I need help with an amp. VS a new car warranty please.

[Qlake]

Thanks in advance.

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[trumpet 5,000+ posts]

Did you authorize these repairs?

 

[csu87 10+ year member]

Did the amp blow as well?

I would love to see them try to prove an amp sent a voltage spike back through the power input that caused the car's electrical to fail like that. Especially if the amp is still working.

Hell I sent 18V + through my car when an isolator failed and didn't have too many issues other than some blown fuses and relays.

 

[negolien]

Did you authorize these repairs?

LOL it's a dealership they wouldn't start the work without authorization. Though I smell some bs here somewhere

The non dealer electrical accessories do void the warranty though don't they? I have heard this from dealers before how does one get around this?

 

[gstokes]

Anything's possible when dealing with an inferior electrical system such as the one in the Scion TC..

A poor ground would cause the complete opposite of what Scion claimed, a poor ground would cause a voltage drop and NOT a voltage spike.

A voltage spike would have to come from the voltage source, aka alternator, NOT the fault of the amplifier in any way shape or form.

Hypothetically speaking: if the ground wire was indeed undersized (which it isn't) and current followed another path bypassing the ground cable and flowing through the chassis then it is possible to damage the electrical system, it shouldn't happen but it could..

 

[trumpet 5,000+ posts]

LOL it's a dealership they wouldn't start the work without authorization. Though I smell some bs here somewhere
The non dealer electrical accessories do void the warranty though don't they? I have heard this from dealers before how does one get around this?

Magnusson-Moss Warranty Act

The dealer has to prove that the aftermarket electronics caused damage. They can't void the warranty or refuse service because you installed an amplifier.

 

[fasfocus00 5,000+ posts]

sorry but I'm a certified installers and have to call BS on the dealership. they have to prove that what was done directly caused those problems. you can take your car to the nearest Best Buy or car audio shop with MECP certified installers and they can tell you if it was or wasn't the amp wiring's fault. no way in hell that a bad ground killed an entire car, it may set it on fire or cause the amp not to work but it won't kill electronics that it's not connected too.

Magnuson

put this ^^^ in front of a lawyer and tell them that the dealership is in violation. you and your son will be rolling in new Lexus'.

 

[fatboytyler]

A voltage spike would be due to the alternator, thus 100% covered by warranty with no questions asked.

But, Toyota is real ******* stingy about their warranty/defect ****. My uncle who works for them can attest to this. I work for one of their contractors right now for a summer job and I can definitely see it. My dad's 2010 Tundra has a Manufacturer recalled and defective parking brake, but because its out of warranty they can't replace a recalled/defective part? The **** does that mean Toyota?

Good luck though!

 

[Qlake]

Thank you

 

[Qlake]

Thank you

 

[Louisiana_CRX 5,000+ posts]

The amp can't do all that it sounds like the dealership is trying to milk Scion

 

[negolien]

Ah thanks for the dealer warranty issue. Back when we bought our Saturn they wanted to charge an assload for an alarm and when I said we can take it to Paradyme to have one put in the guy said it would void the warranty.

 

[gstokes]

Ah thanks for the dealer warranty issue. Back when we bought our Saturn they wanted to charge an assload for an alarm and when I said we can take it to Paradyme to have one put in the guy said it would void the warranty.

scare tactics..

 

[fly_marlin]

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My 19 year old son purchased a new 2013 Scion TC (currently with 11,000 miles), and had a Rockford Fosgate Prime R150X2 amp. installed back in 2013 along with a single 10" Kicker subwoofer connected to the stock head unit. The amp. is fused at the battery connection as well as the amps. internal fuse.

Five weeks ago his car quit running while driving down the hi-way with the radio off. The car was towed to the nearest Scion dealer that's located 400 miles away from our home.

The Scion dealership said every single electrical component in the car had to be replaced and so far they claimed to have spent $18,000.00 (not a typo). The following have been replaced so far, battery, alternator, ECM, all coil packs, fuel tank sender, AC controls, oxygen sensors, ABS module, throttle body and on and on.

The dealership said Scion is blaming the amp for the problem, claiming there was a poor ground and that the ground wire was undersized. No fuses were blown anyplace in the car and there are no signs of overheated or burnt wires anyplace in the car or amp. The dealer said "There was a voltage spike, not an amperage spike from the amp that caused the catastrophic electrical failure."

Scion said they will pay for the repairs under goodwill but not under the factory warranty and went on to say if there are any electrical issues in the future there will be no warranty coverage.

Even though the dealership has been fantastic to work with, the car is still there waiting for more parts.

It does NOT seem possible to me that this small amp, that they claim to have had a poor ground could send a voltage spike powerful enough to wipe out every single electrical component in the car and not blow any fuses. Keep in mind the car was driving on the hi-way at the time of failure and the amp was installed 18 months ago. Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

Just to clarify, the amp is not fused by the battery. It's the wire that's fused to protect itself from catching fire due to excess current. The amp is fused internally, as you stated.

 

[Qlake]

Thank you