Dealership drove my car into a pond. FMYLIFE....Dealer Response
03-27-2010, 07:17 PM
#111
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: IL - chitown
Posts: 367
I didnt read all of this but if the parking break was properly set there is no way it would have gone that fat. On my old Z28 camaro I had a remote start and with the parking break firmly set in gear that car would at best jump a few inches and die. Its not gonna start itself and knock over a fence and drive into a god damn pound. Either the parking break wasnt fully set or it didnt work properly
03-27-2010, 08:00 PM
#112
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Deep in the <3 of Tx
Posts: 3,925
Yep. One time I had my keys in my pocket, I leaned up against the car reaching for something and the panic button was hit. Scared the crap out of me.
I've also pressed it before when trying to open the trunk.I just can't see me ever wanting a remote start since I know I will hit it several times by mistake.
03-27-2010, 09:00 PM
#115
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Indiana
Posts: 325
[quote=cummins cowboy;6906020]having a remote start on the key fob like this doesn't make much sense, what if the keys are in your pocket and you bump the button while they are in your pocket, it could start the car without you knowing it. the other thing is when I park my car I leave it in first gear with the ebrake on, thats because I have small kids around, if I didn't have small kids around I would likely just pull in the garage and leave it in first gear.quote]
I have a GM car that came with the factory-equipped remote start (It's an automatic and we only use it n the winter - INDIANA). Most remote starts require a sequence of button pushing to prevent accidentally starting the car. For ours you have to first hit the lock button, then hold down the remote start button for 3-4 seconds. I seriously doubt there is any manufacturer out there that has a remote start that could be activated in your pocket.
On another note, I saw the response from the dealership on that other site that said it was a result of unlocking the vehicle. http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/25/f...stomers-musta/ Was he perhaps mis-informed as well. The button to unlock the car on the OP's remote from the other post seems pretty clearly marked????
I have a GM car that came with the factory-equipped remote start (It's an automatic and we only use it n the winter - INDIANA). Most remote starts require a sequence of button pushing to prevent accidentally starting the car. For ours you have to first hit the lock button, then hold down the remote start button for 3-4 seconds. I seriously doubt there is any manufacturer out there that has a remote start that could be activated in your pocket.
On another note, I saw the response from the dealership on that other site that said it was a result of unlocking the vehicle. http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/25/f...stomers-musta/ Was he perhaps mis-informed as well. The button to unlock the car on the OP's remote from the other post seems pretty clearly marked????
Last edited by MADSCOTSMAN; 03-27-2010 at 09:03 PM.
03-27-2010, 10:49 PM
#116
1st Gear Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: IL
Posts: 128
I may be the minority, but after reading both sides of the story.. I gotta say, I agree that it is NOT the dealers fault or responsibility.
Why would you bypass th safety system on a REMOTE START in a MANUAL car. First, I wouldn't even take the chance.
But if the owner of the car installed it bypassing the safety, the E-Brake was up and the remote start button was actually the unlock button on the key-pad... then how is it their fault?
Blaming the dealership would be the same as blaming them for you messing up the install of you car stereo and it catches fire because they turned on the radio. Again, not their fault.
It would be nice if they would recognize the impact on the owner of the Mustang, and possibly offer them an incentive to purchase another car from them... but to accuse the dealership of any wrong doing I think is completely wrong.
You live and learn from your mistakes... the install of the remote start system was a mistake, and the owner will live and learn.
Why would you bypass th safety system on a REMOTE START in a MANUAL car. First, I wouldn't even take the chance.
But if the owner of the car installed it bypassing the safety, the E-Brake was up and the remote start button was actually the unlock button on the key-pad... then how is it their fault?
Blaming the dealership would be the same as blaming them for you messing up the install of you car stereo and it catches fire because they turned on the radio. Again, not their fault.
It would be nice if they would recognize the impact on the owner of the Mustang, and possibly offer them an incentive to purchase another car from them... but to accuse the dealership of any wrong doing I think is completely wrong.
