The Car Audio Nighmare, or, I Am a Stupid, Stupid Person (1046 hits)
Category: Sound & MusicRating: 1.59 on 25 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Ferretnose (View user info) at 2005-10-31 14:50:50 EST
Here is a cautionary tale about listening very carefully, and replying even more carefully. Also, it's about not taking on a task, no matter how simple, if you know for sure you are unqualified. Lots of details, so please don't read this if you haven't time for any.
My husband, Chris, has always been very much into car audio, since his teens. And I don't mean, going to a Mobile One store and buying a system for a few hundred bucks and having it installed and calling it good. I'm talking about a state of the art cd player head unit, 2 custom amplifiers, at least 50 feet of monster wires, crossovers, 8 speakers of differing sizes. And various other small connectors and such that I lost track of. I'm talking about brands that only car audio afficionados know exist. Last year, he bought these pieces over the course of about 3 months. This was going to be the car audio system he always wanted, and therefore justified. I won't say how much was spent in this process, only that it gave me the backdoor trots and a heart murmur.
Then he spent his entire two week vacation out on the carport, removing seats, panels, and whatnot from our Ford Focus so he could install these aftermarket wires, speakers, etc. He even stuffed the door panels and floorboards with cotton batting and Dynamat and such to cut down on vibration. He hand carved settings for two of the small speakers from styrofoam, resin and other stuff to harden them, and paint to make them blend in with the interior of the car. He built a custom wooden box to hold the two 12 inch woofers in the trunk. He created a railing system so that this huge and heavy box could be slid out from the trunk to get to the spare tire beneath. This box assembly was covered with a matching fabric. He had many setbacks and trials and literally blood, sweat, and tears over this project. I watched with trepidation, but kept my mouth mostly shut.
The crowning jewel of this ginormous endeavor was an aftermarket alternator, which he ordered from some hotshot guy who is supposedly the be-all-end-all craftsman of custom alternators specifically designed for special stereo systems. He installed this along with a special battery and cables, and finally it was finished.
The car sounded great, the quality of the audio was awesome- not that this meant much to me; I'd just as soon listen to a scratchy old record, if I like the song. But I was being supportive, and I did make a big deal of it for his sake. Aesthetically, you couldn't tell he did anything- except for the two small speakers, which were expertly blended into the car. I did genuinely admire his creativity and craftsmanship on this install. My only true complaint was that the car now lacked a trunk, so anything to be transported had to be stuffed in the back seat. But that was my sacrifice. I also felt that I had sacrified the time we could have spent together on the vacation, but I let that go, too.
Right this moment, I need to emphasize the fact that this Ford Focus- a sport compact vehicle- is our primary transportation. It is the car that he takes to work, all the way to New Orleans and back, every day. It is used for family outings. It is supposed to be the reliable car. I have an old, shuddery, ugly Ford Tempo, which is paid for, that I use for errands and to get wherever I need to goin town. It's got leaks and it smells because a cat peed in it and has no A/C and a halfass heater, but you know, point A to Point B. I am a person for whom status symbols are anathema, so I don't care if my car is a hideous yellow hoopty that reeks. he and I couldn't be more different on this subject.
Right before Hurricane Katrina, the Focus began to experience electrical problems. First, the two twelves blew out. Then, if the A/C was on, the car would not accelerate properly, which was dangerous. Lastly, if you had been driving it a while and you turned the car off, it got to where it would not start back up sometimes. You had to walk away and leave it for a couple of hours, and when you tried it again, it would start. This caused considerable problems.
Then the hurricane hit. It was about a month before he was called back to work, to clean up the horrible decaying debris before they can start production again. Now the area of New Orleans where he works is a dead zone. He stays there in a FEMA trailer for several days in a row. He is occasionally able to call me on his cell phone, but I cannot call him at all. When he is there in St. Bernard Parish, we are basically incommunicado until he crosses back over what's left of the twinspan.
He borrowed a relative's vehicle to get there, and suddenly it was my responsibility to get the Focus taken care of. I brought it to a reputable auto-electric shop, as per his instructions. Now the nightmare begins.
