Ignition Interlock breathalyzer systems. Safe? Problems?

[rpepper]

Hey I was just wondering if anyone has had to put a breathalyzer system in their car? I got a DUI and need to put one of these in if I want to drive. I got a stage 3 s4 and I'm scared to have anybody mess with it. I have read some horror stories online of these things causing codes and weird malfunctions but nothing real specific. I would put it on my older Yota truck but its got a cometely custom wiring harness with a dif motor so I'm sure it would give it problems. I'm thinking of just trying to save up and buy a beater for it but moneys real tight right now. Anyway if anyone has any insight with these things it would be much appreciative.

[Gaki]

put it in the yota and call it a day. Electrical gremlins with that thing would be far less severe than what the s4 can cook up for you.

[getslideways]

put it in the yota and call it a day. Electrical gremlins with that thing would be far less severe than what the s4 can cook up for you.

+1

[ianwpb]

I don't really see what the big deal would be.. Power, ground and signal to the starter relay..

[drdimick]

A girl that my wife works with has one and I was checking it out, I think it's a little more involved than that.

[ianwpb]

A girl that my wife works with has one and I was checking it out, I think it's a little more involved than that.

Hmm, I guess it very well could be if they really wanted to make it super complicated.

[drdimick]

Hmm, I guess it very well could be if they really wanted to make it super complicated.

Which they do.

[rpepper]

Yeah I think Yota it is! If they will even do it on it. I can only bring it to an authorized place by the DMV and I guess there's no standard for em or diagrams from car to car the shop would just look at wiring diagrams for the model. The yotas a 94 with a 99 tacoma motor so hopefully they can figure it out. Atleast if something happens that things already been beat and wheeled to living hell lol. Prolly not smart to let em touch my baby guess she's gonna havta be parked for a year. Thanks guys!

[ilyafil]

I know plenty of people who have them. They're fine, no problems. Just annoying.

[Dr.d]

An old roommate of mine had one of those things in his truck and it was a huge pita. Guys who installed it did a major hack job and the thing was always having problems. He had to have his truck towed to the place once or twice to have it fixed. Maybe his was just an abnormally bad job but I'd say you're on the right track keeping it out of the s4.

[rpepper]

Yeah I was reading on other forums some people had major problems ecu errors stuff getting codes need replacing and the shop not accepting any responsibility or they just worked fine. Those being stock cars with no mods so I don't think gambling my stage 3er is worth it. I live in a rural area so there's only one place an hr away that does it and they are by no means a trusted shop that I've heard of. Now if I could get it towed to the bay and 034 did it that would be another story lol. I just gotta put a tranny in the Yota as its on its last leg which are like 200 used so I would way rather do that and take my chances then risk anything on the s4.

[sherbet]

Ill drive her down to 034 for ya ;-)

[joe dub]

Im guessing they need to be installed by a licensed interlok tech dude

[jibberjive]

My brother had one in his C5 A6 4.2 without issue. It depends on the competence of your installer I think.

[Yesmar]

I'd get a beater car and install it in that

[rpepper]

Yeah they gotta be installed by a certified place through the DMV so no 034 :( I think jibberjive is right it all depends on the competence of the shop/tech that's installing it. But like any shop I'm sure they'll say "oh ya we can do it no problem" regardless if they have or can for $$$. I'm gonna give em a call after the holidays and hound em with questions but I dunno if risking it would be worth it. Ideally if I could find a breater that would be best kinda kicking myself for selling an 86 Volvo to my buddy for 500 bucks a year ago. I've been meaning to get my Yota working good again but ever since I got my s4 I've just had it parked lol. Might be worth dumping money in that instead of a beater and hope the place doesn't screw anything up. Also considering just about everyone and their grandma has 4x4 yotas in my area that shop should be really familiar with it even though its got a different gen motor and custom wiring harness. I dunno...

[Austonwerner4]

I worked on a guys S4 that had one. Very annoying. Also all the random blows you have to do.

[A62TURBO]

I worked on a guys S4 that had one. Very annoying. Also all the random blows you have to do.

[rpepper]

Thanks guys! I think its settled s4 is outta the question. Even if they were to install it right I'm always working on it and it would be a huge pita if for instance if an egt went out and I gotta replace it and somehow mess with the thing and they think I was trying to tamper with it and get a violation probation or whatever. I'll start working on the truck (which I should do anyway) and keep my eye out for any beaters floating around or just use the truck. Thanks for all the input!!

[naudlee]

These are made for idiots... and installed by idiots...

Goodluck, you will need it.

Know a local guy with one on his Escalade, and aside from routinely having his kids pass the check for him (and it works lol) it malfunctions all the time and sends in messages that he's failed.
-He's been to court several times for this, most recently when his battery died and the thing went on the fritz saying he failed a bunch of times... He gets fines and fees each time and has to pay his lawyer to clean up the mess.}

/Getshittedathomeandstayhomelol

[Ramathorn420]

ive had one on my stg 3 s4 for 6 months with zero problems and one in my allroad for 2 months zero problems... all about the people that install

[SlowRolla]

How the fuck does everyone here know someone with one of these. I didn't even know they were real lol.

[MooseWhip]

A lot more drunk drivers out there then I thought..

[zillarob]

Buddy had one, no fun.
Had to blow to start and randomly while driving when it beeped.
Had to hum while you blew (guess so it knew you didnt have it hooked up to a compressor).
Also had a camera on the a pillar staring at him all the time.
Throw install, rental, and maint fees on top of that, nightmare.
Id prob pedal my bike first.

