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This is something that I run into fairly often, and it's pretty annoying.
I work in a Northern state installing car electronics. In the snow belt, remote start systems are very popular. It's hard for people in southern states to see the value, but if you're used to scraping ice off your window twice a day, it's easier to see the point.
A remote start really isn't a very complex device in terms of how it works. Installation can be complex and time-consuming, and there are various challenges with getting around newer vehicles' anti-theft systems, but the basic theory isn't hard to understand. It just does the same thing your key switch does: sends voltage to the right wires at the right times, but using relays instead of a mechanical switch.
For some reason, to local auto repair techs, they may as well be black magic. Dealership techs are the worst, but they all do it. If a vehicle comes in with some electrical problem, and there's a remote start installed, step one is to blame the remote start. Of course, I can't blame a customer for believing their car dealer instead of me, but if the service techs would take the time to learn how a remote start works, and do some honest troubleshooting instead of looking for ways to blame the after-market equipment, both I and their customers would be spared a lot of grief.
The latest is a very nice lady who's stopped by my shop twice in the past week. Her issue is that when she's driving, her air conditioning and her power windows will stop working. Sometimes they'll come back when she slaps the side of her steering column. However, if she stops and activates the remote start system, the AC and windows will immediately start to work again. They'll continue working until the remote start system is shut off. (A remote start can't stay active while the vehicle is being driven).
Every mechanic that she's dealt with has explained that since her remote start is working perfectly, it must be the source of the problem. Really, that's their logic.
To me it's blindingly obvious that she has a problem with her key switch. When her key switch is on, it's supposed to be sending power to her vehicle's accessory power wire, but it's not. When she activates the remote start, it sends power to that wire and everything works. The remote starter doesn't replace the key switch; it's just a separate system connected to the same wires. If the same wire gets power from the remote start, but doesn't get power from the key switch, then which one is likely to be broken?
I've explained all this to her and I know she believes me, but she really doesn't understand it and there's no way she's going to convince a mechanic; they're conditioned not to listen to customer theories. I've told her that her mechanic is welcome to call me and talk to me about the problem, but I haven't gotten any calls. The two times she's been by, I've been busy and couldn't pull her car in right away, but I've offered to set an appointment and check over our wiring. I just don't think it will do her any good; we can't replace her key switch, which is what she needs.
She's been stuck with this problem for over a week, and any mechanic who knows how to use a multimeter can identify the problem if they'll just take the under-dash panel off and do five minutes of testing. But the service techs are unwilling to touch the wiring as long as they can say that the remote start is the problem. What's probably going to happen is that I'll have to disconnect the remote start entirely. Then she'll have to wait until a mechanic reluctantly admits that since the problem continues without the remote start connected, then it's possible that just maybe it's not the cause. And when they're done, I'll have to wire everything up again. And she'll be paying the service techs for every 15 minutes they work on her car, while I'll be doing their troubleshooting at no charge.
What's odd to me is that he car isn't under any warranty. It's not like fixing her vehicle is going to cost them anything. It's a paid repair, just like all the other business they're supposed to want. I've concluded that they're just scared of the remote start system, don't understand how it works, and don't want to touch anything that might be related to it. And yet the "real" mechanics sneer at auto-sound installers. Go figure.
I work in a Northern state installing car electronics. In the snow belt, remote start systems are very popular. It's hard for people in southern states to see the value, but if you're used to scraping ice off your window twice a day, it's easier to see the point.
A remote start really isn't a very complex device in terms of how it works. Installation can be complex and time-consuming, and there are various challenges with getting around newer vehicles' anti-theft systems, but the basic theory isn't hard to understand. It just does the same thing your key switch does: sends voltage to the right wires at the right times, but using relays instead of a mechanical switch.
For some reason, to local auto repair techs, they may as well be black magic. Dealership techs are the worst, but they all do it. If a vehicle comes in with some electrical problem, and there's a remote start installed, step one is to blame the remote start. Of course, I can't blame a customer for believing their car dealer instead of me, but if the service techs would take the time to learn how a remote start works, and do some honest troubleshooting instead of looking for ways to blame the after-market equipment, both I and their customers would be spared a lot of grief.
The latest is a very nice lady who's stopped by my shop twice in the past week. Her issue is that when she's driving, her air conditioning and her power windows will stop working. Sometimes they'll come back when she slaps the side of her steering column. However, if she stops and activates the remote start system, the AC and windows will immediately start to work again. They'll continue working until the remote start system is shut off. (A remote start can't stay active while the vehicle is being driven).
Every mechanic that she's dealt with has explained that since her remote start is working perfectly, it must be the source of the problem. Really, that's their logic.
To me it's blindingly obvious that she has a problem with her key switch. When her key switch is on, it's supposed to be sending power to her vehicle's accessory power wire, but it's not. When she activates the remote start, it sends power to that wire and everything works. The remote starter doesn't replace the key switch; it's just a separate system connected to the same wires. If the same wire gets power from the remote start, but doesn't get power from the key switch, then which one is likely to be broken?
I've explained all this to her and I know she believes me, but she really doesn't understand it and there's no way she's going to convince a mechanic; they're conditioned not to listen to customer theories. I've told her that her mechanic is welcome to call me and talk to me about the problem, but I haven't gotten any calls. The two times she's been by, I've been busy and couldn't pull her car in right away, but I've offered to set an appointment and check over our wiring. I just don't think it will do her any good; we can't replace her key switch, which is what she needs.
She's been stuck with this problem for over a week, and any mechanic who knows how to use a multimeter can identify the problem if they'll just take the under-dash panel off and do five minutes of testing. But the service techs are unwilling to touch the wiring as long as they can say that the remote start is the problem. What's probably going to happen is that I'll have to disconnect the remote start entirely. Then she'll have to wait until a mechanic reluctantly admits that since the problem continues without the remote start connected, then it's possible that just maybe it's not the cause. And when they're done, I'll have to wire everything up again. And she'll be paying the service techs for every 15 minutes they work on her car, while I'll be doing their troubleshooting at no charge.
What's odd to me is that he car isn't under any warranty. It's not like fixing her vehicle is going to cost them anything. It's a paid repair, just like all the other business they're supposed to want. I've concluded that they're just scared of the remote start system, don't understand how it works, and don't want to touch anything that might be related to it. And yet the "real" mechanics sneer at auto-sound installers. Go figure.
I'm no stranger to auto electric problems, since I also have an MGB GT (you haven't lived until you've messed with Lucas stuff 
) but this one had me puzzled.
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