This shop diagnosed the car, saying that the problem is the custom alternator. Sometimes it works, the man said, and sometimes it doesn't. And he refused to fix it. At the time I didn't know why, but come to find out, it's because of the car stereo system. They don't like fooling with customized cars, too much liabilty involved. He told me that the only place I could hope to have work on it is the Ford certified dealership. Oh, fracking great, I thought, because a) Everytime we ever brought a vehicle to them, they were a-holes and overcharged us to boot b) Now I was going to have to tell Chris that his extra special custom-wound alternator doohickey was a piece of shit. When he finally did call, I managed to tell him this diplomatically, without even a hint of reproach. I should have an Academy award.
Chris came home, pissed at the world, and said he was finished with car audio, and he was going to sell everything. He said that the custom alternator would have to be replaced with a factory one, and that I would have to have this done. A lump rose in my throat. Me? I said, "Can't I just drop it off, and you can write down what you want done, and I'll give them that?" No, you'll be alright, he replies. Then he went back to work- incommunicado again. My (vague) instructions were to tell them to "remove the aftermarket alternator, and disconnect everything that goes on it, replace it with a factory one, and tape up the wires, and whatever else they have to do to make the car start reliably again."
I brought it to the Ford place, and showed them the diagnois from the auto-electric shop. Now this is the tricky part: I felt totally unqualified and too stupid to try and explain what he wanted done. I thought it would be better to have the Ford place decide what to do, but I had my orders. I should have refused; something was clamoring in the back of my mind.
I tried my best to relate the instructions to the service manager, and gave him the diagnostic from the other place. He looked at me like I was crazy. He asked me if we were sure we wanted the alternator replaced. And here is where I totally screwed up. I repeated my husband's words: " Yes, he says he is through with car audio, disconnect it all from the alternator, replace the altrenator, do whatever will make the car reliable again. Just tape up the wire ends or whatever yall do with them." I said this because he seemed reluctant to do as I asked. Looked at me like I was daft, again.
I get a phone call two days later. It's the other service manager. "What all do you want pulled?" she asks. "Did you want all the aftermarket stuff removed?" Here's where I screw up again. Because I was thinking she meant "removed from the alternator". I said yes. She says, "Are you sure?" I keep wondering why these people won't just do what the hell I asked em to do. What's so fucking difficult about relpacing an alternator? "So you want the whole car put back to factory." Then I sealed my pathetic fate by saying, "It that's what it takes, whatever, just do it." At this point, the earth shuddered, and Nikola Tesla did the elbow spin in his grave.
She quoted me a price: $490.00. This is about how much Chris told me the replacement of the alternator would be. So I say, Git -R- Done. The next day she calls and asks me to bring the detatchable faceplate of the cd player head unit thingie so they can test it all. Then she says I can pick it up the next day, that they are just waiting for some battery cables to come in. Battery cables? What's that got to do with it all?
I go to the Ford place. I get my ticket and go to the payment window. I look down and read,
1)"Concern: Ck. electrical system, alt not charging at times, advise."
2) "Correction: Removed Stereo system from car. Alternator not the issue"
Total: $761.00
In the backseat, a cardboard box filled with the lovingly installed wires, crossovers, etc. In the trunk, the speakerbox, totally dismantled. Hanging from the hole where the head unit goes, a shitload of pigtailed wires. Where is the head unit itself, I demand to know. Apparently, it's gone missing from the shop, faceplate and all.
Your (soon to be hiding under the bed) friend,
Ferretnose
PS: I paid the amount after being reassured that all electrical problems were taken care of. I stopped at the Dollar General afterwards. When I got back in the car, it would not start, *at all* and there we sat for 4 hours, waiting for a towtruck. And there it sits again at the Ford place. I told them they better find the fucking head unit or i'll go puke on their desk. I already almost puked on mine.
User Reviews
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2005-11-11 00:34:30 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Heh...sounds like it got pretty much worked out, at least. I TOLD you you should be asking for your money back! :P
Submitted by Ferretnose (user info) at 2005-11-10 23:32:36 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2005-11-10 09:33:15 (#)
Ranking: 2
I reread my reviews for this today, and Jesus, I was being a dick that day!
