Worst install "tricks"

Discussion in 'General Car Audio Discussions' started by The_Ancient, Feb 17, 2005.

  1. The_Ancient

    The_Ancient Full Member

    Since Geo Started the "Myths" thread I will start the "Tricks" thread

    What is the worst things you have seen "professional" installers do??

    Let me start


    Professional "jl audio" installer (they are trianed you know :blink: ) attached the main power wire to the cars MAIN FUSE BOX..... :blink:

    then cut to wire too short to make it to the end of the car so he DUCKED TAPE another piece to it :blink:



    beat that :D
     
  2. luvdeftonz

    luvdeftonz Full Member

    Initially, when you said "tricks", I thought you meant certain things people did that they thought added some kind of improvement to their system (when they didn't). Instead, it looks more like "horror stories". I have one that I've mentioned a few times here and elsewhere...


    A friend of mine bought some JL XR components a few years back and had them installed by a JL Authorized shop (the same place he bought them). They used 2 screws per mid when mounting them in the stock door locations. Both mids not only came (completely) loose, but they were resting against the inside of the interior door panel. Two screws. JL Authorized. BUT, they are no longer authorized dealers, so maybe this shop had one too many complaints.


    For the most part, the installers aren't terrible out here. Too much competition in the car audio scene down here in SoCal for that too last long before you end up packing your bags and closing down. Ignorant salesman on the other hand... :stupid: Down here, I've found the best (most knowledgeable) salesman are usually the installers themselves.
     
  3. joelsbass

    joelsbass Full Member

    While having an alarm/remote start installed at circuit city (while i worked there, installed by the manager) he couldn't find a good place to put the hood sensor (keeps the remote start from working when the hood is open for safety reasons) so he simply disconnected it... yeah, that's safe...
     
  4. MMats4life

    MMats4life Full Member

    have i seen lots of these... almost on a daily basis when fixing cars up from other shops.

    last week... 2 12" with dual coils... only one coil was connected to the amp per speaker.

    last week...circuit city install... flipout tv install with wires twisted together, no connectors or solder ... just some tape



    yesterday - cd changer install, stripped factory radio wires and wraped wire around, no solder or connectors, loosly covering it in electric tape (at least they used tape).

    one of my reps was telling me this story... he went into the install bay of one of his dealers, and they said check out this overhead tv install. so he goes and checks it out and said it looked nice and clean...until he saw 4 - 2" drywall screws sticking through the roof... bahhhaaaa.


    i got more of these stories
     
  5. geolemon

    geolemon Full Member

    Well let's have 'em!

    My stories are more from backyard/flea market installs...

    I'm all for DIY - but educated DIY... and I've seen enough to know most isn't. :D
     
  6. DerrikW

    DerrikW Full Member

    I had to take a grinder to the lower sides of my dash because my new door pods wouldnt' fit.

    Does this count? :blush: :blush: :blush:
     
  7. fugyaself

    fugyaself Full Member

    Nothing huge. All of my friends used to look to me for installs so I never saw too much shop work. Just recently I decided to stop being the goto guy for installs though. I pointed two people to circuit city for head unit installs with no problems. On the third it was the wife of a coworker and they didnt connect the constant 12v to her cd player. No presets for her lol.



    My buddy went into Audio Excellence with his Porsche 944 looking for improved sound quality and a good sounding 12 for low end extension. He was willing to spend. He walked out with clarion 4x6s all around and a Kicker Comp 12 in a cardboard bass tube run off an American Pro amp. The Infinity stock setup in his current vehicle sounds better than it did. I cant remember how much he paid but I do remember it was WAY over priced. Luckily he was able to sell off almost everything for about what he paid for it to a coworker.



    Like a said nothing major just the minor CD player thing which I think has been taken care of and my buddy getting ripped on crappy gear at a premium price.
     
  8. peter_euro

    peter_euro Full Member

    hmmm... education has nothing to do with being DYI or "professional" installer... <_< Eduacated installers are an exception not majority... Then again, if it was not for these "educated" installers, I would never do my own stuff... So maybe it is more like EDUCATING installers since after a few experiences, they make you educate yourself, LOL...

    Oh and yeah, the tricks... from authorized JL dealer a few years ago: running one channel off EQX mid output through y-splitter and then HI passing the midbass on 300/4 at 5k... and then blaming the speakers for not having any midbass... LOL... :2guns:
     
  9. joelsbass

    joelsbass Full Member


    as long as the wire's twisted tightly and the tape is secure you should never see a problem with that...
     
  10. PolkMM

    PolkMM Full Member

    you worked at circuit city though... :)
    -Cody
     
  11. The_Ancient

    The_Ancient Full Member


    that is not the "professional" way..

    if you do it on your own car that way, fine, but when you pay to have someone Install something it should be done PROFESSIONALLY not "jerry rigged"
     
  12. joelsbass

    joelsbass Full Member

    I agree Michael... I always soldered, but on occasion if i'm running something in a friends car for free, and with as quickly as some of my friends go through cars, I'll just tape it securely... but i tape tightly and use plenty of it...

    My deck now is just taped since i'm just waiting till i have the money to replace it...
     
  13. MMats4life

    MMats4life Full Member


    I also agree... if my installer sent something out of the shop taped like that.. he will be finding a CC to work at.
     
  14. joelsbass

    joelsbass Full Member

    lol, at my CC the only times we ever left out the solder were when 1. both of the store soldering irons broke, and 2. one of the guys got fired and conviently the soldering irons disappeared with him...
     
  15. PolkMM

    PolkMM Full Member

    i use butt connectors for everything but sub wire...
    faster than soldering...
    -Cody