Dealer installed alarm hardware found!

[KTM Hauler]

I'd expect them to simply unplug the spade lugs and remove their stuff, leaving behind the t-taps. At this point they're likely helping to maintain some integrity to the original harness wiring. I also wouldn't think they'd use high quality butt connectors if they do remove the t-tap. What are your expectations at this point?

So this morning I called the SWDS, South West Dealer Services. I was able to get a technician to call me back. This is the company that installed the alarm. He said the normal procedure to remove the alarm was to remove the t-taps or unplug them, leaving the t-tap and some integrity of the original wire. I asked him how many and which wires were cut and he said 2...1 of which is the ignition/starter wire. He said the standard procedure for these wires is to use butt connectors. THIS is what I did not want to hear. I'm still waiting on a call back from Ford. If this has any affect on the warranty, as I assume it will, I will not settle on simply removing the t-taps and having those 2 wires connected with butt connectors. If I cut into the the original wiring while installing an alarm myself, this would certainly void any warranty related to any issue down the road involving this harness. I can't see how the dealer/3rd party installing it would be any different. Cutting wire is cutting wire.

My expectations? A complete, unadulterated wiring system in the state it was when it left the factory.

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[Fawnbuster]

So this morning I'm vacuuming the truck and noticed an "item" that did not look right. I knew right away what it was, but I was in shock that I missed it. I turned down the up-sell alarm when buying the truck and it did not even cross my mind that the hardware was already installed.

I can live with the fact that there are 2 little screw holes drilled in the panel. They are in a location that is for a lack of better words, irrelevant. That being said, I am annoyed that the factory wiring was modified and it was not disclosed at the time of purchase. It was not on the window sticker. It was never mentioned at all.

I will be contacting the dealer tomorrow and telling them it will be returned to factory condition, wiring and panel, or I will be pursuing the matter further.

Anyone else find out after the fact that their truck was modified with alarm hardware?

Would it be quicker and more cost effective to have them finish the install free of charge? Labor isn't cheap, most of it might be already in place. Just a thought

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Would it be quicker and more cost effective to have them finish the install free of charge? Labor isn't cheap, most of it might be already in place. Just a thought

Hi Mike,

For the one the local dealer installs, it is alleged to have a feature that is undesirable. They can send out a signal to disable the vehicle. So if you use their financing and miss a payment...the vehicle may become inoperative...Not a something I wanted to ever happen to me, so I removed the rats nest of wiring and made wire repairs...

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[Fawnbuster]

Hi Mike,

For the one the local dealer installs, it is alleged to have a feature that is undesirable. They can send out a signal to disable the vehicle. So if you use their financing and miss a payment...the vehicle may become inoperative...Not a something I wanted to ever happen to me, so I removed the rats nest of wiring and made wire repairs...

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

Fair enough.

 

[John Lyman]

Love how the dealers add crap to the sticker - I never saw the second sticker until I got home. I always negotiated an OTD deals on cars I buy. I have ended up with some nice add ons and some pretty funny things like lifetime nitro fill for my truck tires (maybe that is why they filled them to 50 PSI. The only thing I would ever did pay for was the window tinting in GA but still felt really good about my deal.

 

[Mokume]

Love how the dealers add crap to the sticker - I never saw the second sticker until I got home. I always negotiated an OTD deals on cars I buy. I have ended up with some nice add ons and some pretty funny things like lifetime nitro fill for my truck tires (maybe that is why they filled them to 50 PSI. The only thing I would ever did pay for was the window tinting in GA but still felt really good about my deal.

I call those second stickers "Phony Monroeny's", they are formatted and printed to look identical to the factory sticker. I instructed the dealer when I placed my order on my 2020 Lariat that if they had the gall to attach such a label to my truck that the deal was off, no if's and/or but's.
Such labels list additional dealer charges and any equipment/options added to the vehicle at the local level.
Working at a dealer for almost 14 years gave me insight to such nonsense.

