yourself.

[RyanAutotech046]

also another reason they wont give you a schematic is because it would put them out of a job if they told you how to do it they would be "GOOGLE" not "Best Buy".