Sorry about that. I hope everythihg worked out ok.
Forgive me?
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Of course. We have our moments. Anyway, I've been meaning to come back here and update. The tech who worked on our car went to jail the following Monday- possesion of marijuana and... surprise! Stolen electronics. His wife also left him, which I found out because the wife works with my aunt. Apparently, it was the final straw because he was constantly getting into trouble for drugs and stealing.
Our head unit was not among the stolen items found. The Ford place had my husband go out and buy a head unit comparable in price. We brought them the receipt and they cut us a check for the amount. The stereo system is still basically in the cardboard box, but my husband will be able to have a basically good system still. Just has to reinstall some of the wires. The speakers are still there, and the 12's were blown anyway. Yes, he was mad, but he was only mad at me for a little while. He says he should have listened when I told him in the first place that I felt funny about bringing it in myself. I had specifically told him: I have a bad feeling about this. He really is done with car audio as a hobby now, he'll be satisfied with just a good sounding system as opposed to one that is so expensive to maintain.
Unfortunately, the troubles with the car are not over. They have worked on the car twice *apart* from the times I mentioned before, and it wouldn't start reliably both times. In fact, they have it right now, to put in a new starter, which, as dumb as I am about cars, I mentioned when the car first began acting up. We'll get it back tomorrow, and if it ain't fixed, I'm going to shit a gold brick. They are not charging us anything for these further repairs, as it was the jailbird technician (they fired him of course)who made the actual descision to do what was done. They did not do their own diagnostic at all, and we also founf out that we were charged for items that didn't even get put in the car. I guess they didn't even do a backgound check, or they would never have hired him. Ironically, this asshole's name was Chris. Installed by a Chris, uninstalled by a Chris.
Today my Chris went and bought himself a bigscreen tv to begin on his second electronic love, home theater. I can get on board with that. I even got to pick it out.
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2005-11-10 09:33:15 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I reread my reviews for this today, and Jesus, I was being a dick that day!
Sorry about that. I hope everythihg worked out ok.
Forgive me?
Submitted by ooQueso (user info) at 2005-11-02 10:22:08 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Your husband was an idiot to leave his car in the hands of someone who sees cars as nothing more than "point A to point B" transportation. Someone with no appreciation for their tools will not understand them. At least you tried though.
Submitted by morontian (user info) at 2005-10-31 21:57:28 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
That is horrible. I've been in similar situations before, but nothing like that. I choose to take a nice long nap at those times.
Submitted by Saxon (user info) at 2005-10-31 20:38:42 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Oh welcome back too i remember you as the no bra lady in a broken down car.
Submitted by Saxon (user info) at 2005-10-31 20:36:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Oh god you poor thing, i feel for you. Hahahaha this is a good story and im sure in time you and hubby will look back and laugh about it.
I am a car nut and always have had show cars and hot rods. I built a 32 ford years ago and two weeks after getting it painted (very expensive excersize) my first wife moved it from where i parked it to put a blow up pool for our son in the shade.
Behind our house was a large open storm water drain, she went too close to the edge of it and yessssssssss you guessed it, it rolled over into the drain finnishing on its roof.
I was so happy when i got home that i kissed her and bought her flowers hahahahaha, no i didnt.
But i did get a lot of sex for a few months.
Submitted by Yes (user info) at 2005-10-31 19:13:56 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
wow. that sucks.... um... sorry, that's all I've got.
Submitted by skrapmetal (user info) at 2005-10-31 18:55:43 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
A good story and a good read.
Here's a few items of information that your stereo-wielding husband may wish to commit to memory: 1) You may safely assume that, whatever music you've chosen, NO ONE within earshot of your car will like it, 2) If you're listening to it at 2000 watts, "no one" can exclude a significant number of people, 3) All these people easily can quickly agree to say that they didn't see any muzzle flash whatsoever, and 4) That the thumping bass precluded determining any direction to the report of the single, well-placed .45JHP; all they know is that it got a lot quieter and then traffic started moving.
Submitted by userpete86 (user info) at 2005-10-31 17:50:38 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Maddog (user info) at 2005-10-31 15:18:42 (#)
Ranking: 0
What kind of retard sends a woman to a car repair shop?