[blmlozz]

I've had to remove something similar to this in the A6, it was acutally an ignition lock for dealers to use to prevent startup on customers that default on their loans.

basically it was just wired into the ignition and a ground. nothing fancy. The biggest problem I had with the system was the half-ass job they did while disassembling everything to install it; ie they broke a lot of shit.

[killerkali]

ive had one on my stg 3 s4 for 6 months with zero problems and one in my allroad for 2 months zero problems... all about the people that install

really...... You still allowed to drive, ? We have such a fucked up driving system here, DUI's are a slap on the wrist it almost seems, as long as no one is killed.

[rpepper]

I didn't really wanna turn this into this but...the reason I need one of these is I got a DUI when I was 19 being a stupid kid never drove while drinking for years and years. After 10 years they wipe it from your record and I got pulled over last summer 5 days before my 10year cut off so they charged me with 2nd offense hence the breathalizer to get a temp license. I'm not saying what I did was right I shouldn't have been driving and haven't had a sip of alcohol since. But I live in a very rural place no cabs no public transportation anyone who drinks will have to drink and drive its inevitable. I dont live in the city where i can just call a friend or call a cab. I was on a back country road going home from a friends with zero other cars on it ever and a park ranger happened to be patrolling pulling me over for no reason and embelshing stuff on the report but anyway I'm just saying situations happen and not all drunk drivers are evil and should never be able to drive. If I lived somewhere where I could just ride my bike I would but my dui classes are a 35 min drive away not to mention work and stuff. So I just needa bite the bullet and be able to support myself to live. Luckily a lot of friends have helped out but I can't count on em for the next 16months. Anyway I appreciate all your guys input. IMA call that shop after the holidays and see what's up. I'll keep ya posted.

[killerkali]

I didn't really wanna turn this into this but...the reason I need one of these is I got a DUI when I was 19 being a stupid kid never drove while drinking for years and years. After 10 years they wipe it from your record and I got pulled over last summer 5 days before my 10year cut off so they charged me with 2nd offense hence the breathalizer to get a temp license. I'm not saying what I did was right I shouldn't have been driving and haven't had a sip of alcohol since. But I live in a very rural place no cabs no public transportation anyone who drinks will have to drink and drive its inevitable. I dont live in the city where i can just call a friend or call a cab. I was on a back country road going home from a friends with zero other cars on it ever and a park ranger happened to be patrolling pulling me over for no reason and embelshing stuff on the report but anyway I'm just saying situations happen and not all drunk drivers are evil and should never be able to drive. If I lived somewhere where I could just ride my bike I would but my dui classes are a 35 min drive away not to mention work and stuff. So I just needa bite the bullet and be able to support myself to live. Luckily a lot of friends have helped out but I can't count on em for the next 16months. Anyway I appreciate all your guys input. IMA call that shop after the holidays and see what's up. I'll keep ya posted.

You NEVER have to drink and drive, worst statement ever. Regardless, good luck with it, and make sure they keep away from the S!!

[rpepper]

10 days in jail. Around 7k with court/lawyer fee's. 18 months of DUI and aa meetings every week. No license for 18 months as well unless you pay a bunch of money for a breathalizer in your car. Hardly a slap on the wrist. Its made me clean up my act big time. I agree drunk drivers kill ppl all the time and its horrible what they need to do is have a zero drinking policy if you drink you don't drive not this 2-3 beers in a certain time your legal grey area. But a real drunk is going to drive regardless of a license or not. Haha going off topic here don't wanna turn this into a drunk driving debate.

[rpepper]

You NEVER have to drink and drive, worst statement ever. Regardless, good luck with it, and make sure they keep away from the S!!

Your right I should have said "will" its definitely a choice. Every person I know who drinks around here has at one point or another that's why I'm done drinking flat out not like its accomplished anything positive for me cept maybe getting tail lol.

[Ramathorn420]

really...... You still allowed to drive, ? We have such a fucked up driving system here, DUI's are a slap on the wrist it almost seems, as long as no one is killed.

people make mistakes dude... 10K, jail time and no DL for 2 years is NOT a slap on the wrist. I just got my DL back. You live in Cali, CO has a COMPLETELY different DUI system and within 10 years 2/3rds of Denver WILL HAVE ONE based on the last 5 years. You only have to blow a .05 here and your done. THATS ONE BEER FOR A WOMAN UNDER 140 AND TWO BEERS FOR A MAN OVER 160.... But I'm sure you live a perfect life and don't ever make mistakes... lol.

[ilyafil]

How the fuck does everyone here know someone with one of these. I didn't even know they were real lol.

I'm in AA...

[8520]

I install car stereo for a living and my shop does these too.

Basic ones are 12v power, ignition, ground, starter interrupt and horn output. Advanced ones involve all of those things + a dash cam, gps/SMS antenna and a tach wire input which needs to be grabbed in the engine bay on most audis.

Most interlock installs I've seen are shit, but obviously they are installer dependent.

[ianwpb]

I install car stereo for a living and my shop does these too.

Basic ones are 12v power, ignition, ground, starter interrupt and horn output. Advanced ones involve all of those things + a dash cam, gps/SMS antenna and a tach wire input which needs to be grabbed in the engine bay on most audis.

Most interlock installs I've seen are shit, but obviously they are installer dependent.

That's what I was thinking it would be.. They can only be so complicated.

[julex]

I worked on a guys S4 that had one. Very annoying. Also all the random blows you have to do.

So you drink == have to give blow jobs?

[LINDW4LL]

Why don't you have to put it in every car you drive?

[ilyafil]

Why don't you have to put it in every car you drive?

They put a restriction on your licence so if you get pulled over the cop would know you're supposed to have one and would check for it. They're not a big deal, just annoying if you have to work on the car and start and stop the engine all the time.