$900 car repair, mechanic blames my amp.

[SeeingBlue]

I read the sticky thread and it didn't seem to answer my question. Every part on my car is factory.

I own a 2000 Chevy Malibu. First I just installed a simple barely 200 watt Pioneer amp. Everything was fine, sometimes in hot days the amp would shut off from being to hot. Then I got a pair of 12in. MTX subs then went and bought a 800 watt Kenwood amp. This is were the problem started.

After about a month of running the 800 watt, I went to turn my car on one night after work and to make a long story a little shorter. Apperently (the mechanic said) I burnt the body module, burnt all the grounds in my car, fryed the computer, reversed the polarities(sp*) in my battery and burnt my wiper motor. Now I don't know what all damage I actually caused myself. We all know how that can go.

But my questions here is.. I have the car fixed, had the eq. professional installed. I'm still worried that it may happen again if I keep running this amp. The mechanic KNOWS it was my amp because my car was newer and there was something about the grounds in a newer car.... Maybe something else was wrong. I don't know. I just don't want to happen again.

What are your guys thoughts?

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[mattmcss 10+ year member]

I smell bullshit ?

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

Where did you ground the amp?

 

[SeeingBlue]

The amp was orginally grounded to the trunk frame. It's been moved to under my backseat now by the professional installation.

 

[MegaHurtz 10+ year member]

Baloney. Ask him to explain in detail how such a thing could occur, and then stab him in the face when he can't do it.

What I am thinking is that the regulator in your alternator crashed, causing the voltage in your electrical system to jump, which certainly could cause all of those problems. If this is the case, the failure of the regular may or not be related to the current draw from your amplifier. That would be hard to determine.

 

[ultimate157 5,000+ posts]

Baloney. Ask him to explain in detail how such a thing could occur, and then stab him in the face when he can't do it.What I am thinking is that the regulator in your alternator crashed, causing the voltage in your electrical system to jump, which certainly could cause all of those problems. If this is the case, the failure of the regular may or not be related to the current draw from your amplifier. That would be hard to determine.

i second that.

 

[saywhat? 5,000+ posts]

seriously u got dicked out of 900 bucks. Go back, tell him you want a full out explenation from the mechanic telling exactly how this could happen, take it to a chevy master tech, he will say its not possible. Tell the chevy master tech your taking the guy to court, and may want him to help if possible. Take it BACK to the company and tell them you are getting a lawyer, and tell the company you are sueing them for the money you spent + some.

 

[psych0ticnemes1 5,000+ posts]

seriously u got dicked out of 900 bucks. Go back, tell him you want a full out explenation from the mechanic telling exactly how this could happen, take it to a chevy master tech, he will say its not possible. Tell the chevy master tech your taking the guy to court, and may want him to help if possible. Take it BACK to the company and tell them you are getting a lawyer, and tell the company you are sueing them for the money you spent + some.

good idea... may cost a bit for the court fees but it will be worth it in the end.

 

[saywhat? 5,000+ posts]

not if you sue them for court fees and the money spent on repairs.

 

[90accordman 5,000+ posts]

You were screwed over, as for it happening again, i wouldnt worry about it. You had it installed, if it happens its thier problem so you can put the blame on them. Make them pay for it if its proven to be the amps problem, if not then the shop you went to for the fix has no leg to stand on. Either way money not coming out of your pocket

 

[ultimate157 5,000+ posts]

After about a month of running the 800 watt, I went to turn my car on one night after work and to make a long story a little shorter. Apperently (the mechanic said) I burnt the body module, burnt all the grounds in my car, fryed the computer, reversed the polarities(sp*) in my battery and burnt my wiper motor. Now I don't know what all damage I actually caused myself. We all know how that can go.

If that is true then why are thousands of other people running 5kw (some daily) and no problems whatsoever?

 

[Shyne151 10+ year member]

Take your car to a real mechanic.

 

[timvanderet 10+ year member]

But seriously, make sure you do something about this. Don't let this guy go without repercussions

 

[Railrocker 10+ year member]

I dont think its possible. The first thing mechanics like to blame is any modification you do to your car ecspecially audio. Hell half of that shit probably wasnt broken.

 

[theCybe 5,000+ posts]

Power wire fused close to the battery? Can't think of any way to fry all that shit but shorting to the frame with a damaged power cable.

If you connect your amplifier backwards, the fuse in it will pop (Ask me how I know) but that's all.

Seems like maybe the other components would fry in a similar circumstance, but again, you'd hafta be blasting the frame with 12v positive, and besides, isn't there a fuse and relay box between the components and power?

Smells fishy bro.