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Better yet, on custom projects like that, never send anyone who hasn't worked on it with you to do anything...
He'll still want to feel right (and wronged by someone...), so just tell them they made you do it.
Submitted by matnotharry (user info) at 2005-10-31 17:33:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
"backdoor trots"
hahahahahaha
Submitted by ChristPuncher (user info) at 2005-10-31 17:19:39 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
dumb broad
hahahaha a Focus with a system....
Yer husband is a dweeb
GO BEARS WOO!!!
Submitted by DrSeussman (user info) at 2005-10-31 16:58:25 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I fucking hate auto dealership shops, fucking thieves, all of them!
Submitted by MyNameIsTim (user info) at 2005-10-31 16:54:35 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
that sucks dude.
Submitted by FilthyAssistant (user info) at 2005-10-31 16:43:46 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2005-10-31 15:59:15 (#)
Ranking: 0
What kind of moron are you? I'd have to dump your ass if it was my fucking car.
====
Dude, listen to yourself. Calling someone a moron kinda loses its weight when you assert in the same breath that you'd dump someone for making a mistake with a car stereo.
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2005-10-31 16:30:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I wouldn't have given them a fucking dime. They should have known better than to do what they did, but you fucked up too by not thinking how what you were saying came across.
All you had to tell them was to replace the alternator and disconnect the wires leading to the stereo. That's it. Instead, in your complacency, you allowed them to take out the whole fucking stereo? You gotta wonder how they'd arrive at the conclusion that that's what you wanted.
The biggest mistake you make was in paying them after they'd fucked it all up. You should have told them you wanted all that fucking shit put back where it was and the goddamn alternator replaced with a factory unit, and they weren't seeing a fucking dime until it happened. If they didn't like it, you'd see them in court where they'd also be paying for attourney fees and rental car as well.
I wouldn't dump you over something like that, but you'd be feeling my wrath, I tell you that much!
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2005-10-31 16:26:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I have the answer to your dilemma.
Since you have a Focus, I'm assuming that it's new(er) and you're making payments on it. Since you're making payments, you therefore have full coverage insurance. All you need is a gallon of gas. Dump it over the engine while it's running. Then go back into the house for something that you forgot. Then sell your husband's stereo stuff on ebay.
Submitted by Ferretnose (user info) at 2005-10-31 16:22:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Oh and also, they assured me it would be found- especially since it was they who asked me to bring the faceplate in. They are liable for this. Hell, they have the whole car right now- the head unit is small beans compared to that.
Submitted by Ferretnose (user info) at 2005-10-31 16:18:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2005-10-31 15:59:15 (#)
Ranking: 0
"Where is the head unit itself, I demand to know. Apparently, it's gone missing from the shop, faceplate and all."
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And you paid them anyway???
What kind of moron are you? I'd have to dump your ass if it was my fucking car.
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A moron who was so freaked out by the gravity of the situation, she used bad judgement... ever used bad judgement? No? Also, you don't just "dump" a spouse over a car unless your marriage is shit to begin with. My jokes notwithstanding, he'll be furious, but the last thing he'd ever do is dump me over a friggin' car. I was stupid, I acknowledged that. But thanks for your opinion.
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2005-10-31 15:59:15 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
"Where is the head unit itself, I demand to know. Apparently, it's gone missing from the shop, faceplate and all."
---
And you paid them anyway???
What kind of moron are you? I'd have to dump your ass if it was my fucking car.
Submitted by Maddog (user info) at 2005-10-31 15:18:42 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
What kind of retard sends a woman to a car repair shop?
Submitted by forthewin (user info) at 2005-10-31 15:07:24 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Oh.
My.
God.
All I can say, is it REALLY sucks to be you.
Submitted by wookie (user info) at 2005-10-31 15:04:50 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
You're not a stupid, stupid person. Your husband, however...
Submitted by GodChicken (user info) at 2005-10-31 14:57:46 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Holy crap, it's Ferretnose.
Submitted by stardamage (user info) at 2005-10-31 14:56:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 for effort. I feel your pain. I don't know anything about cars.