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[Brian_B]

I just commented on half splitting the problem from the start, instead of assuming anything.

Well.. they aren’t really half splitting anything though - there’s no connection there between the BCM and the radio components to half split.

What they are doing is just assuming it’s something the customer did, so they jump straight to aftermarket changes, no matter what they are.

Now, that may well be a valid stereotype for a dealer mechanic to hold. But you should at least make the excuse something plausible…

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[bbprthead]

I mean if they can’t prove it was caused by the aftermarket audio, then it should still be a warrantable repair in my opinion (as long as the BCM is still covered for your Bronco depending on year/mileage)

that wouldn’t be an issue. It’s only 4-mos old and not even 2,000miles yet.

 

[adam1991]

Well.. they aren’t really half splitting anything though - there’s no connection there between the BCM and the radio components to half split.

What they are doing is just assuming it’s something the customer did, so they jump straight to aftermarket changes, no matter what they are.

Now, that may well be a valid stereotype for a dealer mechanic to hold. But you should at least make the excuse something plausible…

what they would be half splitting is, aftermarket stuff vs oem configuration.

It's on them if they end up wasting their time because they don't understand theory of operation. But it wouldn't surprise me if a dealership starts there. Dealers deal in oem configurations.

 

[bbprthead]

All that audio stuff is on a completely different module from the BCM. I mean, they may as well be blaming it on aftermarket fog lights or plugging a phone into a power point…

I mean, if the dealer can point to where the subwoofer connects to the BCM - maybe… but I’m pretty sure the only common points there are going to be a 12V battery and a ground unless you did some kind of very unusual installation…

no nothing unusual. It was installed at a professional place that has done other audio work for me on 3-other cars and never had an issue. I’m sure they’ll try to blame the installer assuming this swap works. But I have no idea how they could prove it wasn’t just a faulty BCM or wasn’t just a software issue. At which point we’ll be at a standstill.

 

[brkdncr]

I had an amp with a decent power cable cause occasional nonsense in an old sports car. It was causing it to fail smog. Had to reroute the cabling. The smog repair guy (state certified, much smarter than your normal mechanic), said he sees it happen often.

Inductive current is real.

 

[adam1991]

no nothing unusual. It was installed at a professional place that has done other audio work for me on 3-other cars and never had an issue. I’m sure they’ll try to blame the installer assuming this swap works. But I have no idea how they could prove it wasn’t just a faulty BCM or wasn’t just a software issue. At which point we’ll be at a standstill.

exactly right.

This is on the cusp of being a pay-to-play moment with respect to the aftermarket stuff.

A good dealer would manage this well for the customer. Cross your fingers.

 

[bbprthead]

Well for those following along in this fiasco; today the dealership put a new BCM on and Bronco started right up. Then they sent me a pic that audio installer grounded the sub and amp to the same screw the RTM was grounded too. They are now waiting to hear back from Ford on what to do next.

Does it matter if multiple items are grounded to the same place electronically??

They didn’t replace the RTM just the BCM, so how could the issue be related to audio when none of that goes to the BCM; especially if they didn’t replace the RTM???

I’m just praying this is covered under warranty and I can get my Bronco and sound system back intact and working again!!

 

[Brian_B]

Well for those following along in this fiasco; today the dealership put a new BCM on and Bronco started right up. Then they sent me a pic that audio installer grounded the sub and amp to the same screw the RTM was grounded too. They are now waiting to hear back from Ford on what to do next.

Does it matter if multiple items are grounded to the same place electronically??

They didn’t replace the RTM just the BCM, so how could the issue be related to audio when none of that goes to the BCM; especially if they didn’t replace the RTM???

I’m just praying this is covered under warranty and I can get my Bronco and sound system back intact and working again!!

Well… I would say they didn’t have to fix the RTM, and it wasn’t grounded with the BCM, so …

There are a lot of opinions on grounding spots. So long as it’s a ~good~ ground (not high resistance or too many things stacked so that it mechanically impedes connectors or starts to over amp connectors) - my opinion is No, it shouldn’t matter too much. Technically - most advise is one ground per location, 2 may be acceptable depending on the connector type and amps, 3+ is getting into redneck engineering territory.

