Business ProfileforLamont Auto Repair

On August 11, 2022, my son’s car (which is also under my name) had broken down. I referred my son, ***** ********, to Lamont Auto Repair. They gave us a diagnostic of the vehicle telling me the timing chain system had failed, which is common for the kind of vehicle that my son has. It had caused some valve damage, a broken piston, a broken oil screen, a broken camshaft sprocket and think that’s what caused it to fail. ******** (shop owner) gave me an estimated price of $2000 and an estimated amount of time as to how long it would take to fix. He said it would take 2 weeks. It ended up taking 2 months. It was very difficult to get a hold of Emmanuel. We would call and, either get no answer or, his receptionist would answer and tell us that “he’s on vacation” or “isn’t at the shop at that moment”. We felt as though he was avoiding us so my son’s friend called on multiple occasions (from a different number), some right after they told us he wasn’t there, and ******** would answer. Many of the times we would call, we would ask the receptionist for information regarding what was going on with my son’s vehicle but she would say that she didn’t know or they couldn’t tell us anything until ******** was there. He was not the only mechanic that worked on my son’s vehicle but she said they couldn’t tell me anything unless he was present. They ended up charging me $2,576.86 for the timing set, head gasket, head bolt set, premium engine oil filter, synthetic engine oil, timing washer, exhaust intake valve guide kit, exhaust intake valve kit, exhaust bolt, NGK Laser Dbl Plat/Spark plugs, camshaft bridge bracket, water outlet, cylinder head gasket (removal and replacement), timing chain (removal and replacement), and for the machine shop they took the block to. They charged me $92.99 for the exhaust intake valve guide kit to teach them how to fix the car (which they kept). On October 11, 2022, once we finally got my son’s car back, he ended up having to take it back again on October 24th because it was leaking coolant. At that time, my son also informed ******** that, after they worked on his car, the EPC light would, now, turn on while I was driving and that the car would shake vigorously. We were able to pick up his car on October 27th and was charged another $430. Although my son told them about the EPC light turning on when he drove it, they didn’t end up fixing it. About a month after my son received the car back, he was driving home from work around 1:00am and the RPM’s started to drop, so he slowly pulled to the side of the road where the engine died and wouldn’t start back up. He opened the hood and saw smoke coming from the cylinders, where the spark plugs are. He checked the spark plugs. All of the spark plugs came out fine accept for the one in cylinder 2 which would not budge at all. It ended up breaking and getting stuck. My son’s friend recommended another repair shop named Bakersfield Motor Works (BMW), due to the fact, they specialize in European vehicles. On January 2nd, we had my son’s car towed to BMW. After evaluating his car, they informed us of the problem, which ended up being a lot bigger than we could have ever imagined. They informed us that whoever had worked on it, previously, had not done the work correctly. They stated the timing cover wasn’t sealed correctly and the oil was leaking. They also informed us that the valve for Cylinder 2 had fallen into the cylinder and binded to it, which also caused a piston to break once again. This all lead up to the engine seizing. They informed us it is going to cost $7000-$8000 to get another engine for it and for labor costs. BMW charged us $120 for the diagnostic test. The next day, after we were provided with the diagnostic paperwork from BMW, my son and son in law drove to Lamont Auto Repair and discussed everything with ******** who stated their shop has a warranty on their work and said he should have taken it back to them. ******** asked to see the paperwork from the other shop. Unfortunately, my son thought he had it with him but had left it at home. My son informed ******** he would call him to arrange plans to meet to bring the paperwork the next day, as we live in Bakersfield and he had to find a ride back to Lamont. My son also had to work that night and would not have had time to get a ride to Lamont and back before his shift started. ******** agreed. They all shook hands and they left. I called ******** throughout the next week or so but was unable to get in contact with him. He and his staff played the same phone games as before. The receptionist said he wasn’t there, then my son’s friend would call and ******** would answer. It has been extremely stressful for our family because we depend a lot on his car for work, to take my daughter to and from work, to take his siblings to and from school, as well as, doctor appointments. It has put us all in tough positions as I have been having my son drop me off at work so he can use my car to take my other kids to work and school. He also has to find rides to and from work, daily, as well. The cost of having it towed back and forth has added up to $370. He has continued paying car payments for a car he cannot drive due to the work done on it by Lamont Auto Repair. I am asking for your assistance to settle this fairly, as ******** is avoiding this issue. A BAR employee previously tried negotiating with ******** in which they informed us ******** stated he is willing to pay $2000. We feel it’s only fair that Lamont Auto Repair pay for the entire cost of my son’s car’s repairs due to them being the cause of the damages. I have attached the receipt from Lamont Auto Repair and the diagnostic receipt from Bakersfield Motor Works. My son can provide screenshots of the CashApp transactions with ******** for the secondary water pump, if needed. I can email them to you along with all other expenses. Thank you for your time.