Garage advice

[sean_bullock]

Hi all!

After a bit of advice if I may....

The alarm/immobiliser (Meta 375) packed up on my K4 a few weeks ago. I got it into a local garage to have it ripped out nearly three weeks ago. Since then, I've called repeatedly for updates and have been told they've run into one problem after another each time I call.

Question is, what would you do next? Do I keep waiting or do something about it?

[maviczap]

Go and see them, they'll keep fobbing you off

[DarrenSV650S]

If they can't sort it, just tell them to buy a second-hand loom. They've obviously ballsed it up

[DJ123]

Alarms are notoriously difficult to remove due to the way they are wired into the loom. Depends what cut off switches have been tapped into and what circuits need to be re-completed.
Took me 3 weeks to get my bike going again after removing the alarm.

[NTECUK]

If you can fix it yourself its a better plan .

[sean_bullock]

I had a look at doing it myself but there was a good bunch of 10 wires going into the main loom of the bike. I didn't dare touch it!

Might just call in on Saturday to see what's going on. I'm beginning to become nervous of the invoice coming my way!

[sean_bullock]

So...

£380, several nasty frame scratches, a scratched can and 6 and a half weeks later, my bike is back in my garage...

Lesson learnt!

[NTECUK]

Top job.
Your be recommending them to all your mate's

[shiftin_gear98]

Name and shame...

[Red Herring]

That's outrageous. I've taken numerous alarms out of bikes and I've yet to find one that took more than two or three hours. It's simply a case of removing panels and following the various wires from the alarm to where they have been spliced into the loom. Where the loom has been cut it's simply a case of locating the two ends (always close together and the same colour wires) and joining them back together.

Sorry mate, unless they've got an exceptional explanation you've been mugged!

[maviczap]

I'd never go back to a garage like that

[NTECUK]

I'd never go back to a garage like that

Only with excelearent and matches lol

[Corny Gizmo]

So they scratched your bike and then you paid them money... Confused

[andrewsmith]

I would be going back and getting my cash back

Sent from my D2303 using Tapatalk

[Fen Tiger]

There is no excuse for damaging your machine without then putting things right. Did they make an explanation as to why the bill was so large?

[sean_bullock]

Certainly feels like it!

It was a Meta 357 alarm that (I think!) is supplied with SV K4's as standard. I had a look at it myself and saw a good 10 wires coming from the alarm straight into the loom - there was no way I was going to hack into it myself. I can deal with the price in the long run but feel pretty gutted they've scratched the frame on an otherwise spotless bike!

[sean_bullock]

So they scratched your bike and then you paid them money... Confused

I'd paid for it, rode it home then noticed. What's even more annoying is that I the left hand mirror fell off when I jumped on the bike at their garage!

There is no excuse for damaging your machine without then putting things right. Did they make an explanation as to why the bill was so large?

That was the first thing I said. They said - in so many words - that this was actually majorly less than what they would have charged if they went by the hours they put into it... In short, they didn't really know what they were doing, spent ages trying to figure it out then charged me a portion of the labour.

[Red Herring]

If it was a factory fit the wiring diagram actually shows there is provision made for it with all the relevant splices already made and running to a dedicated connection block. That would have made it even simpler to remove.

[tom_e]

I'd be worried about the complete mess they've probably made of the loom and what problems that's going to cause down the line to be honest.

[sean_bullock]

I'd be worried about the complete mess they've probably made of the loom and what problems that's going to cause down the line to be honest.

That's my worry too...

I'm aiming to take the rear end fairing off to see what lies beneath. I'm building up the courage to take a look!

[tom_e]

I hope you've got a good stiff drink waiting for afterwards!

[sean_bullock]

I'll get in the garage tonight while the soaps are on and post pictures of what I find... Hopefully they'll be uninteresting!

[shiftin_gear98]

Hopefully they simple had you over, unplugged the connector Red Herring mentioned - that's pretty much all I had to do, plus join two wires - and didn't fudge your bike up.
Really annoys me when people rip you off. Or just lie to you about what is happening.
Good luck with what you find.

[L3nny]

I'd definitely be seeking legal advice or at the very least contacting trading standards.

A lot of places are members of guilds/associations so I'd be on to them too.

If they didn't know what they were doing they shouldn't have started the job. Bit late now but you should have agreed a price before they started.

[shiftin_gear98]

You do need to name and shame them though...

[Fen Tiger]

This whole scenario makes the blood boil. Damaging the bike is inexcusable and they should have owned up to it and seen you right. as for the bill, the fact that they do not know what they are doing is not your fault and you should not be penalised.
You could get some quotes for the same work from other businesses to find out what a reasonable charge should have been and ask for some money back (if you can be bothered with the hassle). If they have removed the alarm from the loom and made good there are no parts to pay for. Pretty simple task.
I have only taken one alarm system off myself, from a 1994 CB750. I took my time soldering in new sections of wire where the loom had been cut and shortened slightly and then making good with heat shrink. Don't think it took more than two hours.
The are several looms for sale on e bay for between £30 and £50 so a complete loom change would not have been too expensive. Maybe something to consider if they have made a mess of your loom. Perhaps consider building a case for the small claims court.

[sean_bullock]

In all fairness the wiring looked neat as far as I can see. Hopefully that'll be that now.

http://i570.photobucket.com/albums/ss147/gipized/IMG_1304_zpseng61ov0.jpg
http://i570.photobucket.com/albums/ss147/gipized/IMG_1300_zpswfxkfzx9.jpg
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