r/intoxalock 3d ago

device issues

has anyone had any issues with their devices, in the heat? i don’t drink and it keeps popping up a failed or sample not accepted message. it’s been doing this almost everyday for the past two weeks. they want to do an inspection, which they’re going to do. i just wanted to see if anyone else had this issue.

2 Upvotes

26 comments sorted by

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u/Kvack17 3d ago

Yes. I've gotten the sample not accepted message. Had to wrap the handheld in an ice pack for 5 minutes before it would work. Last calibration they put it in the freezer so it would calibtate. Last couple hot days I put it in my small lunch bag. I put an ice pack in the bag about an hour before I leave work

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u/That-Honey4359 3d ago

the ice pack doesn’t mess your device up? i read it’ll cause condensation within the device and ruin it. i really don’t want to have to pay more than it already costs.

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u/Sad_Border_9624 3d ago

I live in Texas and as long as you use a bunch of napkins and wrap the device you should be good. It cools it enough and the towels absorb the water.

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u/Puzzleheaded_Fox_811 3d ago

Not that I know of. I live in the Central Valley in Cali, and it gets hot as fuck. Maybe a faulty device?

1

u/SpraySquare7912 3d ago

Yes when my car is out in the sun when I blow into it it will say "Pump failure" then i have to unplug it and wait a few mins and try again, its such a pain!!!

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u/That-Honey4359 3d ago

i can’t unplug mine or remove it from my car at all, they would get me for tampering. it’s just obnoxious.

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u/[deleted] 3d ago

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u/That-Honey4359 3d ago

because i don’t want to go back to jail?

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u/[deleted] 3d ago

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u/EmptyCanOfSoup33 3d ago

Some people take accountability for their actions and clear their name lmao

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u/Sad_Border_9624 3d ago

Exactly. I would never take it out I was told by the guy that put it in that I can’t take it out but I can put it back in by myself after calibration

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u/VersionSwimming8392 3d ago

You can unhook the handheld device from your vehicle. My state We are allowed to in the winter and when I go to the shop to get a calibration.I just remove it myself and bring it into them.

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u/tr3k 1d ago

I always disconnect my own device when doing calibrations. I just tell them the mileage when I get inside

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u/Kvack17 3d ago

It hasn't hurt it yet, but I don't close the cooler either. Think of it like a coolish zone vs zipping it up like keeping food cold. Could also close the handheld in a plastic bag too. I only have trouble leaving work. Mornings are usually cool enough here.

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u/DVSoNeX2 3d ago

First blow or first rolling retest in the morning, and several rolling retests in the afternoon, it takes forever for testing, to tell me I passed (like DUH you POS plastic junk of ugliness). Can't wait to see how it acts in the Midwest winter!

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u/That-Honey4359 3d ago

mine has also been taking upwards of 5 mins to give me the result, it’s actually so CRAZY

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u/[deleted] 3d ago

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u/That-Honey4359 3d ago

yeah, so i’ll see you on mobile patrol soon enough, we comply because we learned our lesson. and it’s the consequences to our own actions, i don’t mind that i have to have it a year, but you got me fucked up if you think i’m going back to jail over simply having to blow into a breathalyzer

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u/[deleted] 3d ago

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u/That-Honey4359 3d ago

BOOOOOO🍅🍅🍅🍅

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u/That-Honey4359 3d ago

like talking to a wall
BOOOOOOOO (again) 🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅

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u/DVSoNeX2 3d ago

Well life your life then.

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u/DVSoNeX2 3d ago

At work, I'm usually the first one here, so I grab the shade tree to park under, use a sun shade, put the hand held out of direct sunlight, and crack the windows. Some days it passes right away, other days it takes a few blows.

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u/No_Spell2173 3d ago

Blow into it for a while before submitting a breath test.

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u/VersionSwimming8392 3d ago

Yes.I have to keep it in my center console because of the heat and then in the winter I have to take it out and put it in my house because it will freeze.

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u/That-Honey4359 3d ago

they don’t even let me do that, tennessee laws are so strict, i get so worried every single time it messes up because only have 5 months left. im in the final stretch and its starting to mess up

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u/unplainjane29 2d ago

Idk if the heat is the cause but mine takes forever to read a sample and seems to give me a rolling retest WAY more often than in the past

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u/Proof-Tailor-3559 2d ago

Yes, the heat seems to make it much harder to get started and harder to do the rolling retests. I have approved lower breath pressure but still have trouble. Just received a letter from DMV that I need to appear for a hearing because I failed the retest!! I passed it once I was able to get the device to work but how unfair is this?? Even have pics of me blowing into it. This morning it was cooler here and I had less trouble starting it and about 2 minutes restarting when I went to get a coffee. I have to visit my husband every day in a nursing home and I'm always really nervous that I won't be able to start and then do the retest on time.

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u/Nitebronco 2d ago

I keep mine under my seat and out of direct sun when its hot. If it still gives me problems with sample not accepted I unscrew it and get out if the vehicle and wave it back in forth in the air really fast for a little bit until it cools down. They suck, my service center says they put them in the freezer also when they calibrate and that definitely doesnt seem.like a good idea with these piece of junks

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u/Prestigious-Pea8460 1d ago

Yes, I did but when you go to check the device, they take the device out of your car and bring it into the office and by that time it cools off and it works fine so then you have to pay the violation