Daily Dose of Sultnpapper 02/27/18> Lesson learned on this one
Busy, busy, busy is all I seem to be lately. Sometimes when you get busy you make mistakes, well don’t I know that for sure. I made the mistake of purchasing a remanufactured car computer from an online rebuilder who claimed that their units are “plug and play” which means that hook it up and ready to roll.
The company also offers a lifetime warranty so how could I go wrong? Well first off I didn’t read the warranty for starters. It turns out the lifetime is two replacement units, and that is only if they deem it to be normal failure. Second big mistake was not reading their reviews online, the little thing on their website said read our 400+ great reviews on google. Well they might have four hundred good ones but there a lot of bad ones as well and you can include mine in that list.
I have had them ship me thus far two computers and neither one work properly, the first one let my wife stranded with me out of town. The towing bill of $85.00 wasn’t half as bad as the wrath the wife and oldest boy have been giving me over this situation. The company has no clue on customer service, they have a prompt on their automated phone answering for “technical help” but come to find out they have no technical help people.
The secretary will never let you speak to the boss, Brian, you have to get put on his call list and he will call you back, in two or three days. They tell you on their phone message to use email for faster service, so far two emails that are a week or more old have not been answered.
I’ve learned my lesson on this one, no matter how big of hurry I am in or how great the website looks I am checking the reviews. I am so angry right now at myself and them I can hardly see straight. carcomputerexchange.com is not a reliable company in my opinion, so make a mental note of that if you are in need of a replacement computer for your car.
Hope you all have a great day,
@sultnpapper
Rockauto.com is where I get all my parts never had any issues I'm a mechanic with over 20 years experience so I buy a lot from them and they are generally the cheaper prices so for the bad luck you had try this site you won't be disappointed...
I have actually used them and agree they are good, Rockauto.com . I thought that it would be best on this item to go with a company that specializes in auto computers. My problem is that the vehicle security system isn't matching the pin numbers they are putting in or something to that effect. Not sure exactly, but it is very frustrating, plug and pay is more like it instead of play.
These days it seems to be buyer beware when purchasing things online. I used to have really good luck but for the last couple of years, it has been nothing but problems...
I don't usually by stuff online so this is really the first issue I have had like this, normally if I buy on line I have already looked and touched the item in a store and then decided to purchase online.
Automobiles are getting so complicated these days, it is crazy. My car is a 1990s-era model, so it has a simpler computer that makes the 'Check Engine' light come on when something goes awry, but nothing complex like the newer vehicles have. The fancier the car, the more there is to break on it. Love mine!
You are exactly right , they get more and more complex and they are becoming where only the authorized dealers can get or afford the specialized equipment needed to fix them. So we have slowly allowed them to get us into a the trap. Most computers are obsolete in a matter of a few years that we use and we get new ones, car computers last a little longer but who is to say that cars and trucks that have the built in communication couldn't be purposely send a code to trigger a "breakdown" if the manufacturer wanted too drum up repair work for their dealerships on vehicles that are out of warranty?
Oh, my! I had not considered codes being sent to trigger a "breakdown"
It is not outside the realm of possibility, and what the could claim is that some other group hacked their system and caused it. But this could happen with any device that reports problems with computers a few that come to mind are refrigerators, televisions, washers and dryers. The machines who let the manufacturer schedule some maintenance for those appliances.
Yes, I heard several years ago that the technology exists now for lenders to shut-down a vehicle if the person leasing/buying it is behind on payments. Fortunately, it won't happen if the car is in motion, but once it stops, it can't be restarted. That is freaky. So, yes, triggering a fake "breakdown" would certainly be possible, too!
Yes. as soon as the "navigation systems" became available the technology was there, a complete way to disable and locate for retrieving.
Ouch, that hurts. Sorry about that. You are really busy trying to get that thing together. Thank's for giving me the heads up on the "remanufactured car computer" which is not really a deal and not really "plug and play."
All the computers you get now a days from even the dealers for older models are refurbished. The difference is the dealers have all the information they need to make sure that everything goes smooth, but they charge an arm and a leg for the work and parts.