Now, if they removed your audio ground and the BCM magically started working again, or it blows out a second BCM and pulling the audio saves the third - maybe the dealership does have a leg to stand on - as has been pointed out - RF / induction can occur, but most auto stuff is pretty well shielded for it as they are pretty noisy environments. So I really wouldn’t suspect it, but admit it’s a remote possibility

I would push them to warranty this repair, and if the audio is a problem it will blow this BCM too, after which you would happy pay to have it repaired a 2nd time and have the audio adjusted per their recommendation (although I do realize just because it may break a second time doesn’t automatically mean it was the Audio’s fault … just a negotiation tactic)

 

[bbprthead]

Well… I would say they didn’t have to fix the RTM, and it wasn’t grounded with the BCM, so …

There are a lot of opinions on grounding spots. So long as it’s a ~good~ ground (not high resistance or too many things stacked so that it mechanically impedes connectors or starts to over amp connectors) - my opinion is No, it shouldn’t matter too much. Technically - most advise is one ground per location, 2 may be acceptable depending on the connector type and amps, 3+ is getting into redneck engineering territory.

Now, if they removed your audio ground and the BCM magically started working again, or it blows out a second BCM and pulling the audio saves the third - maybe the dealership does have a leg to stand on - as has been pointed out - RF / induction can occur, but most auto stuff is pretty well shielded for it as they are pretty noisy environments. So I really wouldn’t suspect it, but admit it’s a remote possibility

I would push them to warranty this repair, and if the audio is a problem it will blow this BCM too, after which you would happy pay to have it repaired a 2nd time and have the audio adjusted per their recommendation (although I do realize just because it may break a second time doesn’t automatically mean it was the Audio’s fault … just a negotiation tactic)

Yea I agree on all. BUT I’m really hopeful there won’t be a second time and damn sure not a third!!! And that is gonna be my point to them. If those were grounded to the RTM and you didn’t replace that at all how could it be related as nothing goes to the BCM??

 

[Ducati1098]

Then they sent me a pic that audio installer grounded the sub and amp to the same screw the RTM was grounded too.

The RTM ground is on the complete opposite side (drivers side) of the vehicle… why would they use that ground for the sub/amp when that stuff is on the passenger side

Edit: I guess I don’t really know where your sub/amp are even located or what setup you have. So maybe that does make sense? I was just assuming it was near the factory location.

 

[bbprthead]

The RTM ground is on the complete opposite side (drivers side) of the vehicle… why would they use that ground for the sub/amp when that stuff is on the passenger side

Edit: I guess I don’t really know where your sub/amp are even located or what setup you have. So maybe that does make sense? I was just assuming it was near the factory location.

I had the B&O and they swapped the sub out for a JL and installed a DSP amp both on passenger side. I have no idea why they were on the drivers side unless the OEM amp was ground over there as well??

but even still would having those grounds in the same place as RTM be an issue?

However no clue why they would’ve ran the ground on that side, so maybe they are to blame and they should be paying???

 

[Ducati1098]

However no clue why they would’ve ran the ground on that side, so maybe they are to blame and they should be paying???

Or maybe the sound system stuff isn’t even actually grounded to the same place as the RTM and the dealership is just trying to claim it is?

Doesn’t make any sense to me that they would be sharing a ground if the sound system stuff is in the stock location and the RTM ground is across the vehicle

 

[Ducati1098]

Ask them to show you where it’s sharing the same ground as the RTM.
Here is the RTM ground location:

 

[Brian_B]

Boy if they pulled all that back replacing a BCM…

*edit* I say that but there is an antenna back there they would have checked so… I guess they get a pass

 

[DarthLincoln]

Or maybe the sound system stuff isn’t even actually grounded to the same place as the RTM and the dealership is just trying to claim it is?

I was thinking something similar - maybe it’s a red herring to blame the customer.

Is there an incentive for the dealer to find the customer at fault in a case like this? E.g. is it common to charge the customer more for a repair than the dealer would get paid by Ford if the repair was covered under warranty?

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