 

[Viator092]

Pretty ballsy to slap on a wire intensive rat trap. Obviously they've figured out its profitable and can accept the loss on those that pass on the alarm.

 

[Mokume]

Ford's customer service is farmed out to some call center in the Philippines, call yourself and you'll see.
Better brush up on your Tagalog or Ilocano first though...aisus!

 

[Mokume]

So this morning I called the SWDS, South West Dealer Services. I was able to get a technician to call me back. This is the company that installed the alarm. He said the normal procedure to remove the alarm was to remove the t-taps or unplug them, leaving the t-tap and some integrity of the original wire. I asked him how many and which wires were cut and he said 2...1 of which is the ignition/starter wire. He said the standard procedure for these wires is to use butt connectors. THIS is what I did not want to hear. I'm still waiting on a call back from Ford. If this has any affect on the warranty, as I assume it will, I will not settle on simply removing the t-taps and having those 2 wires connected with butt connectors. If I cut into the the original wiring while installing an alarm myself, this would certainly void any warranty related to any issue down the road involving this harness. I can't see how the dealer/3rd party installing it would be any different. Cutting wire is cutting wire.

My expectations? A complete, unadulterated wiring system in the state it was when it left the factory.

I'm with you 100% bud, I'd be pissed as hell if someone else were to butcher the wiring on my new truck.
Stick to your guns and keep us posted...

 

[Chappy]

So this morning I'm vacuuming the truck and noticed an "item" that did not look right. I knew right away what it was, but I was in shock that I missed it. I turned down the up-sell alarm when buying the truck and it did not even cross my mind that the hardware was already installed.

I can live with the fact that there are 2 little screw holes drilled in the panel. They are in a location that is for a lack of better words, irrelevant. That being said, I am annoyed that the factory wiring was modified and it was not disclosed at the time of purchase. It was not on the window sticker. It was never mentioned at all.

I will be contacting the dealer tomorrow and telling them it will be returned to factory condition, wiring and panel, or I will be pursuing the matter further.

Anyone else find out after the fact that their truck was modified with alarm hardware?

So what was the outcome?

 

[Chappy]

@KTM Hauler - We're looking forward to hearing what the dealer did to correct the issue.

 

[geophb]

Id be pissed.
I didn't buy a new truck to find the wiring chopped up into the high heavens. If I wanted used redneck hack trash then I would buy off craigslist.

 

[RAYJAY]

These butt connectors are same as approved by FAA for repair of Airliners. They are not autostore parts. I have a special crimping tool that goes with them. I get them at Terminal Supply. The outer sleave is shrink tubing with a hot melt glue that glues to the wire sheath making a robust connection.

Solder on the other hand is a big no no on automotive wiring. The solder is solid and where this solid solder stops creates a stress concentration in the wire and can and does lead to internal failure of the copper. Shrink tubing that does not bond to the wiring sheath does help a bit but why take the risk... When I started managing offroad racing The Ford racetrucks failure rate was about 75% and most electrical. We instituted a requirement to switch to the type of butt connectors sold by ReyChem or Terminal supply...It is now very uncommon for the race teams to have electrical failures due to wiring.

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

CAN YOU SUPPLY A LINK FOR THE CRIMP CONNECTORS?

 

[P. A. Schilke]

CAN YOU SUPPLY A LINK FOR THE CRIMP CONNECTORS?

Hi Jeff,

http://terminalsupplyco.com/

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[1911tex]

The Ford dealer I bought from shorted my inspection sticker to one year from the standard 2 year new vehicle sticker. I contacted the salesperson who was caught by surprise...thinking all new vehicles had 2 year stickers. Long story short, with mild persuasion, the dealer managment provided me a letter stating that the dealer will fully pay for the one year inspection plus the state annual sticker free when it comes due. Seems the finance guy makes extra bonus signing for a one year sticker. Yes, pisses me off!

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