ComplaintsforAffordable Car Care

• Initial Complaint

  09/22/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  It’s crazy, I took my vehicle in for having a engine light on for a cam shaft position sensor, miss firing and a possible cracked head because I bought it from the Dealership who sent me to this shop saying they’re affiliated with this shop after calling them due to it over heating once and I was concerned it could have a cracked head. I Took it in for a diagnostic and ended up having to pay $700 to get my vehicle back. I told them I didn’t have the money to fix it or anything like that once they told me it didn’t have a cracked head and told me what it needed it it wasn’t covered under my service contract. So, I went back to the shop that day to pick up my vehicle. In which I paid the diagnostic fee like I was supposed to do. I drove it home just for them to call me and tell me they put flush in my vehicle that I never asked for them to do. They just took it upon themselves to do the work with out me signing paper work or work orders or any agreement for them to do so to my vehicle. They Jumped straight in and held my vehicle hostage for a month. Then told me if I don’t get them to flush my vehicle it will void my service contract if it does get a cracked head. I asked how long it will take to flush it then they told me that it will have to replace the thermostat housing just to flush my vehicle. My paper work stated they drove my vehicle 5 times and it never over heated, however they stated some how there was gear oil in my coolant. Which makes no sense to me. But, after picking up my vehicle it begin over heating more than it did when I took it in. I reached out to them about a partial refund and I was told I will contact the owner and call you back. Never received a call back. I would like to talk to the owner. I have before and after pictures and videos with time stamps of what problems and what was going on then and now.

  

  Business response

  09/22/2023

  Mr. ********* vehicle was brought to Affordable Car Care on 8/11/2023 for a CEL and overheating. Mr. ******* stated that he had his vehicle at his Uncle's garage and that the vehicle had a cracked block or head. Mr. ******* did pay the $88 diagnosis fee but failed to mention the fee was credited to the bill when the work was performed. Once the vehicle arrived and cooled enough the coolant level was visually checked and found to have a contaminant present in the overflow tank that looked and smelled like gear oil. This was explained to Mr. ******* and it was explained that we would need to flush the system to remove the contamination and he approved. Upon flushing the system a pressure test was performed to check the heads or block to see if they were Crack, leaking, or losing pressure the vehicle held pressure and another test was performed to check for exhaust gasses in the coolant (none were present). After performing these tests it was determined there was a mechanical failure present in the cooling system. When watching the diagnostic tool it showed that the thermostat was not functioning properly and the housing had a small leak. It was recommended that the thermostat and water outlet be replaced. After explaining this Mr. ******* approved the repairs but explained that he would not have the money for a couple of weeks. The parts were ordered and upon arrival the was flushed again, water outlet, and thermostat were replaced on the vehicle. Upon completion of repairs the vehicle was driven as stated 5 times (highway and stop and go traffic) to test repairs and check for overheating issues. The vehicle never overheated and it was determined that the vehicle was ready for pickup. Mr. ******* did contact Affordable Car Care the next day stating that the vehicle had started overheating again and he was on the side of the road waiting for it to cool down. He was asked to bring the vehicle so we could take a look at it. He said he would be there in 15 or 20 minutes but never showed up. The following week Mr ******* came by and stated that he had taken the vehicle to another shop and they had said the coolant temp sensor was not installed correctly and replaced the thermostat housing. He asked for a refund, at that time it was explained to him that we did not have the chance to see the issue to determine if the parts were defective and if they were we could have warrantied the parts out. Mr. ******* chose not to bring the vehicle back to Affordable Car Care. Affordable has never refused to repair or replace defective parts for a customer within the warranty periods of said part(s) when the vehicle has been brought back to our shop. We will not warranty defective parts or misuse abuse or neglect and cannot warranty a part when the vehicle was not returned to us to verify the defect. 

  Customer response

  09/25/2023

  I have reviewed the response offer made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below. I took my vehicle in for a diagnostic for a cracked head and for a P0345 Cam shaft position sensor code which they didn’t even touch and I never agreed to them putting flush in my vehicle or doing any work I agreed to a diagnostic fee, they put flush in it then told me that I need to bring my vehicle back after paying the diagnostic fee of $89 and took it home. I took it back and said said can you go ahead and flush. They told me, that they would have to break my current thermostat and thermostat housing to flush the vehicle I never asked to be flushed and it being Friday and Monday is Labor Day I know we won’t be able to get the part until atleast Wednesday. Then forced me in to paying for a repair so I didn’t void my service contract in which they actually didn’t repair my vehicle instead it’s over heating unlike it did when I took it in. I only want a partial refund due to the fact that the radiator hose and cap were and needed to be replaced. I’m not disputing that. I’m disputing the fact they put flush in my radiator then broke my thermostat and thermostat housing due to their mistake and then forced me to pay the bill to get my vehicle back. Then, when I get my vehicle back, it was over heating which it wasn’t doing before I took it in. I took it in to get checked for a cracked head because it over heated 1 time and I had a service contract thru the Dealer (******** ****) I bought it from who is affiliated with this shop and they are both owned By Dave. Now, my thermostat housing is leaking coolant all over my engine bay. Which it want before I dropped it off. My paper work from them even states they driven my vehicle 5 times and it never over heated. I went back and they told me I never said anything about cam shaft position sensor but yet it was on my ticket. *** *******

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