You live and learn from your mistakes... the install of the remote start system was a mistake, and the owner will live and learn.
I have not read all the posts on this occurrance, but just reading the Dealers facts of this case, I agree this cannot be the fault of the Dealer. For one, they didn't even know this vehicle was equipped with this remote start and the installation was faulty to begin with.
The only possible way the Dealership could be responsible for the car going into the pond is if they actually DROVE it into the pond themselves. They are not liable for this.
Thats exactly why I had my remote start on my DD installed by my Ford Dealer, I want no problems and they warranty that.
Wow...what a horrible thing to happen and for what, to save a few dollars doing a poor install?
03-27-2010, 10:57 PM
#117
1st Gear Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: IL
Posts: 128
03-27-2010, 11:21 PM
#118
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: California
Posts: 1,495
I probably wouldn't even carry my fob if the passenger side door could be opened with a key.
Picture this. You park at the far end of the parking lot with no cars around you. When you get back, someone has parked so close to the driver's side that you can't physically open the door enough to reach the door lock button. Then you need to climb into the trunk, push the rear seats forward (sure hope they are not loaded with junk or you don't have a 'vert with the top up) to get into the passenger compartment. I don't think you could get into the trunk on a 2010 model; I don't think it has a trunk that can be opened with a key.
Of course you could keep the fob in the trunk for such situations (2010 excepted), but you would have to make sure that the fob was well protected so that something else in the trunk could not hit the fob and activate a button.
Picture this. You park at the far end of the parking lot with no cars around you. When you get back, someone has parked so close to the driver's side that you can't physically open the door enough to reach the door lock button. Then you need to climb into the trunk, push the rear seats forward (sure hope they are not loaded with junk or you don't have a 'vert with the top up) to get into the passenger compartment. I don't think you could get into the trunk on a 2010 model; I don't think it has a trunk that can be opened with a key.
Of course you could keep the fob in the trunk for such situations (2010 excepted), but you would have to make sure that the fob was well protected so that something else in the trunk could not hit the fob and activate a button.
03-27-2010, 11:47 PM
#119
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: AL
Posts: 2
I saw the pic of the key fob on page 5. I didn't see anything on the front of the fob indicating it's a remote start key fob, but it clearly is not a factory fob.
Is there anything at all on the back that indicates it, perhaps a sticker or something like that?
Is there anything at all on the back that indicates it, perhaps a sticker or something like that?
03-28-2010, 01:02 AM
#120
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 638
ok....so for ****s and giggles, i decided to see what would happen if i remote started my car with it in gear
1 = i have a compustar
2 = i have the neutral start disabled
3 = probably wasn't the best for my car, but I wanted to see
What did i find out? ** IF THE EBRAKE IS SET 100% THERE IS NO WAY THE CAR CAN DRIVE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. PERIOD **
I sat in the car, hit remote start. The sucker cranked ( suprisingly forceful )car jerked with each crank of the starter but it did not start and stay running. It couldnt start and would stall out against the ebrake. HOWEVER, the compustar took it as a false start and tried again ( that kinda scared me cause the whole thing started bucking and jerking again ).
Total movement was maybe 2 feet, if that. Total horrible groaning noises = not nice.
So....i am led to believe that the dealer didn't set the ebrake on fully, and pulled it maybe 50% of the way or something.
1 = i have a compustar
2 = i have the neutral start disabled
3 = probably wasn't the best for my car, but I wanted to see
What did i find out? ** IF THE EBRAKE IS SET 100% THERE IS NO WAY THE CAR CAN DRIVE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. PERIOD **
I sat in the car, hit remote start. The sucker cranked ( suprisingly forceful )car jerked with each crank of the starter but it did not start and stay running. It couldnt start and would stall out against the ebrake. HOWEVER, the compustar took it as a false start and tried again ( that kinda scared me cause the whole thing started bucking and jerking again ).
Total movement was maybe 2 feet, if that. Total horrible groaning noises = not nice.
So....i am led to believe that the dealer didn't set the ebrake on fully, and pulled it maybe 50% of the way or something.