Wiring a new winch

[BDinTX]

Did they charge you for the diagnostic also? I could see that being included if the problem wasn't a warrantied item.

Hate to be the odd man out but I was expecting their price on new power cables to be around $200. Add on the diagnostic fee and their labor prices and it probably shouldn't be unexpected it went as high as it did.

Honestly, I think the fact that they verified winch function after they installed cables reflects well on them. Think how much they charge to do the really easy stuff like an oil change or cabin filter swap.

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[JustDave]

Looks like they spent a bit of time redoing the wiring, the connectors, and re-routing the wires. Still, if they spent 6.5 hours, that’d be a bit much.

If you get to speak to the Service Manager, I’d stay away from discussing the amount of time it took them; you’d never win that argument. I’d focus on the fact that they are charging you for the rewiring as much as the price of a new winch!

I know. If they spent an hour putting on connectors, which is too long, that still leaves a lot time to install & route wires.

 

[JustDave]

Did they charge you for the diagnostic also? I could see that being included if the problem wasn't a warrantied item.

Hate to be the odd man out but I was expecting their price on new power cables to be around $200. Add on the diagnostic fee and their labor prices and it probably shouldn't be unexpected it went as high as it did.

Honestly, I think the fact that they verified winch function after they installed cables reflects well on them. Think how much they charge to do the really easy stuff like an oil change or cabin filter swap.

They actually have spools of wire for some reason, so that's why the cost of those was "cheap". The funny thing is they had to replace the " motor generator unit" & hydraulic belt tensioner, so while they were doing that, they stumbled across the winch wires. That was probably the diagnostic part.

 

[JustDave]

Diagnostics = $
Diagnostics on an unknown intermittent electrical problem = $$$$!!
Diagnostics on an unknown intermittent electrical problem at a dealership = $$$$$$$!!!!
Short answer; no you didn't get screwed.
Long answer; you kinda screwed yourself by ........... but that's a common problem with us humans.

A few months ago the Jeep was in for an electrical problem that they traced to some computer module shorting out. In the meantime they had every electrical thing removed from the engine compartment. If I routed the cables incorrectly, they surely should have noticed it at that point. Is there any way to prove they didn't install the cables back where I had them? Not really, but it sure seemed like a hell of a coincidence that 2 months the cables were rubbing even though the winch was installed 10,000 miles ago.

 

[JustDave]

True. But sounds like they gave those new wires a gorgeous new route through the engine bay... ?

Sounds like a gorgeous new route ( i love the phrasing there), but they pretty much put them back where I had them except used more zip ties. Maybe that's why it cost so much, used extra zip ties.

 

[GtX]

Here's what they did

That shows $96.52.

Add in the diagnostic for the dimming lights, failure to remote start, flickering lights, and shutting off. The tech was probably thinking the batteries.

Labor to diagnose and labor to fix.

Doesn't seem terrible to me.

 

[JustDave]

That shows $96.52.

Add in the diagnostic for the dimming lights, failure to remote start, flickering lights, and shutting off. The tech was probably thinking the batteries.

Labor to diagnose and labor to fix.

Doesn't seem terrible to me.

That shows $96.52.

Add in the diagnostic for the dimming lights, failure to remote start, flickering lights, and shutting off. The tech was probably thinking the batteries.

Labor to diagnose and labor to fix.

Doesn't seem terrible to me.

I mentioned batteries when I dropped it off & for some reason he said, No way is it the batteries. Not sure where you see $96.52. The diagnostic was done for a warranty issue. He said while they had it apart for that, they notice the winch wire issue.

 

[BDinTX]

The moral of this story is don’t have health issues. I hope you learned your lesson @JustDave ?

Hope you get to feeling better and back to enjoying your Jeep!

 

[GtX]

I mentioned batteries when I dropped it off & for some reason he said, No way is it the batteries. Not sure where you see $96.52. The diagnostic was done for a warranty issue. He said while they had it apart for that, they notice the winch wire issue.

It's on the image you posted.
(4 x 3.13) + (1 x 42) + (1 x 42) = 96.52

 

[dragoneggs]

I installed my winch. the routing of the wires from the winch to the battery using a fish tool and a handful of zip ties took about an hour.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07G9FNTLB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[JustDave]

It's on the image you posted.
(4 x 3.13) + (1 x 42) + (1 x 42) = 96.52

Yes, that was for the parts. Add that to the 793.50 above that & it comes out to$890.02. Add $53.40 for tax & it comes out to $943.42

 

[JustDave]

The moral of this story is don’t have health issues. I hope you learned your lesson @JustDave ?

Hope you get to feeling better and back to enjoying your Jeep!

Not sure how to answer the first part, cuz there'll be no getting back to the Jeep.

 

[Flatties 4ever]

A few months ago the Jeep was in for an electrical problem that they traced to some computer module shorting out. In the meantime they had every electrical thing removed from the engine compartment. If I routed the cables incorrectly, they surely should have noticed it at that point. Is there any way to prove they didn't install the cables back where I had them? Not really, but it sure seemed like a hell of a coincidence that 2 months the cables were rubbing even though the winch was installed 10,000 miles ago.

Unfortunately for you, there is a lot of "Ifs" If you installed correctly, If they moved the wires after you installed correctly, If anyone noticed. My main point is "intermittent" problems take the longest to diagnose unless easily reproduced and you're paying by the hour. The reality is you're either paying with your own time or paying for their time.
I can tell you one thing for sure: If some one other than myself has been under my hood, I'm going to give it a once over asap. Yeah, $800 is a steep price to pay, but education isn't cheap. We all live and learn, well.... I'd like to think so. Sorry that happened to you, but sheet does happen even to the best.

 

[JustDave]

Unfortunately for you, there is a lot of "Ifs" If you installed correctly, If they moved the wires after you installed correctly, If anyone noticed. My main point is "intermittent" problems take the longest to diagnose unless easily reproduced and you're paying by the hour. The reality is you're either paying with your own time or paying for their time.
I can tell you one thing for sure: If some one other than myself has been under my hood, I'm going to give it a once over asap. Yeah, $800 is a steep price to pay, but education isn't cheap. We all live and learn, well.... I'd like to think so. Sorry that happened to you, but sheet does happen even to the best.

Definitely lesson learned. This whole thing just caught me at the wrong time.

 

[DrPerez007]

At first blush from the cheap seats in the spectator gallery, the charges do appear a bit excessive and without further inquiry it is somewhat difficult to ascertain their validity. However, regardless as to the propriety of these charges, you should immediately take the Jeep back to the dealer and ask them where the WARN Power Interrupt Kit is installed and ask how it is switched. No reputable service shop should install a winch (or any other power driven device) without considering a power disconnect mechanism, particularly given that it appears they are making the repairs only because they discovered a frayed wire, strongly suggesting it could happen again. By wiring the winch directly to the battery, they have provided no way to automatically or otherwise kill the power in case the positive lead shorts against a ground in the future, perhaps inadvertently or from your involvement in a crash. Can we say fire?

The Power Interrupt Kit provides a system that routes the positive lead from the battery to a solenoid (and then from there a “positive“ cable runs to the winch) which is then controlled by a switch (wherever you choose to mount it; mine is on a dash-mounted switch panel) preventing power from being present at the winch except when switched on for actual use. At all other times, there is no power present at the winch. Sorry folks, but no one should ever consider mounting anything involving power that is not fused or otherwise protected against a short. This kit does that. Failure to do this in your driveway is called whatever you want to call it; failure to do this at the dealership is called negligence.

For what they charged you, and for safety’s sake, I would strongly suggest a return to the dealership.

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