Car fault type of issue - fitment of 3rd party parts...

[jakesmith]

I bought an expensive aftermarket exhaust system for my car direct from the exhaust manufacturer. My garage installed it as per the diagram that came with it, which shows it connected directly to the car battery (the garage also fused it). It turns out that wiring it like this drains the car battery. I asked the guy at the exhaust manufacturer recently and he said on an email that the power should be taken from a switched feed but this is contrary to the instructions that came with it

Subsequent to that one of the exhaust valves has also seized up and stopped functioning leaving the car only able to go into loud or very loud mode (not quiet).
It has been on my car for 4 months from brand new and the garage has had to strip the valve down and lubricate it and rebuild it. The exhaust manufacturer said this was likely to being subject to some road grit & corroding. My garage disagrees

I am really disappointed that these issues have come about as a result of the wiring diagram being wrong and the exhaust valve seizing. I am glad they have been sorted (hopefully) but wonder what opinions are on whether I am within my right to ask the exhaust manufacturer to contribute to the work or whether I have any recourse if they likely refuse. So far they have had a pleasant attitude & helpful but absolutely don't see any of these issues as down to them. In the mean time I have suffered 5 flat batteries, replaced the battery unnecessarily, bought a jump starter, trickle charger, battery monitor, to make sure I don't get stuck, taken the car in twice to the garage, which between the 2 visits has cost me around £600-£900 (haven't got the 2nd bill yet as it is in now) due to the large amount of diagnostic time to trace the fault and fix it.

Garage is not confident in the exhaust valves continuing integrity and they can't apparently be lubed due to the very high temperatures of the exhaust system

What are opinions on this please? The whole exercise has been a massive expense and used up a lot of my time & (wife's) patience.

[paintman]

Whist I can go along with the battery replacements being the result of incorrect instructions from the system manufacturer I'm not as sure on the sticking part although for something that if I read your post correctly has a number of selectable positions I'm surprised it didn't have a switch - if only on/off - in the first place.

Presumably the moving parts are going to be subject to the engine's emissions and/or water & debris from the road surface, in which case corrosion and/or dirt build up are likely consequences.
Does make me wonder about just how good this setup is.

Edited by paintman on Thursday 14th March 16:02

[lyonspride]

Assuming the part in question has a 12v solenoid valve, keeping it turned off when the engine is off would prevent it draining the battery, so in that sense there's nothing wrong with what the manufacturer has instructed.

That said, technically speaking it'd be a stupid way to do it, as it's really hard to add wiring directly to a battery terminal AND have it fused appropriately, because there will always be a length of underrated/unprotected wire between the battery and any inline fuse.

[M_A_S]

The same garage that wired something direct to the battery charged you £600 to find out why your battery subsequently kept going flat? Nice work if you can get it.

[BertBert]

jakesmith said:

I bought an expensive aftermarket exhaust system for my car direct from the exhaust manufacturer. My garage installed it as per the diagram that came with it, which shows it connected directly to the car battery (the garage also fused it). It turns out that wiring it like this drains the car battery. I asked the guy at the exhaust manufacturer recently and he said on an email that the power should be taken from a switched feed but this is contrary to the instructions that came with it

I know the instructions were wrong, but didn't the garage think... this 12V solenoid is activated to keep the exhaust quiet, I wonder how much current it takes? And what stops it from draining the battery? Anyway... I doubt you'll successfully get any money out of the exhaust people for the connection thing.

If the exhaust isn't performing as it should, perhas there is more hope there as a warranty issue?

Bert

[Centurion07]

Surely a failure at 4 months would fall into the "not of reasonable quality" as mentioned in the CRA, also possibly the "not fit for purpose" bit as well...?