Should Car Electronics Be Installed Only by Professionals?

As other writers on this topic have mentioned, cars are becoming increasingly difficult to work on and perform even the simplest of tasks. I, for one, am a huge proponent of do-it-yourself (DIY) work. However, as vehicles are becoming more technologically advanced (especially when you are talking about hybrids and electric vehicles), a simple mistake can have an adverse affect on the entire electrical system. For example, a mistake in wiring can cause the vehicle to not be able to start because a recently installed component was not grounded properly. On the other end of the spectrum, you can damage critical components of the vehicle, such as the computer when connections are required to be made to those parts. To further that example, in soldering connections, if not performed clean enough, you can bridge two adjacent connections and short them out, or if the soldering iron was left on the circuit for too long, it can damage it from heat. All of these examples can all stem from a lack of knowledge and training that is required of professional installers when dealing with electrical components.

To better clarify my stance on this topic, I would highly recommend for professional installers to work on cars that are manufactured from the approximately the year two-thousand forward. Cars from the nineties and older, are less complicated from a computer standpoint, and have a greater threshold for mistakes. Nonetheless, do not attempt complicated installs unless you are comfortable and familiar with what is involved.

Finally, please think about the install before you attempt to do it yourself. If you have a newer vehicle that is still covered by a warranty, you can possibly void it by performing the work involved with your install. Federal warranty laws will only protect you if the car manufacturer cannot prove that the issue you are having with your vehicle is not directly connected to the recently installed aftermarket component. Secondly, you will have greater protection if the work was performed by a qualified professional. Therefore, I suggest retaining all invoices and receipts for your records in the event that you have an issue with your dealer. Chances are, if you performed the work by yourself and caused the issue, they will most likely deny your warranty claim, and in some extreme circumstances, attempt to void it all together. For more information, I would suggest that you check out the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) website.

Source: article that I previously written and published on Helium.