Tracking System

MyHarley · Nov 13, 2003

I have a GPS2000 tracking system installed on my car. As some of you are aware, my battery left me stranded and the car is currently at the dealership for other problems as well as the battery. The dealership has called and stated that their tests reveal no problems with the battery drawing from any source other than the tracking system. In plain English, I have to pay for the new battery, $265.00.....the car is 4 months old and the battery is trashed.

The GPS 2000 tracking system company, Omega, says this is b.s. There is no more draw than a car alarm or radar detector. They said if the car sat for maybe 4-6 weeks, it could possibly cause a problem. My car is driven every day, all day. I have 8900 miles in four months with 6 of those weeks being at the dealership. They also state they have no complaints of this type. The place that installed my system also does all the work for another BMW dealership in town, so they are reputable.

Has anyone else had this problem??

Another question..........how does a charge and discharge trash a battery........if it drains the battery over a period of time and you recharge the battery, what gives??

[?|]

MyHarley · Nov 13, 2003

OMG have I stumped you guys on the battery............or you just don't care??? [bigcry]

Tom · Nov 13, 2003

Lisha, its really hard to say. Do you have an alarm system?

How about temporarily disconnecting the GPS system to see if the battery problem goes away.

MyHarley · Nov 13, 2003

Thanks Tom..........I don't have an alarm system, just the tracking system.

Since I have a new $265.00 BMW battery installed, I don't think it will help to disconnect since it took the GPS system 4 months to trash the original battery........I guess I just wanted to understand on how BMW says the battery will not be covered under warranty. I realize the GPS system has a constant draw on the battery when the car is not on, but it is no more than an alarm or radar and how did it drawing on the battery cause it to be trashed........if it drained it, ok, recharge, and we're back to good as new........but for the battery to be trashed is where I'm confused.......and what does the computer have to do with the battery draw..

after reading this.........I'm [rofl]

jeez

Tom · Nov 13, 2003

If you didn't install the aftermarket GPS, they probably would have replaced it. If its a bad battery, it won't take a charge no matter how much you charge it. So it's really hard to pinpoint the exact problem. Even though you don't drive your car, you should start it once in a while to keep everything circulated. Hopefully this new battery will cure the problem.

MyHarley · Nov 13, 2003

Tom said:

Confusing me..........lol........

I drive the car several hundred miles a day, every day...........

jrt67ss350 · Nov 13, 2003

Why in the world did the battery cost $265???

MyHarley · Nov 13, 2003

because that is the price that the dealership charged me.... [paranoid]

Tom · Nov 13, 2003

MyHarley said:

Sorry I missed read that portion, thought you let your car sit for 4-6 weeks. [:D]

xLibelle · Nov 13, 2003

I am shocked youd pay that to the dealer anyhow!! Just go to pepboys or some shit.
Plus, it could have been that the pattery had a bad cell. that can bring the whole thing down in a few months time. and why in the F*** isnt the battery covered under warranty?!?!??!?!?!

MyHarley · Nov 13, 2003

xLibelle said:

"bend over" is what I think they said..............Wil......

Kirby · Nov 13, 2003

I looked at their web site. Based on what I saw (no techie specs) it sure looks like the their unit would not be drawing a lot of power from your battery, and their statement that it would take weeks to drain down your battery sounds reasonable.

The only exception to that would be if their unit was not functioning properly, and it was drawing a lot more power than it should.

Also, car batteries LIKE to be exercised. They will actually last longer if they are charged and drained on a regular basis. Based on the fact that you drive alot, I think it is unlikely that the GPS killed your battery.

But BMW is known to have a bug in the late 2003/early 2004 climate control module that will kill a battery in 2 - 3 days. Did they mention that??

MyHarley · Nov 13, 2003

when I first called my SA about the battery problem, he said, yeah BMW has had some bad batteries.........I bring it in and they discover that it has a GPS system, the blame falls to the GPS system, not BMW..........my production date is 02-03...........the installer of the GPS system is checking out their system as soon as I pick my car up on Friday............so who knows..........say happy birthday to me........my present to myself this year is a $265.00 battery........sure doesnt say love like Tiffany's........ [:(]

xLibelle · Nov 13, 2003

aww, im sorry. it pisses me right off to hear about all the people that get f*cked over by some dealer or repair shop!
WHAT is up with this?!?!?!?!

Abdoman · Nov 13, 2003

MyHarley - BMW has a two year warranty on their batteries - My dealership just replaced mine at no charge. It was a little over a year old.

MyHarley · Nov 13, 2003

[target] = Lisha

Thanks Wil.........sniff sniff

MyHarley · Nov 13, 2003

Abdoman said:

True, but since I added an aftermarket GPS tracking system, they will not warranty the battery.

MyHarley · Nov 14, 2003

IT IS SO BADDDDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!

For the latest.........dealership called and said, Lisha you better sit down......it seems after looking into the battery situation, they took the dash apart and brought down the wire harness. The company that installed the tracking system obviously did not know what they were doing. They found wires that had been spliced and not used, exposed wires, wires that they hooked into that shouldnt of been and so on.........bottom line.......the car needs a new wire harness due to the bad wiring job. Now it makes sense on why the car is so quirky. Sometimes it would not unlock and while I'm waiting it would unlock......the top stops mid-stream...windows dont go all the way up, just stop...........The dealership states they will not work on somebody's elses work and be held liable for fixing the wiring, so they want a new wire harness to continue the warranty. The tracking system was pulling anywhere from 65 to 115 mamp instead of the 13 that it should be pulling (hence the battery and computer problems from wires being used for multiple purposes.

I went to the installer and brought the paperwork from the dealership that stated what had been done to my car during the installation and the problems it has brought to the car. The owner said he will meet me at the BMW dealership on Monday with his installer, so that he can see what everyone is talking about.

Tracking System Plus Installation $700.00
Tracking System Set Up $200.00
Todays Bill (4 1/2 Hours) $465.00
New Wire Harness $2000.00

There is no "Priceless" at the end of the tunnel......................

mrferg · Nov 14, 2003

Ouch that really sucks, glad you know what the problem is, but I'm sorry for that pricetag! [:(]

Abdoman · Nov 16, 2003

Wow - Sorry to hear that! That's why I am such a freak when it comes to someone working on my car. I either do it myself or pay the dealer. A while back, I had tires put on my car - the tire company jacked my car up using the gas tank. They paid $2K for a new gas tank. Hopefully yours will have the same outcome - they will pay fix your car.

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